Vehicle Description
1978 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado Custom Biarritz Classic with Rare
Astroroof Option. 1 of 475!
Availability: 1978 only
Production: 2,000
1,499 without Astroroof
475 with Astroroof
25 with Sunroof
3 with Power T-Tops (2 verified; 1 unconfirmed)
Dealer announcement: April 11, 1978
Build dates: April-July, 1978
Introduction: May, 1978
Accessory code: YP6
Sales code: B
Option cost: $2,466
$3,347 with Sunroof option
$3,547 with Astroroof option
Paint codes: 62 - Arizona Beige and 64 - Demitasse Brown
Metallic
Vinyl Roof code: T - Light Beige
Interior Trim code: 644 - Light Beige and Dark Saddle Leather
1978 would be the final year for the full-sized Cadillac Eldorado.
Demand for more fuel efficient vehicles led General Motors to down
size most of its line for 1977, and that left just two of its
personal luxury models-the Oldsmobile Toronado and the Cadillac
Eldorado-to be down sized. (Buick's Riviera was restyled in 1977
and became a mid-sized car.) New smaller versions of the Toronado
and Eldorado would happen for the 1979 model year, which meant 1978
would be the final opportunity to buy a new full-sized car from
GM.
For the 1978 model year, Cadillac initially offered three Eldorado
models: the Coupe, the Cabriolet, and the Custom Biarritz. To
commemorate the final full-size Eldorado, Cadillac Division
introduced the Custom Biarritz Classic very late in the model year.
The Custom Biarritz Classic was identical to the Custom Biarritz,
with the exception of duo-tone pillowed leather interior in Light
Beige and Dark Saddle, Dark Beige Leather steering wheel jacket,
duo-tone exterior finish in Arizona Beige with Demitasse Brown
Metallic accent on hood, doors, and roof, Dark Brown accent
striping, and gold-plated "Biarritz" script on the sail panel and
deck lid.
The 1978 Eldorado in base trim had a wheelbase of 126.3 inches,
weighed 4,906 pounds, and had an overall width of 224.1 inches.
Truly, a significant automobile. Power was provided by a 425 cubic
inch V-8 engine with a compression ratio of 8.2:1 and a horsepower
rating of 180 at 4,000 rpm. Driven carefully, this car can get
double digit fuel mileage in town, and in the mid-teens on the
highway. Cadillac built 46,816 Eldorados for 1978, and 2,000 of
them were the Custom Biarritz Classic model.
There were other reasons for the Custom Biarritz Classic besides
Cadillac's desire to bid farewell to the final full-sized cars with
a special edition model. Lincoln was celebrating Ford Motor
Company's 75th Anniversary in 1978 with the Continental Mark V
Diamond Jubilee Edition, which had been available since the 1978
model introduction, and was selling briskly. Also, Cadillac knew
that the final full-sized Continental Mark V would be built in
1979, and a special Collector's Series model based on the Diamond
Jubilee Edition was planned for that model's final voyage. This
meant if Cadillac were going to provide a proper send off to the
Eldorado, they'd have to come up with something quickly. It hardly
seemed appropriate to allow the last full-sized Eldorado to slip
quietly into oblivion without so much as a special edition, but
that's exactly what Cadillac had initially planned to do. This
decision was made because Cadillac had hoped to avoid the
speculative buying that accompanied the last Eldorado Convertibles
in 1976. Many collectors had purchased one of the last convertibles
and placed them immediately into storage as a future collectible.
This made convertibles difficult to come by for some of Cadillac's
customers, so the decision was made to not make a big deal about
the final full-sized Eldorado. But that could hardly be allowed
with rival Lincoln making such a fuss over its final Mark V.
Since very little time was available for the Custom Biarritz
Classic project, Cadillac Division turned to American Sunroof
Corporation (ASC) in Southgate, Michigan. ASC would be able to
modify standard Custom Biarritz cars quickly, turn them into Custom
Biarritz Classics, install a sunroof or Astroroof if ordered, and
return them to the Cadillac assembly facility for shipment to
dealers.
The entire modification process took about 5 days, start to finish.
In its announcement, Cadillac stated that "various components of
this custom option are installed 'off-line'; therefore, a minimum
of five (5) days will be added to the normal production time."
Cadillac began the process by assembling a Custom Biarritz finished
in Arizona Beige (paint code 62), with a matching Light Beige
Cabriolet Elk Grain vinyl roof (code T) with smaller rear window
and French seam roof/window treatment. A special duo-tone
pillow-style leather interior (trim code 644) was installed (shown
above and at right), which featured a Dark Beige instrument panel,
steering wheel and column, and leather jacketed steering wheel
rim.
Dark Beige carpeting on the floor and lower door panels highlighted
the Light Beige vinyl door and rear quarter panel trim, headliner,
roof moldings, and seat side bolsters and center panels. Dark
Saddle Sierra Grain Leather with Contoured Pillow Style Seating
(shown at right-click image for larger version in new window or
tab) featured Light Beige piping. This interior was unique to the
Custom Biarritz Classic model.
The partially-completed car was shipped to ASC for modification and
completion, where the Demitasse Brown Metallic paint was applied to
the center section of the hood, upper sections of the doors, and
the forward section of the roof. A supply of exterior moldings was
stocked at ASC to be installed after completion of the paint
process. Dark Brown accent striping was added as the last step, a
final distinctive touch.
ASC also installed sunroofs in 500 cars. A sticker was attached to
the driver's door lock face, above the latch, which indicated the
car had been modified by ASC, met all Federal Standards, and the
date the work was completed. The ink used on these stickers was not
stable, and many have either faded or are so washed out they are
difficult to read today.
Actual production time at ASC was four to six hours, depending on
whether or not a sunroof was to be installed. Once completed, ASC
inspected each car and shipped it approximately seven miles back to
Cadillac where it was processed through normal channels to be
shipped out to Cadillac dealers across the country. All in all,
this was a very efficient process and allowed the cars to be
available to the public in record time.
The 1979 Cadillac Eldorados that followed would be smaller and more
fuel efficient. Built on a 13-inch shorter wheelbase, the '79
Eldorados would also lose 10 inches in length and would weigh in at
3,792 pounds, a reduction of over 1,100 pounds! The 1979-1985
Eldorados were very popular, and sold well. And while they were all
distinctive and elegant, with efficiencies demanded at the time,
they would not have the presence of the 1978 Eldorados.
Few cars over the years have been as luxurious, as quiet, as
comforting, and as beautiful as the Eldorado Custom Biarritz
Classic. If you're seeking distinction, this is your car. We
promise you will get noticed! And we promise you will enjoy every
mile behind the wheel, knowing that you are commanding one of the
final full-sized luxury cars built by America's luxury leader,
Cadillac. Once you own an Eldorado, it's difficult to accept
anything less.
