1978 Cadillac Eldorado

Gateway Classic Cars of Houston is very proud the present this highly collectible, limited edition 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Custom Biarritz Classic. The 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Custom Biarritz Classic featured here is finished in the limited-edition color combination of Arizona Beige and Demitasse Brown over a Light Beige and Dark Saddle leather interior. The 1978 Eldorado Custom Biarritz Classic was a limited edition built to commemorate the last of the full size Cadillac Eldorado’s and only 1,499 were assembled in this configuration, and only 500 of those had the “Astroroof” option, greatly adding to the collectability of this Cadillac. Power was provided by a 425 cubic inch V-8 engine with a compression ratio of 8.2:1 and a horsepower rating of 180 at 4,000 rpm. Driven carefully, this car can get double digit fuel mileage in town, and in the mid-teens on the highway. It hardly seemed appropriate to allow the last full-sized Eldorado to slip quietly into oblivion without so much as a special edition, but that's exactly what Cadillac had initially planned to do. Since very little time was available for the Custom Biarritz Classic project, Cadillac Division turned to American Sunroof Corporation (ASC) in Southgate, Michigan. ASC would be able to modify standard Custom Biarritz cars quickly, turn them into Custom Biarritz Classics, install a sunroof or “Astroroof” if ordered, and return them to the Cadillac assembly facility for shipment to dealers.

Cadillac began the process by assembling a Custom Biarritz finished in Arizona Beige (paint code 62), with a matching Light Beige Cabriolet Elk Grain vinyl roof (code T) with smaller rear window and French seam roof/window treatment. A special duo-tone pillow-style leather interior (trim code 644) was installed (shown above and at right), which featured a Dark Beige instrument panel, steering wheel and column, and leather jacketed steering wheel rim. Dark Beige carpeting on the floor and lower door panels highlighted the Light Beige vinyl door and rear quarter panel trim, headliner, roof moldings, and seat side bolsters and center panels. Dark Saddle Sierra Grain Leather with Contoured Pillow Style Seating featured Light Beige piping. This interior was unique to the Custom Biarritz Classic model. The partially-completed car was shipped to ASC for modification and completion, where the Demitasse Brown Metallic paint was applied to the center section of the hood, upper sections of the doors, and the forward section of the roof. A supply of exterior moldings was stocked at ASC to be installed after completion of the paint process. Dark Brown accent striping was added as the last step, a final distinctive touch. ASC also installed sunroofs in only 500 cars.

These older Cadillacs have been steadily rising in value of the last decade and a very limited production, special edition like this one is sure to follow that trend! This is a great example of an unmolested, unrestored driver quality collectible, so if you are looking to add to an already existing collection, or are just looking for an unmistakable daily driver, this example of a bygone era is a must see.