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CADILLAC Eldorado Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 5
First production year: 1957
Engines: Gasoline
Body style: Coupé (two-door)
CADILLAC Eldorado photo gallery

Cadillac reinvented itself in the early '90s when it introduced the surprisingly new lineup of the Eldorado, followed by the Touring Coupe version in 1991 for the 1992 model year.

The American luxury brand fought back against the Japanese invasion in the premium and luxury segment, and it sure had what to bring to the table. This Eldorado TC was not just a regular luxury sedan but also one filled with advanced technologies for its times.

Cadillac's designers managed to create a shape that was both modern but also resembled the first front-wheel drive Eldorado from the '70s. At the front, the headlights were slim for this brand, but the main grille still stood tall between them with its chromed vertical slats. The TC revealed its touring ambitions from its sides with its two-door coupe shape and the vertical cut for the rear windows. Even though that led to a thick C-pillar, the exterior look was typical for a Caddy.

Inside, the automaker offered the same level of luxury its customers expected. Wide bucket seats at the front with leather upholstery made the rides comfortable. The smooth lines from the dashboard and the wood trims that surrounded the interior created an even more luxurious look. Inside the instrument cluster, drivers found a mix of large analog dials and an LED display at the bottom. Cadillac installed controls for the lumbar support and heated seats between the front seats on the center console that housed the gearshift.

Under the hood, GM installed the old 4.9-liter V8, followed by the 32-valve Northstar powerplant starting in 1992. The only transmission available was a four-speed automatic. Thanks to its independent suspension in all corners, the TC was comfortable and gripped well during cornering.

full description and technical specifications
CADILLAC Eldorado photo gallery

This luxobrage was the epitome of a personal luxury vehicle back at the beginning of the '70s and one of the first cars in the world that featured a driver's airbag.

While the muscle-car era was coming to an end, Cadillac prepared the road for luxurious models designed for those who were not that much attracted by quarter-mile times or cornering speeds. Thus, the ninth generation of the Eldorado appeared in 1971 and showed a size increase. It was longer than most four-door sedans on the market. In its open-top shape, it also replaced the former de Ville rag top.

Right from the start, Cadillac tried to create an impressive vehicle fit for those with deep pockets and a taste for luxury. It adopted a new design, with squared lines and flat panels. Moreover, due to its front-wheel drive architecture, it had to have a longer front overhang. At the front, the sculptural vertical grille was a new design element, which stood in place for decades to come. It also boasted a wide V-shaped front fascia, resembling a ship's bow.

With its lavish cabin fit for at least five occupants, the Eldorado boasted full vinyl seats and plenty of legroom for all occupants, thanks to its 126.3" (3,208 mm) wheelbase. In terms of safety, apart from the optional airbag, it also featured a system that told the driver about the lightbulbs status. Thus, they didn't have to go around the car and see if all the lamps were in running order.

Under the hood, Cadillac installed a huge, 500 cu-in engine (8.2-liter), which was later replaced by a smaller 425 cu-in powerplant. The only available transmission was a three-speed automatic. For enhanced comfort, the Eldorado sported coil-springs in the back.

full description and technical specifications
gasoline engines:

CADILLAC Eldorado 8.2

CADILLAC Eldorado photo gallery

The Eldorado's eighth-generation was the first built on a front-wheel-drive platform, but it still was a personal luxury coupe benchmark.

Back in the late '60s, when some Americans were falling for the new muscle-car era, others were more concerned about image and luxury. For them, Cadillac made the Eldorado, a car that could smoke the front tires but still be able to float on the road like on a magic carpet.

Cadillac installed several distinct features for the Eldorado, when compared to its siblings, named the Oldsmobile Toronado or the Buick Riviera. In the grille's hide-away headlights, the low-mounted side lamps on the front fenders, and the wide 9" tires made a difference. The car's lines were long and ample, but with a twist behind the doors with elevated quarter panels that ended into sharp fins at the car's back with the vertically mounted taillights.

The luxurious interior was fitted with two power front seats and a bench in the back. Cadillac installed an instrument cluster with the dials at the upper side and a line of buttons and switches on the lower side. The driver from his door panel could have controlled the four power-windows. Strangely, the air-conditioning and the tilt-steering wheel were on the options list and were not fitted as standard.

Under the hood, Cadillac installed a 7-liter (429 cu-in) V8 engine, which sent the power to the front wheels via a 3-speed automatic transmission. Later on, the engine was upgraded to a 7.7-liter in 1968 and to an 8.0-liter in 1970.

full description and technical specifications
gasoline engines:

CADILLAC Eldorado 7.7

CADILLAC Eldorado Convertible photo gallery

It was the jet age era for the car design industry, and the Eldorado Convertible is one of the finest examples for that, but it was more than just a beautifully penned vehicle.

At the beginning of 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the U.S. of A. Not exactly a place to drive an open-top Cadillac, but still an important moment for that year. For those who had more patience, Hawaii became the 40th state in the same year. That was truly a place to drive with the top down this majestic, fourth-generation Eldorado.

When Chuck Jordan designed the vehicle, he installed the highest tail fins ever placed on a production vehicle, and that statement lasted only for a year. But they attracted looks wherever an Eldorado Convertible was driven or parked. Its dual bullet styling for the taillights was another unique feature of the car. At the same time, the amount of chromed elements installed on the vehicle was astonishing, starting with the bumper and radiator's grille and continuing with the side trims and rocker panels.

Inside, the luxurious vehicle featured a bench for three at the front and another one in the back. The driver fronted a two-spoke steering wheel adorned with more chrome that matched the vehicle's exterior trims. Cadillac hid the removable roof behind the rear passengers in a designated compartment covered with a vinyl cap.

Underneath the hood, GM installed a 390 ci (6.4-liter) V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission as the only option available.

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CADILLAC Eldorado Brougham photo gallery

In the '50s, Cadillac introduced the Eldorado range, consisting of three versions: the Seville at the bottom, the convertible Biarritz in the middle, and above them all was the ultra-luxurious Brougham.

Bringing the most expensive cars on the market was no easy task for Cadillac. If they wanted to sell the vehicle with more money than any other vehicle, they should fit the Brougham with all the best parts in their storage and then add some more. And that's what they did when they launched the third generation of the Eldorado in 1957.

Designed by no other than Harley Earl, the man who made thy Buick Y-Job, the Brougham represented the epitome of luxury. First of all, it was more expensive than a Rolls-Royce. But, then, it had power for everything: from seats to windows, from steering to brakes. Moreover, even the trunk had a soft-close feature.

At the front, the quad-headlight design gave the car an impressive stance. Its broad chromed grille and bumper shined on the road. On the sides, there were fewer chromed parts than in many other vehicles, but then the Eldorado also sported a chromed rear bumper that also covered the lower side of the rear quarter panels. Finally, as a symbol of luxury, the tail fins in the back stood high and proud.

Inside, everything looked luxurious. The radio featured bass and treble adjustments, and the seats' soft springs absorbed the bumps better than any other seats on the market. At the front, customers had the option of a bench seat so three could see and enjoy the view through the curved, panoramic windshield.

Under the hood, Cadillac placed a 5.9-liter V8 that moved the heavy vehicle with grace and in comfort via a butter-smooth three-speed automatic.

full description and technical specifications