Cadillac Eldorado is a car for majors who value luxury. The model is the most vanguard of all American cars. Wealthy individuals chose this vehicle because of the increased comfort and luxury of the cabin. How the model has changed over time, we consider below.
Car history
The American Cadillac group released the Eldorado model in 1953, at that time it belonged to the Personal Luxury Car class. The car was produced in a two-door version. From 1957 to 1960, this version was the most expensive. In subsequent years, this place was taken by magnificent limousines and elongated sedans from the 75th Cadillac series.
For the first time in the world automotive industry, electrical equipment with a voltage of 12 V was used. Adaptive headlights unique for those times reduced the intensity of the glow when an oncoming car occurred, this option significantly increased the cost of the model. "Cadillac Eldorado" was produced exclusively to order, which made the car exclusive. For the first year of production, the company was able to sell only 532 cars, and today this vehicle has become the object of desire of many collectors.
An interesting fact is that the Eldorado was not always produced in the classic rear-wheel drive version. Since 1967, a version with front drive wheels appeared.
First model
The first generation of Cadillac Eldorado first rolled off the assembly line in 1953, while the company needed to create a sensation around the model. And the developers managed to do this - from the first days the car attracted attention with a spectacular appearance. The body resembled a fast sports car that combines luxury and speed. The memorable elements were the convex wings and the hood. The massive bumper in front had a large grille. For buyers was available only one type of body - a convertible.
A combination of two shades was chosen as the color scheme of the interior. The classic two-spoke steering wheel is complemented by a beige insert. As a power unit, the developers used an engine (5.4 liters) with a maximum power of 190 horsepower. Finding such a version of the Cadillac Eldorado is now very difficult, because it is now considered a retro car.
Further improvements
A year after the start of production, the company released a restyled version of the Cadillac. Its production was established from 1954 to 1956, and the main change was the appearance supplemented by some elements. On the body appeared "gills" and "fins" on the wings. The radiator grill has acquired a fine mesh structure.
Inside, changes also benefited the model. The front panel has become larger, and devices more informative and understandable. For the first time, a radio was installed in the car.
In addition to the convertible, the Cadillac Eldorado sedan also appeared. As the engine, the same engine with a volume of 5.4 liters was used. The addition was a four-speed automatic transmission. At the moment, at American auctions you can find such a car for about 5,000,000 rubles. But it is worth remembering that it will be necessary to lay out a lot of money for shipping and customs clearance.
Technical update
From 1957 to 1958, the manufacturer released the third generation of the Cadillac-Eldorado, which received dual head optics. The shape of the grille and bumpers has changed. A lot of chrome elements appeared in the cabin, as well as individual inserts with beige leather.
Under the hood, there have been changes. Installed a new 6.4-liter V-8 engine with a power reserve of 345 horsepower. Such an engine endowed the Cadillac Eldorado with characteristics that helped it compete with cars of other brands.
Impressive change
A year later, the automaker showed a new "Cadillac Eldorado" (1959), which made a splash. Presentable appearance has lost a large number of stampings and bloated elements. Elegant fins on the hind wings remained intact, but the dimensions of the car increased quite noticeably. The car was produced only in the back of a convertible.
The salon underwent significant changes, and the main feature was a separate front row of seats (in previous versions it was a single sofa). The climate control system has moved under the dashboard.
The company produced a Cadillac with two types of V-8 engines :
- 6.4-liter engine with 325 "horses".
- A new 7-liter unit with a maximum power of 340 horsepower.
Collectors today can buy a car for a little over 7,500,000 rubles.
Next was the model produced during 1965-1966, which was already the fifth generation in a row. The body lines acquired a strict and classic look, the head optics began to be located vertically. The body type was still the same - a convertible, other options were not expected.
The developers removed a 6.4-liter engine from the car, now only a 340-horsepower 7-liter engine was offered, working in conjunction with a three-speed automatic.
Another change
The company needed to expand the circle of customers. Therefore, the developers decided to restyling the 1959 version. The result of the changes was the new 1967 Cadillac Eldorado. Significant improvements were made to the front of the car. The head optics found a retractable structure, in the case of broken lamps, the headlights were hidden under the hood. The image of a fast-moving car was observed from a side projection. It turned out thanks to the small angle of inclination of the rear pillars and magnificent wings. Hardtop body first appeared.
Under the hood, American engineers installed three engine modifications:
- All the same old solid 340-horsepower V-8.
- A more powerful 7.7-liter gasoline engine with a stock of 375 "horses".
- The most serious unit is 8.2 liters and a capacity of 400 horsepower.
All engines without exception worked together with a three-speed automatic transmission.
Company pride
Undoubtedly, one of the recognizable versions was the 1972 Cadillac-Eldorado model. Monumentality was added to the appearance by creating a convex hood and a huge number of chrome parts. Because of the numerous reviews about the unsatisfactory quality of the headlight assembly, the developers had to abandon the original design of the hiding optics. The seventh generation of the Cadillac Eldorado was produced in two body styles: a coupe and a convertible.
In the 70s, most American automakers began to reduce the power of their power units due to the oil crisis. Therefore, in the Cadillac lineup of engines there have been significant changes. The 7-liter engine lost the lion's share of “horses”, now its power was 180 horsepower. The most powerful among the 8.2-liter engines produced by the company produced a maximum of 218 “horses”. A positive change was the front-wheel drive car. Oddly enough, in 1978 the Cadillac-Eldorado added engine power, and this value became equal to 370 horsepower.
Who will suit the car
From the very beginning of production, Cadillac Eldorado was acquired exclusively by wealthy people. The presence of rich finishes and high-quality leather spoke of one thing - a car would cost a lot of money. In addition, the model was not transferred to mass production, and it was produced exclusively by the individual order of customers. You can only imagine the price of this model after looking at the photo of the Cadillac Eldorado.
Today, versions of the presented generations are considered retrocars, and they can be found mainly in the garages of collectors. The cost of some copies reaches ten million rubles, or even more. Basically, it all depends on the condition of the machine and its history.
It is worth noting that the company released eleven generations of the model, and their production continued until 2002. Of course, cars were not delivered to Russia, although they could be purchased by order.
Undoubtedly, the Eldorado is a luxury item, and possession of it indicates the viability of the motorist. The model will fit perfectly into the collection of cars of the second half of the 20th century and, undoubtedly, will occupy a significant place among retrocars.