Cadillac Eldorado
Reviewed by Unique Cars and Parts
Our Rating: 3
Introduction
The Eldorado was radically redesigned for 1967. Intended for the burgeoning personal luxury car market, it was a "personal" Cadillac sharing the E-body with the Buick Riviera and
Oldsmobile Toronado that had been introduced the previous year.
Cadillac adopted the Toronado's unique
Unified Powerplant Package and front-wheel drive. The Eldorado used a standard Cadillac 429 V8 with a modified Turbo-Hydramatic
automatic transmission (THM425, based on the Turbo-Hydramatic 400) with the torque converter mounted next to the planetary gearbox, driving it through a metal chain.
Despite sharing a body shell with the Toronado and Riviera, the Eldorado's crisp styling, initiated by GM styling chief Bill Mitchell, was distinctive and unique, with hidden headlights and a long-hood, short-deck look. Performance was 0–60 mph (0–96 km/h) in less than nine seconds and a top speed of 120 mph (192 km/h).
Roadability and
handling were highly praised by contemporary reviews. Disc
brakes were optional in 1967 and standard starting in 1968. Sales were excellent despite high list prices.
For 1968 the Eldorado gained slight exterior changes to comply with new federal safety and emissions legislation, and as with the rest of the Cadillac lineup, a new 472 cu in (7.7 L) V8 engine rated at 375 hp (280 kW) (SAE gross).
In 1969 it lost its hidden headlamps and picked up as options a halo vinyl roof and later in the model year a power sunroof option. For the 1970 model year, this body style Eldorado introduced the new 500 in³ (8.2 litre) V8 engine, the largest-ever production V8 - rated SAE gross 400 hp (298 kW) / 550 ft
. lb (746 Nm).
This engine would be an Eldorado exclusive until it became standard on all full size Caddies for model year 1975.