This White-on-White 1973 Cadillac Eldorado Has Never Been a Garage Queen

There is a reason Cadillac kept the Eldorado in production for 50 whole years. It meant opulence. Exclusivity. Luxury. Just as Cadillac intended it back in the 1950s, when they chose a name for the model. Eldorado is a contraction of two Spanish words, 'el dorado,' that would translate into 'the golden one.'

But El Dorado is also the mythical The Lost City of Gold, a kingdom located somewhere in the Americas, which fascinated explorers. The Cadillac Eldorado was just like that. Fascinating. With stories just as fascinating to tell today.

And this is valid for this 1973 Eldorado as well. The ninth generation grew in every direction. It was 2 inches longer, gained 6 inches for the wheelbase and got its width extended with fender skirts, which made it look robust, practically intimidating.

For the first time since 1966, Cadillac had come up with a convertible, just like the one that we have here. It had frameless doors and had the rear window deleted. Cadillac chose to use the famous "opera window" instead.

The hood ornament was more prominent, and there were redesigned seats on board, and the radiator grille turned huge after the 1973 facelift.

The convertible, with its elongated yacht-like silhouette, was imported to France a few years ago and had just one owner since arriving in Europe in 2020. On the Old Continent, it underwent light reconditioning work, but there is still the usual wear and tear for a car that has celebrated 50 years since it rolled off the assembly line. The model was first registered in the United States in 1973.

The government technical inspection remains valid until 2024. So the next owner can start adding up some miles to the existing 73,800 (118,769 kilometers) shown by the odometer. One thing is clear. This Cadillac Eldorado was not a garage queen. But it was indeed kept in a garage by the current owner to protect it from the elements.

The body is, as on the day the car drove through the factory gate, painted in white over white upholstery, with the seats, dashboard, and steering wheel covered in leather. The door cards are also in impeccable white, all this bright shade contrasting with the wood trim throughout the cabin. The leather does not exactly look like new, but there doesn't seem to be anything that can't be fixed. The chrome details shine as if it is their very first day in broad daylight.

The old-school instrument cluster stands out, and the 1973 automobile is equipped with power windows. The air conditioning system was reconditioned by the owner, but still needs regassing.

The listing on Cars & Classics mentions that the soft top opens and closes without any issues, but it should still be replaced due to some lining problems. Wheels are also in good overall condition, but the rear left one is missing a section of the mesh, but they were recently fitted with new tires.

The bumper lifts slightly on the passenger side, so that one also needs a solution to keep it in place. The car does show its age much, but it still needs some TLC that would make it get rid of the minor corrosion and look just perfect for the Americana shows.

The Eldorado is powered by the massive 8.2-liter (500-cubic inch) V8, linked to a three-speed automatic transsmision, which was overhauled in the United States before the car set wheels on French soil. The owner says that it works smoothly, starts, runs, and drives as it should. That V8 generates (or at least it did 50 years ago) 235 horsepower (238 PS). The car could hit a top speed of 117 mph (189 kph) and could cruise from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in 9.7 seconds. Not exactly a sports car, but the Eldorado was not designed as an athlete.

It does not make any weird sounds, and there is no weird smoke coming out the tailpipe. He and the one before him were the ones to perform a lot of mechanical work on the car in the past years. The braking system got new pads and master cylinder. A full inspection on the Eldorado was carried out in the vendor's local garage.

Back in the 1970s, the Eldorado was a hit. Cadillac sold 51,451 coupes and convertibles, the highest number of all generations. The car was massive, ponderous, drivers had to labor to manouver it. But it turned head, it screamed luxury, it was a dream car despite all the drawbacks. And here is a chance to own a gold mine on wheels. This 50-year old Caddy is going under the hammer with Car & Classic. Bidding starts on October 22.