The bigger V-8 of 1970 hinted that a bigger Eldo was on the way. But
though the mostly new 1971 edition was 6.3 inches longer between wheel
centers, it was just 0.6-inch longer overall and only some 75 pounds
heavier. Even so, the more rounded styling made it look far bulkier
than its crisply chiselled forebears, and most of the extra wheelbase went
ahead of the firewall, not into the cockpit. All of which later moved
Automobile Quarterly to lament that "there is absolutely no logical
reason for owning [this] Eldorado.... In terms of efficiency it ranks
somewhere near zero.... In terms of handling it is a barge compared with
the very nice car it was six years ago. It also has the thirstiest engine in
production."
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.
Year-to-year changes were too numerous to list here, but the 500 V-8
persisted through '76 (with fuel injection optional from early 1975), after
which a more responsible new 425 took over. Styling was freshened for '75
with skinless rear wheels, a pronounced beltline dip, and rectangular quad
headlights; four-wheel disc brakes were standardized for '76. There were
always plenty of interesting options, such as the coupe's Custom Cabriolet
roof (from 1972), fancy Custom Biarritz and two-tone Biarritz Classic
packages (from late '76), "Track Master" rear anti-lock brakes (1972), even
a driver's airbag (a few for '74). Horsepower withered with progressively
tightening emissions limits -- drastically with the switch from SAE gross to
more realistic net ratings -- but usable performance wasn't much affected.
Prices went the other way, breaking the $10,000 barrier in '75.
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 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Books about Cadillac |
History of LaSalle |
Books on other automobiles |
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