1996 Cadillac Eldorado ETC

Description

Is this 1996 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe a future collectable? Well, it's got all the right ingredients: great colors, excellent preservation, just 23,743 original miles, the top-of-the-line powerplant, and every available option. And oh, yeah, one other thing: it's very affordable today.

You probably can't get a nicer luxury car for less money than this. The Eldorado Touring Coupe was rather awkwardly branded the "ETC" but that does nothing to diminish its handsome look. The long hood, short deck theme is still in evidence, but the sleek roofline with the almost fastback rear window gives it an updated look that was perfect for the late '90s. The gorgeous Pearl Red is the quintessential Cadillac color, and on the Touring Coupe, almost everything was covered in it: grille, bumpers, mirrors, door handles, everything. You do get a chrome band around the center of the car to break it up, but this is one sporting yet elegant Cadillac. Of course, with so few miles, it's in excellent condition, with a deep gloss that proves that you got your money's worth with a $50,000 Cadillac back in 1996. The chin hasn't been beaten up by parking lot curbs and driveway aprons and panel gaps are excellent throughout. The only possible demerit is some delamination on one of the big C-pillars, but you really have to go looking for it. We never really realized just how good Cadillacs were in the '90s.

Beautiful Shale leather lines the interior of the Touring Coupe, and it's arguably one of GM's very best designs. A sweeping instrument panel with Zebrano wood inserts makes it feel airy despite the acres of black hides, and there's a center console that helps to warm the place up a bit. Every single option was included on this car, including power windows, locks, seats, and mirrors, automatic climate control, cruise control, and a trip computer neatly integrated into the instrument panel display. The leather seats are in almost new condition, the carpets are unmarked thanks to heavy-duty mats, and the wood trim has a brilliant gloss that matches the bodywork. Everything works, of course, and it's so quiet in here that you can hear the minute differences in the Bose AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo system compared to your other cars. The back seat is big enough for real-sized adults and the trunk is Cadillac huge with a cargo net and built-in CD changer.

Cadillac's "Northstar" 4.6 liter V8 engine was a big deal in the 1990s, representing the brand's first attempt at a truly world-class powerplant. With 300 horsepower on tap and an equal amount of torque, it moves the luxurious coupe like a muscle car, not a luxury barge. They've also proven to be bulletproof reliable, and this one has a lot of life left in it, with just about 24,000 original miles on it. The engine bay is neatly dressed and it's all original, of course. It starts with a muscular bark from the dual exhaust pipes and thanks to a 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission, pulls down surprisingly good fuel economy out on the road. The all-independent suspension was tuned a little sportier than the standard Eldorado but it's still smooth and luxurious, and standard 4-wheel disc brakes instill confidence. Optional chrome alloy wheels look brilliant against the lustrous red paint and are fitted with 225/60/16 Goodyear Eagle GA tires that are a good choice for sporting yet comfortable motoring.

You'd be surprised how much fun this Eldorado is to drive, and the luxury features stack up well with today's cars. If you want a high-quality V8 luxury car at an economy car price, good luck finding one nicer than this. Call today!