Vehicle Description
16,104 original miles. Totally untouched survivor that’s original down to the tires. Everything works, runs and drives like a new car. Fiberglass boot, most options, great colors. Rarer than a ’76!
You’re seeing the specifications correctly, this car has just 16,104 original miles and is so untouched that it’s still sitting on its original Michelin radials. It’s had just two owners and both of them meticulously documented every service, every repair (there aren’t many), and were exceptionally careful to respect the car’s total authenticity. The color is called Roxena Red, and it is indeed General Motors enamel applied in early 1975. It shows beautifully today, with that soft glow that only original paint has and virtually zero signs of use overall. Even the critical fender caps, which were made of a flexible urethane material when the car was new, are in very good shape. These tend to simply degrade with age and crumble, but these are intact and unbroken, with only some very minor wrinkling evident on the left front corner—enough to remind you this is an original car but not enough to demand a repair.
There’s also plenty of chrome on the big Eldo, as it was pretty much the last of the drop-top land yachts and we’ll never see their like again. There’s a color-coordinated rub strip along the flanks and bright stainless trim on the rockers, all of which has a great shine and no signs of rust hiding underneath. There’s just no question this is a low-mileage survivor that exemplifies Cadillac quality in the mid-70s.
The burgundy leather interior remains supple and smooth with just a few comfort marks on the seating surfaces. There are absolutely no splits or tears and it’s clear that this car has not spent much time outside, because reds are notoriously fragile in the face of UV rays. On this car, the seats, carpets, door panels, and even the dash pad remain in almost new condition with no fading or cracks. This particular Eldorado is loaded with almost every option and feature you could get in 1975, including automatic climate control, power locks, windows, and front seat, cruise control, twilight sentinel, a power antenna, a tilt and telescoping steering column, and a signal-seeking AM/FM stereo radio. Everything works except the clock, which is sad but not surprising, and even the little electric solenoids that release the front seat backs give a precise little “click” whenever you open the doors. That’s the original black vinyl convertible top with a glass rear window, and it’s in beautiful condition with no split seams or tears and it folds up and down easily. This car includes both the original red vinyl convertible top boot and a color-matched fiberglass boot. The trunk is trimmed in original mouse-fur cloth and includes the original spare tire and jack assembly, neither of which appear to have ever been used.
Until fairly recently, the 500 cubic inch Cadillac V8 was the largest production V8 ever built. It’s designed for effortless power under any conditions, and it does indeed move all 5200 pounds of Eldorado ragtop with the kind of inevitable torque that makes it feel like this car could run all day at 100 MPH. The engine bay is exceptionally clean and authentic, right down to hoses, clamps, fittings, and decals, all of which are original to the car. It’s been properly serviced, of course, and it needs nothing today to be driven cross-country, but it’s nice to see that the mechanics working on it didn’t just start replacing parts. It wears Cadillac Blue paint on the engine itself, the air cleaner still has its intake silencer and feed hose, and all the cad-plated fittings are still bright gold, not chalky white. It starts with an easy turn of the key and runs with a modest hum from the exhaust, but for the most part, it’s almost too quiet to hear. The TH425 3-speed automatic transmission shifts almost imperceptibly and with all that torque on tap, it’s in high gear before you’re going 25 MPH and never seems to need to downshift. The suspension is shockingly supple but not sloppy, just about what you should expect from a car that’s nearly new. You’ll also note it still carries its original automatic-leveling rear suspension with air shocks, original exhaust system with resonator out back, and even the original catalytic converter, so it remains legal in all 50 states. The unique FWD wheels and Eldorado hubcaps are in excellent shape, and those 235/75/15 Michelin radials with the cool narrow whitewalls have been there since 1975, so I wouldn’t drive cross-country on them, but they’re ideal for preservation class competition.
This car also includes an extensive set of files on its history, maintenance, and other details.
There will never be full-sized luxury convertible like this ever again, and this Eldorado brings a unique combination of preservation, authenticity, and functionality that you probably can’t get anywhere else. It’s a slam-dunk in almost any competition, but with proper maintenance, it’s also ideal for modest driving, so it should never become a trailer queen. A first-rate collectable with an awesome pedigree. Call now!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
