But if this Eldorado seemed outsize then, let alone now, it was
precisely what the luxury market wanted for most of the self-indulgent
Seventies. Sales bear this out. Bolstered by a revived Eldorado convertible
(replacing the DeVille ragtop), this series recorded sizeable production
gains through 1973, dipped in Energy Crisis '74, recovered in 1975-76,
then soared to a record 47,000 in swan-song 1977-78.
By then, the ultimate owner-driver Cadillac was the new Seville, a
compact four-door priced at $12,479, but the soft-top Eldorado made a big
splash for '76 as Detroit's last factory-built convertible. Though Cadillac
had held out longest against the steady, industry-wide drop in ragtop
demand, there was no reason to persist by mid-decade. But the sales staff,
seeing a golden profit opportunity, ordered a final run of 14,000
Convertibles -- up 60 percent on 1975 output. Announcing "the last of a
magnificent breed," they then really hyped things with 2000 special
all-white commemoratives. Cadillac kept the very last one of those, but
rabid speculators quickly bid the others up to three times the suggested
$11,049 sticker price -- all to no avail. As time would prove, of course,
this "last convertible" really wasn't, and the open-air Eldorado would
return.
| MODEL DESCRIPTION | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model Name | Model Number | Body/Style Number | Body Type | Seating | Factory price | Shipping weight | Production total |
| Fleetwood Eldorado | 693/L | L67-E | 2-dr
Conv. Coupe | 6 pass. | $7681 | 4966 lb | 7975 |
| Fleetwood Eldorado | 693/L | L47-H | 2-dr
HT Sport Coupe | 6 pass. | $7360 | 4880 lb | 32,099 |
| ELDORADO ENGINE | |
|---|---|
| Engine type | V-8 Overhead valves. Cast iron block |
| Displacement | 500 cubic inches (8.2 L) |
| Bore & stroke | 4.300 x 4.304 inches |
| Compression ratio | 8.5:1 |
| Brake horsepower (SAE net) | 365 @ 4400 rpm |
| Brake horsepower (SAE gross) | 400 @ 4400 rpm |
| Torque | 535 @ 3000 rpm |
| Oil pressure | 35 |
| Main bearings | five |
| Valve lifters | Hydraulic |
| Carburetor | Rochester four-barrel Quadrajet model 4MV (Eldorado type) |
| Model | Wheelbase | Overall length | Tires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldorado | 126.3 | 223 in | L-78 x 15 |
| POWERTRAIN OPTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Cruise control | $92 |
| Eighty-Amp generator | $41 |
| Heavy-duty cooling system | $56 |
| Exhaust emission system, required on all cars built for California sale | $15 |
| Trailer Towing package | $62 |
| Trackmaster | $205 |
| Automatic Climate Control | $523 |
|---|---|
| Automatic Level Control | $77 |
| Rear window defogger | $36 |
| Grid type rear window defogger | $62 |
| Door edge guards | $6 |
| Power door locks with electric seat back release in coupes and convertibles | $69 |
| Dual Comfort seat | $103 |
| One piece front and rear floor mats | $19 |
| Soft Ray tinted glass | $57 |
| Convertible hard boot | $40 |
| Bumper impact strips | $24 |
| License frame(s) | $6/1; $11/2 |
| Remote control right mirror | $26 |
| Firemist paint | $128 |
| AM/FM pushbutton Radio | $183 |
| AM/FM signal-seeking stereo Radio | $320 |
| AM/FM radio with tape | $406 |
| Custom Cabriolet Eldorado Coupe roof | $360 |
| Full vinyl Eldorado padded top | $157 |
| Power seat options | $89-115 |
| Shoulder belts in convertible front seat or rear seat | $31 |
| Tilt and Telescope steering wheel | $92 |
| Sun roof with vinyl or padded roof mandatory | $610 |
| Sunroof with Eldorado Coupe Custom Cabriolet treatment | $1005 |
| Remote control trunk lock | $56 |
| Trunk mat | $8 |
| Twilight Sentinel | $40 |
| Expanded leather upholstery in Eldorado coupe | $179 |
| White sidewall L78-15 tires | $41 |
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May 11, 2000; March 8/03