A
1978 ELDORADO
1977 - 1978
1971–1978
Eighth generation
Production 1971–1978
Assembly Linden, New Jersey, USA
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Body style 2-door coupe
2-door convertible
Layout FF layout
Platform E-body
Engine 500 cu in (8.2 L) V8 (1971–76)
425 cu in (7.0 L) V8 (1977–78)
Transmission 3-speed automatic
Wheelbase 126.3 in (3,210 mm)
Length 224 in (5,700 mm) (1977–78)
224.1 in (5,690 mm) (1974–76)
223 in (5,700 mm) (1971–73)
Width 79.8 in (2,030 mm)
Height 54.2 in (1,380 mm)
Related Buick Riviera
Oldsmobile Toronado
When
GM's full-size cars were redesigned for 1971, the Eldorado regained
both a convertible model and its fender skirts. The 126.3-inch (3,210
mm) wheelbase version of the Eldorado would run through 1978, receiving
facelifts in 1973 and 1975. The Eldorado, Riviera and Toronado shared
the redesigned E-body chassis. However, as before, Eldorado and Toronado
were front-wheel drive, while the Riviera (which underwent three design
changes in the same timeframe, including a temporary switch to the
B-body platform for 1977) was rear-wheel drive. Sales set a new record
at 27,368.
Although the door glass on all Eldorados remained
frameless, the hardtop rear quarter windows vanished, replaced by a
fixed "opera window" in the widened "C" pillar. This was likely done to
conform to threatened Federal rollover safety standards that were
scheduled to take effect by the mid-1970s.
In 1972 sales rose yet again to 40,074.
Starting
in 1973 the Eldorado was removed from Fleetwood sub-series status and
reestablished as its own totally separate series.[1][2][17]
The
Cadillac Eldorado was chosen as the pace car for the Indy 500 in 1973.
All in all, Cadillac produced 566 of these special pace car
convertibles. Thirty-three were used at the track during the race week
and the remaining 513 cars were distributed to the U.S. Cadillac dealers
(one for each dealership), which were then sold to the general public.
Total sales soared to 51,451. Eldorados now accounted for over a sixth
of all Cadillac sales.
A redesigned instrument cluster was phased
in during the 1974 model year (known as the "space age" instrument
panel from Cadillac literature), also shared with the Calais, De Ville
and Sixty Special.
For 1977, the Eldorado received a new grille
with a finer crosshatch pattern. The convertible was canceled (although
Custom Coach of Lima, Ohio took a few brand-new 1977 and 1978 Eldorados
into their coachbuilder facilities and converted them into coach
convertibles using salvaged parts from 1971-76 Eldorados; Cadillac did
not produce convertibles after 1976). The 8.2L V8 of 1970-76 gave way to
a new 7L V8 with 180 bhp (134 kW). Also in 1977, all E-body cars were
exclusively front-wheel drive for the first time, when Buick removed the
Riviera from that platform during a two-year hiatus (after which it
also switched to front-wheel drive in 1979). Minor changes followed in
1978.
This generation of Eldorados produced between 1971 and 1978
were sometimes customized as seen in films like Dolemite, Superfly,
Highwaymen, The Mack, Willie Dynamite, (the customized Eldorado seen in
Willie Dynamite is similar to the one seen in Magnum Force) and even the
James Bond film Live and Let Die. An Eldorado was also used in Rob
Zombie's second film, The Devil's Rejects as the car that the character
Charlie drove. Customizers such as Les Dunham Coachworks have modified
brand-new Eldorados with headlight covers (commonly known as Superfly
headlights), grille caps, a 1941 goddess hood ornament, lake pipes, and
thick-padded vinyl tops, usually with circular porthole windows.
Eldorado convertible for 1976
In
1976, when all other domestic convertibles had vanished, GM heavily
promoted the American industry's only remaining convertible as "the last
American convertible". 14,000 would be sold, many purchased as
investments. The final 200 convertibles produced were designated as
"Bicentennial Edition" commemorating America's 200th birthday. These
cars were white with a dual-color red/blue pinstripe along the upper
bodyside. In 1983, when GM reintroduced convertibles, 1976 Eldorado
owners, who felt they had been deceived, launched an unsuccessful class
action lawsuit.[2