Eldorado Cadillac History1978

While waiting one more year for an all-new downsized body, Eldorado received no major change other than a revised crosshatch grille dominated by heavier horizontal bars. Also noteworthy on the outside was the padded Elk grain vinyl top. The four-row peaked checkerboard grille was flanked by quad rectangular headlamps. Amber parking lamps sat low on the bumper. The grille pattern was repeated between license plate and bumper guards, below the protruding protective strip. Massive chrome vertical bumper ends extended upward to form housings for auxiliary lamps, forming a huge bright extension of fender tips. Eldorado block letters stood above the upper grille bar, which tapered outward above the headlamps.

1978 Cadillac Eldorado

Standard engine was the 425 cu. in. (7.0-liter) V-8, available with carburetor or fuel injection. Eldorados had

• four-wheel disc brakes
• front-wheel drive
• electronic level control
• automatic climate control
• power windows and door locks
• cornering lights
• six-way power seat
• three-speed wipers
• Freedom battery
• lamp monitors
• a trip odometer
• wide-whitewall steel-belted radial tires
• Soft-Ray tinted glass
• accent striping
• remote control left-hand mirror
• color-keyed litter container
• vanity mirror
• lighters
• bumper impact strips
• a stowaway spare tire

Interiors might be Halifax knit in four colors, Random velour in choice of three, or a dozen Sierra Grain leather combinations. Dramatic two-tones were also available on Dual Comfort front seats, in three color combinations. Option included

• a 40-channel CB
• 8-track tape player
• Astroroof
• sun roof

Eldorado Biarritz, which first appeared during the 1976 model year, now sported a convertible-like padded vinyl top, unique scripts, accent stripes, and distinctive chrome body moldings. Inside the Custom Biarritz were Sierra Grain leather contoured pillow-style seats in antique medium saddle, white, dark carmine, antique yellow, or antique light blue. The Cabriolet roof accented Eldo’s distinctively-shaped quarter windows that tapered downward at the front, with a vinyl-insert molding across the fully padded Elk Grain vinyl top. Black-accented brushed stainless steel belt moldings stretched from rear to hood, terminating in a spearlike design at the front. Special stripes accented front fenders, doors, and rear quarter panels. Biarritz came in five colors: Mediterranean Blue Firemist, Cotillion White, Carmine Red, Colonial Yellow, and Ruidoso Saddle. All had opera lamps, remote-control passenger-side mirror, and color-coordinated wheel discs. Customers also had the choice of a Custom Biarritz Classic, with two-tone paint scheme that not everyone found attractive.