Cadillac History Eldorado (1971-78)

Cadillac Eldorado Models & History (1971-78)

FLEETWOOD ELDORADO

A new grille for Eldorados had the opposite design change, compared with other Cadillacs. The egg crate look was gone and a finer crosshatched insert was used. It also had a wide, brushed aluminum top header bar, providing a neo-classical appearance. A Cadillac signature was engraved on the left side of the header. The rear fender line looked squarer and a bumper/taillight arrangement that telescoped on impact was used. A curved instrument panel was new, too. The equipment list included all DeVilles features plus

  • L78 x 15/8 whitewall bias belted tires
  • “coach” windows on the coupe
  • the big 500 cubic inch V-8.

Expanded leather interiors were standard in what was now America’s only production luxury convertible.

MODEL DESCRIPTION
Model Name Model Number Body/Style Number Body Type Seating Factory price Shipping weight Production total
Fleetwood Eldorado 71-693 69367E 2-door Convertible Coupe 6 pass. $7751 4690 lb 6800
Fleetwood Eldorado 71-693 69347H 2-door Hardtop Sport Coupe 6 pass. $7383 4650 lb 20,568

NOTE:

  • At the beginning of the 1974 model year, the following factory retail prices were in effect for the 1974 front-wheel-drive Eldorados were $7,656 for the coupe and $7,873 for the convertible.
  • A mid-year price increase resulted in the factory retails shown in the chart above.
  • Mid-year price increases, although nothing new to the auto industry, became much more common after the early 1970s.

 

ELDORADO ENGINE
Engine type V-8 Overhead valves. Cast iron block
Displacement 500 cubic inches (8.2 L)
Bore & stroke 4.300 x 4.304 inches
Compression ratio 8.5:1
Brake horsepower (SAE gross) 365 @ 4400 rpm
Torque 535 @ 3000 rpm
Oil pressure 35-40
Main bearings five
Valve lifters Hydraulic
Carburetor Rochester four-barrel Quadrajet model 4MV (Eldorado type)

 

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS
Trackmaster for Eldorado only $211

 

Automatic Climate Control $537
Cruise control $95
Fan type rear window defogger $37
Grid type rear window defogger $63
Door edge guards in 2-door $6
Power door locks $71
Power door locks with electric seat back release in coupes and convertibles $71
One piece front and rear floor mats $20
Soft Ray tinted glass $59
Guidematic $51
Lamp monitors $50
License frame(s) $6/1; $12/2
Remote control right mirror $26
Firemist paint $132
AM/FM pushbutton Radio $138
AM/FM signal-seeking stereo Radio $328
AM/FM radio with tape $416
Padded vinyl roof $161
Shoulder belts in convertible front seat or rear seat $32
Tilt and Telescope steering wheel $95
Sun roof with padded roof mandatory $626
Trumpet horn in coupe $16
Remote control trunk lock $58
Trunk mat $8
Twilight Sentinel $41
Expanded leather upholstery in Eldorado coupe $184