Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible.
Coming from nearly 30 years of ownership under the current owner, this Eldorado is ready to cruise the boulevard in your local town with more than $10,000 in mechanical work being performed within the last eight years. The “Firethorn Metallic” paint finish is striking and well-presented, and the selling dealer says that the 71,176 indicated miles are true and original. The auction ends tomorrow, so click over and take a look at this clean ride.
For 12 generations, the Eldorado set a standard in luxurious personalized motoring. Today’s car comes from the ninth generation which had a lifespan from 1971 through 1978. As with many cars in the 1970s, the Eldorado grew longer, wider, and heavier thanks to the overall mindset of “bigger is better” that was going on in the American automotive industry at the time. Specifically, the car few two inches in length and six in wheelbase compared to the previous model. While parking was made more challenging, the added size made for commodious seating capacity for six people in the cabin.
Moving this luxo-vert is a 500cid (8.2-liter) V8 that was rated at 215 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The AutoHunter listing says that extensive service updates were performed eight years ago including replacement of the distributor cap and rotor, ignition coil, spark plugs, spark plug wires, speedometer cable, water pump, and radiator.
One interesting bit about the 1976 Eldorado convertible: This car was marketed by General Motors as “the last American convertible.” That phrasing drove the marketplace to see the Eldorado as a future collectible. In reality, the Eldorado convertible came back just eight years later in 1984, and there was a class-action lawsuit from buyers who felt they had been deceived.
Regardless, the Eldorado continues to have its place in the collector community and this low-mileage example is undoubtedly a preservation-grade find. The seller has provided a start-up video showing this Eldorado coming to life and the power antenna springing into action. The engine has a nice purr to it, and the power-retractable top is shown retracting in seamless operation.
The auction for this 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible ends Friday, September 22, 2023, at 11:40 a.m. (PDT)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery
It’s the CADILLAC still available.and where is it located
It’s an auction. Click on the links in the story to go to the auction page and see everything about it.
Absolutely Beautiful!!!!
I owned same without the top coming down.
Gaaaawd If I was rich? This beauty be mine along side the one I had.
I see a significant number of those FWD convertibles available, but not as many solid top coupes.
I own a 1976 Eldorado Cadillac convertible and have owned it over twenty years. I also is red with white leather interior. Miles are original 15790. Has not been restored. What Is it worth?
The roominess wasn’t just due to the length increases from the previous generation RWD El Dorado, the Front Wheel Drive system got rid of almost all of the central tunnel hump in the passenger compartments. 6 seated occupants were quite comfortable in those cars. Similar to the Oldsmobile Tornado from the same years.
Interestingly the rapidly available modern radial tires for those cars are modern all weather or all season LT tires that will fit the standard steel wheels the cars have. That’s not bad as modern LT/SUV radial tires have significantly improved wet road surface road traction and dry surface road traction compared to the original radial tires the cars were delivered with. Just be prepared for the non white stripe sidewall look. Be careful, or some jokester will put the white lettering of the LT tires facing the outside. You’ll look odd running with big white Firestone/Goodyear/BFGoodrich/Michelin lettering on your luxury car.
Great American monsters, I have had several over the years. I still have a rough 76 convertible in beige. The one thing missing on the one featured is the hardboot. A beautiful accessory on this Era convertible. Fuel economy is a set back but since you don’t use these daily any longer as I did with mine ions back, it really isn’t an issue. These cars taken care of were bullet proof. Rust and exhaust manifold gaskets were the biggies on these. The tops can be an issue with the glass window while folding, otherwise wonderful driving cars, even in snowy weather.