1976 Cadillac Eldorado

Description

I'll level with you: I owned a car identical to this one in high school, and I miss it every single sunny day. The 1976 Eldorado convertible is approaching icon status, and if you're looking for a handsome color combination on a well-maintained original car, you can hardly do better than this Calumet Cream ragtop.

Cadillac announced that the 1976 Eldorado would be the "last convertible" and as a result, pretty much every single one became an instant collectors' item. If you want a perfect, 0-mile specimen, they're out there and they're expensive. On the other hand, I suspect that the one you really want is one that's clean, solid, reliable, fully-sorted, and ready to enjoy without worries, and that describes this one perfectly. While a vast majority of them are those uncomfortable shades of almost blue and brick red, and the white ones are painfully common, too, Cadillac actually offered a wide variety of colors and few looked better on the big Eldo's angular shape than Calumet Cream. Not quite yellow, but not a wimpy off-white, either, they stayed faithful to the original hue with a 2007 repaint. The front and rear bumper fillers are excellent with no cracking, the original gold pinstripe was reapplied, and even the factory-style rub strips give it a totally correct look. I'm also impressed by how well the bumpers fit and how shiny they are, and the 1976-only details like the blacked-out headlight trim and single-element taillights.

Inside, Antique Buckskin is Cadillac's name for tan leather, but what could be better in a car designed for sunshine and homecoming parades? The power front bench shows minimal wear, as the original leather was durable as much as handsome, and it seems impervious to UV rays, so enjoy your time in the sun. The back seat looks virtually unused, and the flat expanse of gold carpet shows quite well. This Eldo also carries most options, including cruise control, automatic climate control, an AM/FM/8-track radio (cool!) with a CB underneath, plus interval wipers. The steering wheel is in excellent shape, and the fiber-optic lamp monitors are a neat nighttime addition. Open the power trunk and you'll find correct mouse-fur lining, a full-sized spare. The top is tan and also new in 2007, so it folds properly and stows under a rare and valuable fiberglass parade boot.

Cadillac's 500-inch monster was down on power, but the whole idea was effortless torque, and I'll vouch for this big bruiser's ability to burn front-wheel-drive rubber for as long as you keep your foot in it. While such undignified behavior isn't appropriate, the big V8 just loafs along at highway speeds and has proven to be virtually indestructible in the real world. This one has a clean engine bay showing signs of regular service, and it runs with a quiet confidence that I miss dearly. The transmission is equally robust, and this is one of the few Eldo's I've seen sitting at correct ride height, thanks to functioning air shocks out back. Unique offsets mean the factory wheels are your only choice, and this one wears correct hubcaps with black centers and 235/75/15 whitewall radials.

Take my word for it, this is first-class motoring that won't remain this affordable for much longer. Call today!