1999 Cadillac Eldorado

Description

Cadillac's luxury coupe, the Eldorado, has been through a dozen iterations over the years, but the concept of luxury and performance in a 2-door hasn't vanished. And if you want what is arguably the pinnacle of Eldorado development, this 1999 Cadillac Eldorado with Northstar V8 power certainly delivers the message loud and clear: yes you can have your cake and eat it, too.

Beautifully preserved and showcasing GM's top-of-the-line car, this Cadillac offers a huge amount of luxury and performance for pennies on the dollar. The subtle Pewter Metallic paint was one of GM's best colors of the period, looking subtle but vibrant and works well on the sleek Eldo coupe. The look is familiar and by 1999, the end was in sight for the Eldorado, but there was no need to change much because the initial design was so right. A clean front end kept the familial resemblance and the cool fastback roof line gives it a sporting attitude. Finish quality is extremely good, which you should expect in a car that cost more than $60,000 when it was new. It has never been hit or wrecked and with only 28,628 original miles, it shouldn't be a surprise to learn that it's never really been subject to the daily grind. Doors fit well, the glass and weather seals are in excellent shape, and there's a deep gloss to the finish that makes it sparkle like a nearly new car. There's also plenty of chrome (this is a Cadillac, after all) and all of it is in great condition.

The tan leather interior is simply beautifully preserved, almost like new. Sure, there might be a wrinkle or two on the driver's seat, but beyond that, it's just like it would have been on the showroom floor. Cadillac had their act together when this car was built, offering a proper driver's environment with supportive but not constrictive seats, a thick steering wheel, and a great-looking instrument panel with proper analog dials, not the digital nonsense they were playing with a few years earlier. Carpets, door panels, and headliner are all in fantastic condition and yes, that's real Zebrano wood wrapping around the dash, an upscale touch that tells you Cadillac was serious. Everything you can imagine was standard equipment and all of it works, including the trip computer that offers helpful information scrolling along the bottom of the instrument panel. Bose supplied the AM/FM/CD stereo system, so it sounds awesome, and the trunk is big enough for plenty of gear, making this a fantastic grand touring machine.

Cadillac's 4.6 liter 32-valve Northstar V8 is beyond impressive, especially for the period. Smooth, torquey, and always on its toes, it moves the big Eldo like a muscle car. It starts easily and the last 20 years have taught us that these 4-cam V8s are virtually indestructible, so this low-mileage example should last for years to come. There's plenty of evidence of proper maintenance and it does run and drive like a Cadillac should. The 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission snaps off rifle-quick shots when you're hustling but they're all but imperceptible in traffic, and the all-independent suspension never puts a foot wrong. Traction control, ABS, and all the other electronic driving aids are standard and the big 4-wheel discs look like they belong on a Corvette, not a Cadillac. The dual exhaust system offers a pleasant V8 bark that I'm sure Cadillac engineers designed on purpose, and those 16-inch alloy wheels are some of Cadillac's most attractive, now wrapped in 225/60/16 performance radials.

We'll admit that we under-estimated this car when it arrived, but one drive convinced us that this Eldorado might just offer the biggest bang for the buck in our showroom. Call today!