1968 Cadillac Eldorado

Thanks for looking at my 1968 Cadillac Eldorado. This is a very nice car that you can enjoy as is or improve and take to the next level. I bought it last year from Florida through an online auction.

The last US owner of this 1968 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado Coupe was the third owner, having purchased it from a collector in Vero Beach, Florida, who kept it in climate-controlled storage for 20 years. The last owner has also kept the car in climate-controlled storage during his ownership. This makes me just the fourth owner in almost 60 years.

The last owner carried out a 32 month restoration on the car, for his wife. Divorce forced the sale. The restoration is accompanied by a spreadsheet with records as including:

 New hood insulation pad $75 Aug. 21
 Rubber bumpers for door locks $45 Feb. 21
 New thermostat $87 Jan. 21
 New batter $216 Aug. 21
 New PCV Valve $12 Oct. 21
 New water pump $183 Apr. 22 (record states AC gas included, but the AC does not work)
 New radiator hose $29 Nov. 21
 Paint for engine and wheels $72 Sept. 21
 Aire filter and wiper blades $133 Jun. 21
 Glass fuses $21 Aug. 21
 Spark plugs $72 Jul. 21
 New paint $3500 Jun. 22 – Shalimar Gold done by Born Again Customs and they used the car for their advertising
o The finish was significantly improved after we did a paint correction by cutting and mopping – now it looks NICE
 New gold carpets $373 Aug. 21
 New master cylinder and brake servo $600 Aug. 21
 New headlights $80 Aug. 21
 Chrome headlight covers $90 Aug. 21
 Two new axles $230 Aug. 21
 Installation of axles and wheel alignment $975 Aug. 21
 Radiator, hose, J hose and clamps $240 Aug. 21
 New vinyl top and padding $600 Aug. 21
 Chrome trim and emblems $115 Aug. 21
 New front brakes $320 Aug. 21
 Brake service, callipers, pads and shoes Sept. 21
 New upper ball joints $326 Aug. 21
 New lower ball joints $255 Aug. 21
 Grill emblem $213 Aug. 21
 Pin-striping $250 Jul. 23
 Ignition condenser / ignition set $44 Mar. 22
 Fuel filters $140 Jul. 22
 Hub cap crests $214 Aug. 21
 New Vogue tyres x 4 $1014 Sept. 21
 New Front and rear gas shocks $451 Jul. 21
 New rear shock mounts $199 Mar. 22

He clearly spent a lot of money on the car, in total about $20K on top of the initial purchase price. I bought the car with a view to re-doing the interior, ironing out any niggles with the above restoration and adding it to my collection, using it and enjoying it – I love the styling of this model, and this is my ninth Cadillac across many generations from 1968 to 2006.

Once in the UK, we started with a complete service of the transmission – full flush, new kickdown switch, new Governor new transmission pan gasket . We fitted a new fuel sender and the fuel gauge works. The fuel tank is believed to be newly installed during the US restoration.

The engine runs really good and the gearbox goes through all the gears and kicks down just as it should. The exhaust has Magnaflow mufflers – it sounds very throaty and gives this Caddy some real bad-ass attitude.

We also did a lot of work on the rear brakes, despite the work above they were sticking on; scored drums weren’t helping, so we fitted new drums and brake pipes to the rear, and now all is well. Unfortunately, time has beaten me, circumstances have changed and I will not get the opportunity to finish it now as I wanted and so I am offering it for sale at what I believe is a very keen price. My substantial LOSS is your gain. This Eldorado is a bargain, even in a quiet market.

The chrome on this car is lovely. The carpets and interior mats and paint are new. We cut and mopped the paint in the UK to maximise it and it is very presentable. The car really is a looker.

There is no rust.
The Vogue tyres are nearly new and you can't get those in the UK.

With a steam clean of the interior, most of it will come up pretty nice. If you can match the leather to that on the rear seat, you would get away with only re-trimming the front seat. I would recommend reaching out to SMS in Oregon - details above it is simply amazing what they are able to supply.

With a bit of investment and some TLC this could be a very nice car for not a lot of money.

The car is located in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, SG6, 30 miles north of London, junction 9 of the A1(M).
Viewings are available by appointment.

I am a collector, not a dealer. Sorry, but I am not interested in a part exchange. Payment is to be by bank transfer into my account and the car will be released upon receipt of cleared funds.

SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE 1968 CADILLAC ELDORADO

The 1967 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado represented a huge break from tradition, and its front-wheel drive foreshadowed Cadillacs of the future while realizing Bill Mitchell’s desire to get Cadillac into the burgeoning personal luxury car market.

The eighth-generation 1968 Fleetwood Eldorado changed little on the outside — it still featured elegant razor-edge styling, a long hood, short trunk, formal roofline, and hidden headlights — but it received some serious mechanical updates. Chief among these was a new 375 horsepower, 472 cu-in V8 engine, which received thicker castings, improved crankshaft stiffness, redesigned piston rings, larger bearing areas, and longer piston skirts — all aimed at longer engine life.

Externally, the Eldorado’s already long hood was extended another 4. 5 inches to make room for concealed wipers, and turn signals were moved to the forward edge of the front fenders, instead of in the front bumper. Side marker lights were added, and the rear ones were hidden within Cadillac wreaths.
Cadillac sales increased for the fourth straight year in 1968, including a 36 percent jump for the Eldorado.

Highlights of the 1968 Eldorado
• 472-cu-in V8 engine, generating 375 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque
• Power seats
• Power door locks
• Variable ratio power steering and automatic rear levelling
• Tilt steering column
• AM/ FM radio
• Air conditioning
• Torsion bar suspension in front and leaf springs at the rear
• Distributor moved to the front of the block
• Oil filter and pump mounted on the engine as a separate unit
• 120 inch wheelbase and an overall length of 221 inches
• Weight: 4, 580 pounds
• 0-60 mph in 8. 6 seconds
• Quarter mile in 16. 8 seconds at 84 mph
• Bench seat with folding center armrest

Included with this car
• Original owner service log
• Owner's manual
• Original spare tire
• some receipts and spreadsheet record of the US restoration
• all receipts for parts fitted in my ownership
• 1968 Cadillac brochure featuring a gold Eldorado

Bad bits that I am aware of:

Air conditioning does not work
Heater blower does not work – I have not investigated this
Driver’s side fender-top turn signal is not working, although front and rear turn signals are working
Driver’s side rear electric window does not work, all other windows do work
Radio powers up but doesn’t get any reception – perhaps the antenna is disconnected – I have not investigated this
The glass on the front of fender turn signals is cracked, but it is not leaking in water – these sometimes come up second hand, try Caddy Daddy - details above or eBay USA - details above from time to time, I haven’t found any yet…
None of the above will prevent you from using the car and having plenty of fun as it is.

Surely the cheapest Eldo in the UK.