This is a NO Reserve Auction.
This 1978 Cadillac Eldorado "Biarritz" is a 23,600 mile, otally original car. It has a wonderful history & its condition belies even the low 23,600 miles.
I was looking for a Riviera when I found this car & couldn't resist buying it when the following story unfolded!
I am a collector/restorer/hobbyist NOT a dealer & I'm particularly fond of original cars.
History:
The gentleman I purchased it from is an elderly, onderfully eccentric collector of GM vehicles. He owns 90 cars. He loves NO mileage (new) cars or super low mileage GM cars that have interested him over the years. Hence, any of his cars are Corvettes (emphasis on pace cars), adillacs, ldsmobiles, tc. The cars he purchased new in this collection have been delivered to his facility over the years & NEVER dealer prepped at his request. They all have the original factory plastic coverings on the interiors and convertible tops!
His collection is maintained in climate controlled (humidity/temp) facilities that he has built for them. He employed professional mechanics to regularly run and service EVERY car in the collection! This Eldorado is the first and only car that he has sold from that collection. Since my purchase in 2013 we have become "car guy" buddies!
In 1978 he and his friend (a fellow, ike minded collector) bought 2 new Eldorado's together. This car was the friends car, ut my guy missed his blue one after he gave it to his brother as a gift....so, deal was struck between them & this car came back into his collection! Follow that? It's one of the very few he actually DROVE once in a while!
He assures me that the car has NEVER been detailed or buffed. He estimates it has only been
caught in the rain a few times.....never in snow or winter weather. It has only been hand washed.
It has had only Cadillac dealer maintenance over the years. I believe a thorough history of a collector car is an important part of the ownership experience, o bear with me!
The car comes with the original window sticker, ales contract, aperwork, anuals, hop manuals, tc. The car was among the very last "big" Eldorados built for 1978 in May of that year. The door sticker from ASC (GM contractor that did the "Biarritz" mods) is still affixed.
This Biarritz in in phenomenal condition. The interior is perfect & still smells like new. The dash is perfect as is the headliner, arpets, oor panels, nd the "Biarritz" pillow soft leather upholstery.
The exterior trim and top is perfect. Since it hasn't been driven is the wet... there is zero rust under the top or trim; a particular concern for these 70's Cadillacs.
The previous owner was never a fan of waxing cars, ince his cars never were driven in the wet or sun.
I have NOT polished,waxed, or hose washed this car.
I have NOT touched the engine compartment or tried to paint any of the components.
(That would mean points OFF in a "survivor" or "original" class competition.)
Hence, ou'll find that it is not dripping with that dreadful silicone detailers' spray! The original acrylic lacquer paint (Ruidoso Saddle) is untouched. In fact, ou'll see in the pics there is a small rectangular spot on the trunk lid where the dealers sticker was in place until the previous owner decided to remove it a few years ago; so you'll see that the paint has aged gracefully! A careful, rofessional polish might be considered, ut I will leave that decision to the new owner! The car was "ZEIBART-ED" when new.
As you can see from the pictures, t shines beautifully.
Remember ..... it's only original once!
The typical cracking of the plastic/urethane bumper extensions on even low mileage Eldorados is well known. The front pieces on this car HAVE been replaced and painted. They still need to have the pinstriping matched. The rear vertical pieces are still in fine shape! The horizontal pieces on the trailing edge of the trunk lid are original & are starting to go. I have purchased a quart of matching paint for this job that will go with the car.
If he original owner wishes to have me buy the rear pieces, aint them, nd install them... I will do so at the additional cost to me. Approx. a $300-400 job.
I have the original front pieces in a box if the new owner desires them. They were crumbling from age.
The trunk appears to be perfect and not to have had anything ever actually in it! I have an original Eldorado wheel with a brand new tire on it should you wish to have a full size spare back there!
Accessories & Options:
Another concern of Cadillac collectors is the "Climate Control" system. When I purchased the car in 2013, he previous owner took the car to his Cadillac dealer to check the system. His 60+ yr. old dealer mechanic installed an NOS "programmer" and spent two hours adjusting the actuators to assure proper operation in any weather! It has been converted to R134 in the process. Set the dial and forget it....
The car has a rare factory cassette radio that works perfectly. All electrical accessories work as new, ncluding the "auto dimmer" system. All the fiber optics monitors work as they should.
The electric antenna is a little slow and may need some attention in the future.
Also, f the car sits for a while ( more than a couple of months) you'll note that the auto level control will kick on the under-hood compressor on for a few seconds to raise the rear end to proper ride height.
When this happens the correct green light indicator on the dash will illuminate!
Over the years the car has had it's belts, oses, nd alternator, eplaced due to age as necessary.
On my watch:
This car has been pampered in my climatecontrolled shop since I've had it! It has NEVER been below 65 degrees while parked!
Never driven in rain, now, ce, r gravel roads.
I am always nervous about the dreaded ethanol in my cars. To that end, preemptively back blew the fuel lines to the tank (per shop manual). I also decided that a car that sat while only posting 640 miles a year should get a new AC Delco factory fuel pump and filter. It has a new air filter, latinum plugs, actory spec ignition wires, I have also purchased an AC Delco HEI ignition module; and placed it in the glove box.... just in case.
Lastly, e found the passenger side front shock was slowly leaking fluid... I replaced the fronts with Monroe factory replacements. The original tires were replaced in the late 90s. The current tires are Goodyears from that era and are like new; but age dictates a watchful eye.
You may have seen other "original" Eldorados with low miles ( lower than this one ) that have been detailed to death, ngines rattle canned and siliconed, nd the undercarriages spray bombed with black paint and cheap silver paint on the exhaust systems. This car has none of that.
There may be other Eldorados with less miles but I will put this one up against any in the U.S.A. as far as condition and originality; regardless of mileage!
The price reflects its pedigree and history. I want the car to go to a like minded collector.
International Bidders:
I will entertain offers from anywhere outside the U.S.A. I will do my part to ensure the proper paperwork, hipping preparation, nd delivery to a port of embarkation is secure and trouble free. You contract ashipperand PAY for it & I will assure the car is handed off with allprecautions taken to ensure
safe arrival. Despite the listed exclusions... I WiLL work with your agent to ship it to Japan, ndia, r China.
If you have an International shipper you like to work with, lease have them contact me to determine a correct shipping cost estimate for you.
Domestic Bidders:
I will ensure the carrier of your choice sends the car off safely and securely.
All Bidders:
I require a $2000 deposit via payPal within 3 days of a winning bid. The balance must clear my bank within 6 days before a title, eys, r the car leave my shop.
Respectfully, lease don't bid if you don't have the money, r, eed your wife's approval. I've had my share of "Goofs" when selling my cars & can spot one a mile away. I WILL cancel your bid if I think you are a Goof or a scam artist.
Buy the car and enter the "survivor" class at your favorite car shows and get a shelf full of trophies!
I'm still looking for that Riviera and can't bear putting any miles on this beauty!
Contact me via eBay to ask any questions.