A
1973 ELDORADO
1971–1978
Eighth generation
Production     1971–1978
Assembly     Linden, New Jersey, USA
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Body style     2-door coupe
2-door convertible
Layout     FF layout
Platform     E-body
Engine     500 cu in (8.2 L) V8 (1971–76)
425 cu in (7.0 L) V8 (1977–78)
Transmission     3-speed automatic
Wheelbase     126.3 in (3,210 mm)
Length     224 in (5,700 mm) (1977–78)
224.1 in (5,690 mm) (1974–76)
223 in (5,700 mm) (1971–73)
Width     79.8 in (2,030 mm)
Height     54.2 in (1,380 mm)
Related     Buick Riviera
Oldsmobile Toronado

When GM's full-size cars were redesigned for 1971, the Eldorado regained both a convertible model and its fender skirts. The 126.3-inch (3,210 mm) wheelbase version of the Eldorado would run through 1978, receiving facelifts in 1973 and 1975. The Eldorado, Riviera and Toronado shared the redesigned E-body chassis. However, as before, Eldorado and Toronado were front-wheel drive, while the Riviera (which underwent three design changes in the same timeframe, including a temporary switch to the B-body platform for 1977) was rear-wheel drive. Sales set a new record at 27,368.

Although the door glass on all Eldorados remained frameless, the hardtop rear quarter windows vanished, replaced by a fixed "opera window" in the widened "C" pillar. This was likely done to conform to threatened Federal rollover safety standards that were scheduled to take effect by the mid-1970s.

In 1972 sales rose yet again to 40,074.

Starting in 1973 the Eldorado was removed from Fleetwood sub-series status and reestablished as its own totally separate series.[1][2][17]

The Cadillac Eldorado was chosen as the pace car for the Indy 500 in 1973. All in all, Cadillac produced 566 of these special pace car convertibles. Thirty-three were used at the track during the race week and the remaining 513 cars were distributed to the U.S. Cadillac dealers (one for each dealership), which were then sold to the general public. Total sales soared to 51,451. Eldorados now accounted for over a sixth of all Cadillac sales.

A redesigned instrument cluster was phased in during the 1974 model year (known as the "space age" instrument panel from Cadillac literature), also shared with the Calais, De Ville and Sixty Special.

For 1977, the Eldorado received a new grille with a finer crosshatch pattern. The convertible was canceled (although Custom Coach of Lima, Ohio took a few brand-new 1977 and 1978 Eldorados into their coachbuilder facilities and converted them into coach convertibles using salvaged parts from 1971-76 Eldorados; Cadillac did not produce convertibles after 1976). The 8.2L V8 of 1970-76 gave way to a new 7L V8 with 180 bhp (134 kW). Also in 1977, all E-body cars were exclusively front-wheel drive for the first time, when Buick removed the Riviera from that platform during a two-year hiatus (after which it also switched to front-wheel drive in 1979). Minor changes followed in 1978.

This generation of Eldorados produced between 1971 and 1978 were sometimes customized as seen in films like Dolemite, Superfly, Highwaymen, The Mack, Willie Dynamite, (the customized Eldorado seen in Willie Dynamite is similar to the one seen in Magnum Force) and even the James Bond film Live and Let Die. An Eldorado was also used in Rob Zombie's second film, The Devil's Rejects as the car that the character Charlie drove. Customizers such as Les Dunham Coachworks have modified brand-new Eldorados with headlight covers (commonly known as Superfly headlights), grille caps, a 1941 goddess hood ornament, lake pipes, and thick-padded vinyl tops, usually with circular porthole windows.
Eldorado convertible for 1976

In 1976, when all other domestic convertibles had vanished, GM heavily promoted the American industry's only remaining convertible as "the last American convertible". 14,000 would be sold, many purchased as investments. The final 200 convertibles produced were designated as "Bicentennial Edition" commemorating America's 200th birthday. These cars were white with a dual-color red/blue pinstripe along the upper bodyside. In 1983, when GM reintroduced convertibles, 1976 Eldorado owners, who felt they had been deceived, launched an unsuccessful class action lawsuit.[2