For Sale at Auction: 1976 Cadillac Eldorado in Amelia Island, Florida

Chassis No. 6L67S6Q208771
Engine No. 660208771

Cadillac entered the 1970s as a symbol of American luxury, its full-sized convertibles admired for smooth power and open-air elegance. The renowned 500 cu-in V8 embodied Cadillac's confidence, even as consumer tastes began to shift. The fuel crisis brought new priorities, yet Cadillac, smooth as ever, adapted without losing its core identity. By 1976, it proudly remained the last American automaker offering a true full-sized convertible. With increasing safety concours legislation being pushed by Ralph Nader, in 1977, a revised lineup marked a fresh chapter leaving the 1976 convertibles fondly remembered as the "last American convertible."

All 1976 Cadillacs boasted a long list of standard equipment that included Soft Ray Glass, automatic climate control, power windows, door locks, brakes, and steering, a six-way power-adjustable seat, an AM/FM radio, and more. On top of the already luxurious level of standard equipment, it was not uncommon for the Eldorado to be equipped with numerous optional extras as with this example. Built in January 1976, it was finished in Special Exterior Color, with a White convertible top over a White leather interior with Black carpets according to its original window sticker still affixed to the left rear window. The sticker shows it was generously optioned with highlights that include with Dual Comfort 50/50 seat with recliner, AM/FM stereo radio with an eight-track tape player, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, remote control trunk release, Twilight Sentinel, rear window defogger, cruise control, Guide-Matic headlamp control, remote control right side mirror, hard convertible top parade boot, full-size spare and more. With a base price of just over $11,000 when new, the car was lavished with nearly $2,000 in options, pushing the total price to over $13,000 when new!

Today, the car remains in remarkably original condition, displaying just 1,959 original miles at the time of cataloging. Likely one of the finest examples extant, the car shows little wear inside and out. Its highly original nature spans from the numerous factory-applied decals to minimal wear to the bright white leather interior and even the window sticker still affixed to the left rear window to create as close to a new car experience as possible 50 years after it rolled off the assembly line. Widely touted as the "last American convertible," these cars were instant collectibles when new, prompting many owners to store them away as investments. This well-optioned time capsule example is surely one of the finest of those survivors currently available.