Cadillac history 1981

1981 CADILLAC ELDORADO

Up front, Eldorado's new grille had a tiny crosshatch pattern below the wide, brushed-chrome finished, peaked upper bar. Quad rectangular headlamps sat above amber-lensed quad parking/signal lamps. Horizontal-style clear/amber cornering lamps sat a short distance back on the fenders. Like Seville, Eldorado also added a front air dam below the bumper. Wheel covers showed big red medallions. Inside, Eldorados sported a new center console, woodgrain applique on door panels, and simulated teakwood dash trim. Standard equipment this year included

low rolling-resistance tires
low-fuel warning
a new underhood light
new windshield washers.

Also standard:

dual-spot map lamps/courtesy lights
seat belt chimes
lamp monitors
electric trunk release and power pull-down,
compact spare tire
dual remote-control mirrors
six-way power driver's seat
electronic-tuning signal-seeking stereo radio
MPG Sentinel
Twilight Sentinel
accent stripes on bodysides and deck lid
much more.

As before, Eldorados featured four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and electronic level control. On the option list was a Touring Suspension that included larger tires. New Dual Comfort 45/45 front seats held driver and passenger. Leather upholstery in tufted seating areas came in 10 hues including new doeskin, light waxberry, and dark jadestone. New standard Heather and Dundee fabric came in four colors. Door handles were new too.

1980 Eldorado

Photo courtesy of Mark & Debbie Dearborn
Standard engine was the new 368 cu. in. V8-6-4 with on-board computer diagnostics. Two options were offered: Buick's 4.1-liter V-6 with three-speed automatic transmission (four-speed overdrive with the V8-6-4), or the Oldsmobile diesel V-8. Major body components now carried labels conforming to vehicle identification numbers, in an attempt to prevent thefts. Eldorado Biarritz included tufted pillow-style seating and steering wheel in Sierra Grain leather, in any of five colors; Tampico carpeting; front console; individual rear reading lamps; opera lamps; accent stripes; and Biarritz script insignia. A brushed stainless steel roof section extended from the flush-mount windshield back to an Elk Grain vinyl cabriolet roof. A wide chrome molding crossed the roof, turning a square corner and extending forward to the front fenders. Biarritz came in 21 colors. New standard wire wheel covers had red center sections with the Cadillac wreath-and-crest medallion. The opera lamps were optional on the Eldorados.

Model Number	Style Number	Body Type	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
6E	L57	2-door Coupe	5	$17,385 / 17,550	3815 / 3822 lb	60,643

FACTORY PRICE AND WEIGHT NOTE

Figures before the slash are for V-6 engine, after slash for variable-displacement gas V8-6-4. A diesel V-8 was also available on Eldorado. By late spring 1981, prices rose on all except Eldorado.

ENGINES

Feature	Standard 8-6-4 V8	Option V-6	Option V-8 diesel
Type	90-degree, overhead valve variable-displacement. Cast iron block and head	90-degree, overhead valve V-6. Cast iron block and head	90-degree, overhead valve V-8. Cast iron block and head
Displacement	368 cu. in. (6.0 liters)	252 cu. in. (4.1 liters)	350 cu. in. (5.7 liters)
Bore & stroke	3.80 x 4.06 in.	3.965 x 3.40 in.	4.057 x 3.385 in.
Compression ratio	8.2:1	8.0:1	22.5:1
Brake horsepower	140 @ 3800 rpm	125 @ 3800 rpm	105 @ 3200 rpm
Torque	265 lbs.-ft. @ 1400 rpm	210 lbs.-ft. @ 2000 rpm	200 lbs.-ft. @ 1600 rpm
Main bearings	Five
Valve lifters	Hydraulic
Fuel supply	Digital fuel injection	4-bbl Carburetor	Fuel injection
Made by	Cadillac	Buick	Oldsmobile
VIN Code	9	4	N

CHASSIS DATA

Wheelbase: 114.0 in.
Overall length: 204.5 in.
Height: 54.3 in.
Width: 71.5 in.
Front Tread: 59.3 in.
Rear Tread: 60.6 in.
Standard Tires: P205/75R15 SBR wide WSW

TECHNICAL

Turbo Hydra-matic transmission, column shift.
Gear ratio three-speed automatic: (1st) 2.74:1; (2nd) 1.57:1; (3rd) 1.00:1; (Rev) 2.07:1.
Gear ratio four-speed automatic: (1st) 2.74:1; (2nd) 1.57:1; (3rd) 1.00:1: (4th) 0.667:1; (Rev) 2.07:1.
Standard final drive ratio: 2.41:1 except w/V-6, 2.93:1
Steering: recirculating ball (power assisted).
Front suspension: independent torsion bars, link-type stabilizer bar
Rear suspension: independent trailing arm, coil springs, electronic level control
Brakes: four-wheel disc.
Fuel tank: 22.8 gal. w/diesel, 20.3 gal. w/V8-6-4, 21.1 gal. w/V-6

DRIVETRAIN OPTIONS

4.1-liter gas V-6 engine ($165 credit)
5.7-liter diesel V-8 engine ($325-$351)
California emission equipment ($46-$182).
Engine block heater ($22).
100-amp alternator ($41).
Heavy-duty cooling ($59).
Touring suspension: ($95).
Trailering pkg. ($59-$100).

OPTION PACKAGES

Brougham d'Elegance: cloth seating ($1066); leather ($1536).
Eldorado Biarritz ($2937).
Eldorado Cabriolet ($363).

CONVENIENCE/APPEARANCE OPTIONS

Astroroof ($1058)
Rear defogger, grid-type ($134-$175).
Automatic door locks ($129).
Garage door opener ($125).
Illuminated entry system ($67).
Digital instrument cluster: ($200).
Memory driver's seat ($169).
Six-way power passenger seat: Eldorado ($172).
Power river's seat recliner ($130).
Power passenger seat recliner w/six-way power seat: ($302).
Leather-trimmed steering wheel ($79).
Tilt/telescope steering wheel ($147).
Theft deterrent system ($157).
Guidematic headlamp control ($78).
Opera lamps: ($72).
Trumpet horn ($28).
Thermometer on left mirror ($35).
Twin lighted vanity mirrors ($116).
Electronic-tuning seek/scan AM/FM stereo radio with 8-track tape player ($195); with 8-track and CB ($480); w/cassette ($281); w/cassette and CB ($547).
Two-tone paint: ($293); partial Firemist. ($394).
Firemist paint ($208).
Door edge guards ($16-$24).
License frames, each ($11).
Front console: ($151).
Leather seating area ($439-$595).
Carpeted rubber floor mats: front ($35-$38); rear ($20).
Trunk mat ($16).
Cast aluminum wheels: ($376)
Locking wire wheel covers ($266-$328).
Puncture-sealing tires ($106).

PREVIOUS: History of the 1980 Cadillac NEXT: History of the 1981 Cadillac Seville NEXT: History of the 1981 Cadillac DeVille NEXT: History of the 1981 Cadillac Eldorado NEXT: History of the 1981 Cadillac Fleetwood NEXT: History of the 1981 Cadillac Overview NEXT: History of the 1982 Cadillac

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May 11, 2000; March 8/03