For Sale: 1973 Cadillac Eldorado in Orlando, Florida

When it was decided that an Eldorado convertible would pace the Indianapolis 500 in 1973 Cadillac Motor Division got busy testing the massive car for the task. A silver '73 convertible became the test mule and Cadillac's top engineers went to work preparing the 5,100 pound car to where it could maintain and handle speeds in excess of 125 mph. Only 2 were prepared for race day and each featured a modified 500 cubic inch V8 reportedly producing over 500 horsepower, the air conditioning was deleted along with many other modifications - these two were the actual pace car and the back up car. In addition, Cadillac built 12 "high speed celebrity cars". These 12 cars had high performance 500 ci engines built in Cadillac's engine lab reportedly producing around 400 horsepower, special exhaust, mandated Goodyear tires instead of Firestones and like the actual pace car, they had hood pins and rocker panel moldings that were screwed rather than clipped to the body. Two of the 12 high speed cars were fitted with a refrigerated front center console for storing film which had to be kept cool. This is 1 of those 2 cars. Festival car #22. The only known high speed car that still exist with a complete chain of ownership since new..An incredible amount of documentation and race related memorabilia accompany this car including the Cadillac LaSalle Owners Club authentication manual for 1973 Eldorado Pace Cars which was written by this cars previous owner - a retired GM engineer. The underside of the trunk features over 15 signatures from individuals involved with the 1973 race and Cadillac engineers involved with the preparation of this car. These signatures include 1973 Indy 500 race winner Gordon Johncock, 1973 Pole Winner Johnny Rutherford, 1973 Pace Car driver Jim Rathman and many others. For details call Dave Murray at (407) 592-5039..SELLING AT MECUM INDY ON THURSDAY MAY 14TH