Test: Cadillac Eldorado 1979

I’ve had the honor of a Cadillac Eldorado once before, but I didn’t disdain the opportunity to try out the two generations younger tenth-generation coupe from 1979. Back then, the Eldorado was an established model with its own fan base, having been on the market since 1952. It always occupied rather the upper floors of the American brand offer. The name refers to a mythical lost city of gold in South America.

This gray Eldorado dates back to when Cadillac went front-wheel drive. It first appeared at the Eldorado in 1967. But we will jump to 1979, when the tenth generation appeared and was offered as a convertible or a coupe. It was a smaller and lighter car than the previous version – the car was shortened to 5.2 meters. The shape of the rear part, which was more angular, changed a lot. But the Eldorado had frameless windows. There is a built-in thermometer on the driver’s side mirror, which is even illuminated at night.

In front of me I also have a traditional symbol on the tip of the hood, and you can see this symbol several times from every part of the car. A lot of chrome throws piggies in your eyes. The mask is large with the necessary inscription, on the sides there are two pairs of headlights and below them turn signals. In the side view, the wire lids catch my eye the most.

Inside, Cadillac prepared a novelty in the form of an on-board computer. It appeared for the first time in the Eldorado model, although the system had its full premiere a year earlier in the Seville sedan. The equipment also includes air conditioning, cruise control and a radio with a cassette player. Furthermore, the American car manufacturer opted for real wood, lots of chrome and high-quality leather. The large, comfortable seats are wonderfully soft and electrically adjustable, like virtually everything else in the car. In front of the driver is an adjustable steering wheel with a thin rim of a large diameter.

The Eldorado sits on an E-body frame platform, so its longitudinally mounted engine drives the front wheels. So did its siblings – Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado. The heart of the car is, of course, the eight-cylinder fork, in this case it is an Oldsmobile Rocket small-block 350 engine with electronic fuel injection, i.e. with a volume of 5.7 liters. Cadillac already offered a six-cylinder in this generation, but don’t tell me you want anything other than a V8.

Power is 170 hp at 4,200 rpm, torque 367 Nm at 2,000 rpm. A three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic THM-325 automatic transmission is connected to the engine. Acceleration to 100 takes 11 seconds. Thanks to the injection, the fuel consumption has been reduced to a more acceptable 13 liters and the production of emissions has also decreased. You can’t even hear the engine much, because the interior is well soundproofed and the drive unit just burbles at lower revs. In addition, even after years, quality production is evident, so nothing squeaks or clicks here. But when you step on the gas, this America has a fairly decent pull.

The tenth generation boasted independent rear suspension for the first time. Thanks to this, there was still enough space on the back seats and the luggage compartment is also decently large, even though the length of the car has been shortened. Naturally, the front wheels are also independently suspended. And Cadillac also has amazing driving characteristics and driving comfort that was hard to find a competitor at the time. There were new disc brakes on all wheels.

Cadillac discontinued the Eldorado after its twelfth generation in 2002 and replaced it with the CTS Coupe. The successor to the piece presented today appeared in 1986. But it was not nearly as successful as the tenth generation. In 1984, it set a record in the form of 77,806 copies sold, which was then 26% of all Cadillacs sold that year. In total, less than half a million of these Eldorados were created. It is said to be the most reliable variant with this engine, the later Cadillacs did not have such a good reputation. Even the automatic usually works smoothly and there is practically nothing to break on it. The owner is more likely to suffer from corrosion. Cadillac has taken good care of the car, but cars of this age are already blistering, even if not this particular one.

The car from today’s article is currently looking for an owner, so if I’ve praised it enough, you’re in luck. It is from the offer of Veterans at Truc and for 450 thousand crowns you will get a car without the frequent vinyl roof and with a low mileage of 45 thousand kilometers. The first owner was a lady from Boston, then the Eldorado stayed for some time with two collectors, and the second one documented the car’s complete service costs and all documentation. Plus he added the original eight-track tapes to the radio, what more could you want?