1984 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

Description

I wonder how the guys who paid massive premiums to own the "last" 1976 Eldorado convertibles felt when GM rolled out this pretty 1984 Eldorado ragtop. I mean, the choice was natural as the aftermarket had been putting fake convertible tops on these cars for years. The result was actually a really good car, not just a really good convertible.

Looking crisp and bright in its original Cotillion White paint scheme, this is the archetypal Eldorado convertible. It shows signs of conscientious maintenance over its life, and it's likely that very few of these were ever purchased as daily drivers, which would explain both the condition and the very low 24,485 miles on a car that's more than 30 years old. The Eldorado's crisp lines lend themselves to convertible styling, and the experts at ASC, who actually built the cars for GM, did a wonderful job of making it look nearly identical to its faux-convertible hardtop siblings with the top up (spotter's tip: the convertibles have smaller rear windows). The Biarritz is easily identified by the spear of stainless trim that extends along the fenders and window sills, giving the already very flashy Eldo a lot of eyeball appeal. It's not perfect, but it's one of the nicest we've ever seen and for a car that's been driven and enjoyed, it's extremely good and shows you that these cars have always been something special.

The interior is pure Cadillac overkill, with pillow-tufted burgundy leather seats and lots of faux wood trim, but that's why these cars are so cool. They represent an era when new technology was colliding with traditional luxury, and Cadillac worked hard to stay at the forefront. Dig the digital climate control and trip computer in the middle of the dash, the dual information centers on either side of the steering column, and every power accessory known to man was standard equipment on the Eldorado convertible. Twin buckets show almost zero wear and no damage, and the back seat looks completely untouched; has this car ever been in the sun? Plush carpets add that hushed Cadillac feel to the interior, and the dash and steering wheel should look familiar to anyone who drove a Cadillac of the period. All the electricals work, with an AM/FM/cassette/CB stereo (10-4 good buddy!), power seats and power windows that still zip up and down. The white power convertible top folds easily, as it should, and offers a full headliner that makes it as quiet as a coupe.

Cadillac's 4.1 liter V8 with digital fuel injection has turned out to be a reliable dance partner in these cars. Smooth and torquey, with surprisingly good fuel economy, it moves this Eldo easily with a muted V8 hum from the tailpipe. The engine bay is orderly, if not detailed for show but still showing that someone really cared about taking care of the details. The A/C system features an R134a conversion, so it's easy and inexpensive to service (though it would benefit from a recharge) and the front-wheel-drive 4-speed automatic overdrive transaxle shifts so smoothly you may not even notice it. The all-independent suspension was tuned fur luxury, but it doesn't mind hustling a bit now and again when you can let the V8 unwind itself. Since 1976, Eldorados have offered 4-wheel-discs, which live behind those sparkly wire wheels and 205/75/15 whitewall radials.

These cars have long since passed from used car to collector status, and low-mileage examples like this will always be in demand with enthusiasts who were there when they were new. Call now!