Cadillac Eldorado

The Cadillac Eldorado was a car model of Cadillac. It was produced from 1953 to 2002.

• 2.1 Eldorado (1966-1970 )
• 2.2 Eldorado ( 1970-1978 )
• 2.3 Eldorado ( 1978-1985 )
• 2.4 Eldorado ( 1985-1991)
• 2.5 Eldorado ( 1991-2002 )

Eldorado with rear-wheel drive

Cadillac Eldorado ( 1959)

Eldorado (1953-1966)

1953 launched Cadillac (as purchasable Dream Car, parallel to the Buick Skylark and Oldsmobile Starfire ) the first Eldorado, a special version of the Cadillac Series 62 convertible, to the then astronomical price of $ 7,750 (about $ 3,000 more than for the Series 62 was to pay - Cabriolet ). Besides an extensive standard equipment, a more luxurious interior and a more powerful engine, this model had a modified styling with a window line that fell in the door easily. Starting in 1954, the body of the Eldorado corresponded to a large extent each of the DeVille Convertible, apart from additional or modified chrome trim and until 1958 a different rear end. At the same time the exorbitant price has been significantly reduced, making the sales of several hundred rose to about 2000-3000 units per year. The Cabriolet, which was given the name Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz from this point has been raised from 1956 to 1960 a coupe variant called Cadillac Eldorado Seville to the side. When Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, it was a four-door 1957-1960 produced super luxury model, which was manufactured from 1959 Pinin Farina in Turin and with rear-hinged rear doors ( 1957-1958 ) and other changes to the body of the ordinary Cadillac limousines different. With a price of $ 13,074 it was by far the most expensive American car of its time. It emerged only about 900 copies. Until 1966 the Eldorado was the luxury version of the Cadillac convertible.

Eldorado Biarritz ( 1959)

Eldorado Biarritz ( 1959)

Eldorado Biarritz ( 1959)

Eldorado Biarritz ( 1959)

Eldorado with front wheel drive

1966 presented the new Cadillac Eldorado coupe, which proved with its front-wheel drive as a relative of the featured Oldsmobile Toronado in the previous year. The model remained in five generations to 2003 in the Cadillac program.

Eldorado (1966-1970)

Cadillac Eldorado ( 1968)

The nearly four-seat front-wheel drive coupe was distinguished by a very clean lined, designed by General Motors design chief Bill Mitchell body with sharp corners and edges, and was promptly to sales success. Typical of the first three model years have included a "mid kink" marked rear window hidden behind moveable panels headlights ( Sleep Eye 1967 and 1968 ), which could act even more bullish the front, when she already was. 1970 was the Eldorado a facelift; the exposed headlights now flanked a more remote grille. The drive is initially an in-house 7.03 l ( 429cui - 1967), 7.7 -liter V8 ( 472cui 1968-1969 ), later the famous 8.2 -liter, for a long time the largest displacement motor car series in the world and the beginning 400 gross SAE horsepower. A notable detail was the arrangement of the 3- speed automatic transmission, the side next to the engine. The power transmission was performed by a double chain.

Eldorado (1970-1978)

Cadillac Eldorado Convertible ( 1971)

For model year 1971 Cadillac Eldorado introduced the second generation, which seemed extremely solid with the bulbous shape and the covers on the rear wheel wells.

First there was the front-wheel drive Eldorado not only as a coupe, but also as a convertible. The drive got still the attenuated 365 hp 8.2 -liter V8. The vehicles had steering wheel gearshift and strucked on the front bench seat can comfortably accommodate three people.

The 1972 Eldorado presented first offered as an imitation wood dash material. During the annual facelifts the car received in 1975 rectangular headlights in 1975 accounted for the rear wheel covers.

In the summer of 1976, the last Eldorado convertible, and thus the last remaining U.S. Cabriolet ran at all from the tape. To hinwegzutrösten over the loss of convertibles, busy Cadillac in the course of the model year 1976, the tradition of name Biarritz again; This time she called an ultra luxurious design of the coupe.

From the year 1977 was a 7.0 - liter engine as the new drive, whose power is now 135 kW (180 hp SAE net ) was with four -barrel carburetor and 146 kW ( 195 hp SAE net ). Up to and including Year 1973, the 8.2 -liter engine still 365 bhp and 235 NHP had, due to the oil crisis, the power was reduced thereafter. The '76 Eldorado made ​​with the 8.2 -liter engine only 140 kW (190 hp ) and 151 kW carburetor or (205 hp) as an injection model. The injection was offered as an option beginning in 1975 instead of the quad carburetor.

Rear of the Eldorado

Eldorado (1978-1985)

Cadillac Eldorado (1978-1985)

In the fall of 1978, finally the Eldorado ( the last major Cadillac model) has undergone a radical slimming. The length decreased from 5.70 m to 5.18 m, weight of 2.3 to 1.75 tons; the drive took over a 126 kW ( 172 DIN hp) 5.7-liter V8 ( or a diesel version of the same displacement ). At the same time the technique of Eldorado, Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado was unified (with Cadillac always its own petrol engine offered ), and also the bodies with a long bonnet and wider, almost vertically upright C-pillar resembled to a great extent.

The new Eldorado was on the market a very good shot, because until 1985 originated not less than 454,000 copies. 1984/85 were, each with about 77,000 pieces the best Eldorado years ever.

Built only in model year 1981 Cadillac whether the susceptibility of its infamous V8 -6-4 with cylinder deactivation and a displacement of six liters; in addition, there was a 4.1 -liter V6 from Buick and continue to the diesel engine. In 1982 Cadillac offered to the athletic -inspired Eldorado Touring Coupe with strafferem chassis and without white wall tires. The V8 -6-4 was replaced by an in-house developed new 4.1 - liter V8 with 99 kW (135 hp). Technically and visually it was until the end of production in the summer of 1985, only minor changes.

In the model years 1984 and 1985 Cadillac Eldorado also offered as a convertible; the conversion took place outside the home. Created this 5600 piece in two years.

Based on the Eldorado of the sixth generation of American manufacturers Pierre Cardin Automotive an externally alienated and provided with a high-quality interior luxury coupe called Cardin Evolution I, which was sold between 1980 and 1982 in about 100 copies produced.

Rear view of a Cadillac Eldorado Convertible

Eldorado (1985-1991)

Cadillac Eldorado (1985-1991)

In the fall of 1985, Cadillac launched a new, again strongly shrunken Eldorado strong (only available as a coupe ) with transversely at the front built-in, 97 kW ( 132 hp ) 4.1 -liter V8. The car weighed now just under 1500 kg, but was only 4.8 m long. That was the American upper class customers now too little, and sales fell sharply, even if the work later desperate attempt undertook to stretch the Eldorado visually.

1988-1990 saw only a 115 kW ( 157 hp ), then 135 kW (183 DIN hp) 4.5 -liter V8 for propulsion, 1991, a 4.9 - liter with 149 kW ( 203 hp DIN ).

Until the summer of 1991 originated from this series 139,000 copies.

Eldorado (1991-2002)

Cadillac Eldorado (1991-1995)

The end of 1991 the Eldorado appeared as a completely new model that technically strong leaning towards the Cadillac Seville and its stresses blocky style, especially around the C - pillar around, awakened memories of the first front-wheel drive coupe from 1966.

It was driven in the first year by the policies adopted by the previous 4.9 -liter V8 (149 kW/203 hp), followed by the new Cadillac Northstar V8 available in two different power levels: 201 kW ( 273 hp DIN ) for the base model, 216 kW ( 294 hp) for the Eldorado Touring Coupe and the Eldorado Sport Coupe (only 1993 available ).

In autumn 1995, an optical and technical revision was made ​​to the Eldorado. Here, the Northstar engine strengthened to 205 kW ( 279 hp) and 224 kW ( 305 hp). Sales of the Eldorado of the eighth generation totaled in the first year to more than 31,000 copies, then dropped to about 15,000 to 25,000 units per year, with more falling.

The production of the last generation Eldorado ended in April 2002.