1976 Cadillac Eldorado

CONVERTIBLE Convertible

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

Gasoline

Restored 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Lots More Photos Here: http://photobucket.com/1976CadillacEldorado Brief History: I bought this car in December 2009 from a guy who had owned the car for about 10 years and used it as a weekend driver. At some point he had the original 500 cid motor rebuilt, but that was the apparent extent of his work. It was in better than good condition when I got it, so I therefore decided to buy it and have a full restoration performed on it. In early 2010 I took the vehicle to Honest John’s Caddy Corner in Justin, Texas who specializes in restorations of older Cadillacs. It underwent about a 6 month restoration process. Since getting the car back, I have kept it in an enclosed storage facility 100% of the time and have put less than 600 miles on it. I drive the vehicle three or four times a month to work, in addition to the occasional local parades, car shows, and other club activities as I am a member of the North Texas Region Cadillac and LaSalle Club. Restoration Details: This represents a quick list of everything major that was replaced on the vehicle. There were dozens and dozens of small items and trim work that were replaced, but I won’t and probably can’t list every single thing that I have done to bring this vehicle up to the point that you see it today. Body: New Firethorn Red paint (three coats), which is the original factory color of the vehicle. Any dings or areas of the body that could be perfected were in fact worked over and smoothed out during the restoration process. Hood could use better fitment in my opinion, but the massive hinges are still good and the hood goes up and down stays up properly when raised. Both doors were removed and rehung to ensure proper fitment and the door handles were replaced. Body integrity is better than 95%, with two small areas of recent bubbling at rear quarter-panels (see photos) and a small bit of degradation at the lip of the front fender panel where it terminates under the hood. During restoration, trunk lid and trunk floor were removed, reinforced, repainted and replaced to ensure better than like-new condition. Automatic trunk closure motor works as designed. Trunk has all new upholstery kit installed in the period correct gray speck carpet. All new urethane filler panels at front bumper, rear bumper and gas filler panel locations, installed at time of restoration, all still in perfect condition. Top: New white convertible top with new rear window and new top “boot” that the top rests inside of when retracted into the rear deck. Electrical motor for raising and lowering of top is in working condition. These tops never fit 100% watertight at the side window heads and this one is no different. If you sit in the car thru a carwash you’ll get some sprinkles in your hair. Interior: During restoration, all interior was completely removed. All new red carpet, pad, and insulation was installed along with new red full front floor mat embroidered with the Cadillac symbol. Carpet that covers the back of front seats and kick-panels was re-dyed red. White leather seats are full hyde leather, unbelievably thick, and in great condition. The face of the leather has hairline surface cracking, but there are no splits, holes, or “crack thru’s”. All the leather is original, has been conditioned and re-dyed white. I keep conditioner on it typically as well just to keep it as soft and pliable as possible. Dash is a two piece dash and the lower piece is cracked. Glass: New windshield installed during restoration. All four side windows are original and in good condition. Electrical motors for all windows work. Motor: Rebuilt 8.2 liter Cadillac 500 cid motor, tuned up in early 2010. Original 4 barrel Rochester Quadrajet carburetor which was rebuilt in 2010. Both motor and carburetor work flawlessly. This vehicle has never failed to start and run for me everytime. During the restoration, the engine bay was detailed and all accessible bolts were removed, cleaned, painted blue, and replaced. New hood pad insulation installed. Very smooth. Very quiet. Very powerful. Lots of torque. It will motor you up to highway speed surprisingly fast for a vehicle that weighs as much as this does. I have been using Castrol 20W50. Weatherstripping: New weatherstripping kit installed during restoration which included doors, top roof rail, windshield pillar posts, quarter windows and trunk seal. When I hand-wash the car, I see a little water in the truck sometimes so I think that the trunk seal may need to be refitted, but I never drive in the rain so I never have addressed this. Suspension: VERY smooth ride. Torsion bars were adjusted during restoration. Brakes: Four wheel disc brakes. Full brake job performed in May 2010 including new brake proportioning valve and rebuilt master cylinder. Air Conditioning / Heating: Air conditioner works but needs to have hoses replaced and system charged. I had the system fully charged in the summer of 2010 and it blew hard and ice cold, but with a slow Freon leak which my mechanic attributed to old original factory AC hoses. Heater core needs replacement and leaks when engaged. I never drive with the top and windows up, nor did I drive it in the winter more than once or twice a month, so I never had the AC or heater core fixed. Electrical: What works: Lights, brights, turn signals, interior accessory lights, power door locks, power windows, speedometer, odometer, trip odometer, windshield wipers, trunk closer, horn, power seats, radio. What does not currently work: cruise control, power antenna, rear window defroster, fuel gauge, dash clock, special Eldorado option for “full” reclining seats although all the regular power seat adjustments work fine. Sound system: I had a Kenwood KDC-148 CD-Receiver with remote, removable faceplate and fluorescent display professionally installed at Car Sounds in North Richland Hills in May 2011 (last week). The car has good sounding mid speakers in the dash and what I believe are 6x9s mounted behind the rear seat. This was a factory mounted location, but judging from the good quality of sound that is coming out, I am going to believe that these are aftermarket high quality replacement speakers. Tires: Four new Coker Tire American Classic 1.6” whitewall 235/75R15 tires which was the factory size tire and factory size width of the whitewall. Less than 300 miles on them. Never a flat. Never a plug. Other: Parade Boot included and painted same color as car. Perfect condition factory black hubcaps, with no curb rash, which took me a good while to find on Ebay at any price. Already licensed as an Antique Vehicle in Texas, which is a VERY cheap registration that remains valid for 5 years! The current plates and registration are good thru 2013. I’ve had a new battery installed, rotors replaced, brake pads and new calipers installed, factory chrome trim installed, radiator flushed, hoses replaced, side trim and interior wood “look” trim hand painted, trunk lock and cover replaced, chrome bumpers polished, and a million other little things that add to the period authenticity and originality of the vehicle. The stereo head unit is the only thing that is not straight out of 1976. Ive entered this car into car shows, tooled around the Stockyards in it, had fun with it, my kids love it, it’s a blast to drive. I’ve got over $20k in this car. You shouldn’t have to spend a dime beyond the purchase price to drive and enjoy it. I know of no other defects in the vehicle beyond that which I have described herein. It is not a car that is on its last leg and the seller is trying to get out from under it before it clunks out. To the contrary, I have sunk $$ into this car sufficient to buy it another life and keep running on and on. I am selling to fund other endeavors and think it’s time for someone else to have some fun with it. Terms: Cash or certified funds. $1000 deposit due within 48 hours of auction close. Balance due within 7 days. I will assist with coordinating a pickup time at my house with your shipper.