Why so cheap?

[Dave Greenburg (#3830)]

The "Optional Equipment for 1967" information reprinted in Roy Schneiders "Cadillacs of the Sixties" mentions rear power "vent" windows as an Eldorado option.  Seems like many buyers of that era skipped the power vent window option; I guess this applied to Eldo. buyers too.

Dave Greenburg

[Mike #19861]

 It would seem that the rear 1/4 windows on the Eldorado were considered "Ventilator" windows, and not a regular window. The 67 brochure states that all window regulators, save for the Calais, are power operated. Power ventilator windows were standard on the Fleetwood Sixty Special and Brougham. It does not state weather or not power ventilator windows were available on the Eldorado.

 I have seen the occasional 67-70 Eldorado where these windows were not power operated. I seem to remember hearing somewhere along the line where the power regulators could not be incorporated into the rear mechanisms on the 67 models. Not sure how true this is. But in any event, power rear ventilator windows were standard by 1970. I have the 69 and 70 brochures, in which the 69 does not list standard equipment, and the optional equipment list is somewhat abbreviated. So, I am unsure as to when they became standard, 68, 69 or 70.

  Mike

[Mike #19861]

 I noticed those things too. The paint certainly has its share of blemishes if you look closely. The trunk lid looks to be a mess.

 The hard interior parts look painted. The paint is actually beginning to wear off the steering wheel spokes (are they not supposed to be black anyway?). The rest of the parts look too glossy to be original.

 The rust in the instrument cluster suggests the car has spent considerable time outside with a leak of some sort into the interior. The painted interior parts may be an attempt to cover up moisture damage. The seats are in relatively poor condition as well.

 The engine compartment is a mess. No attempt to clean things up. I would think that the engine would have been detailed before it was installed into the car. That is the best time to do it. Also perhaps clean up the rest of the engine compartment before the engine was installed.

 I really doubt this is a 30,000 mile car. Just too many strikes against it. The engine, the interior, the shabby paint. Just not the sort of things you would expect to see on such a car.

  Mike

[Dick Heller]

1967 CADILLAC ELDORADO
CONVENIENCE OPTIONS
"Rear quarter power ventipanes ($63)"

1968 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD ELDORADO SUB-SERIES 693
"Regular equipment on the luxury sports type car included all Fleetwood standards plus power rear quarter ventipanes.."

Looks like 1967 was a one-off year for optional power rear quarter ventipanes according to the literature.

[Johnny]

This message post and threads is a prime example of why a person should join the CLC.  From a simple initial post alerting people to a car for sale on ebay, look at all the information that became available to the public concering this car.  The information would be priceless to someone that is less then knowledgable about "Classic Cadillacs".  They could easily think they would be getting a great collectable at a steal.

By the way, how much to replace the cracked windshield???

[Johnny]

[For Sale- the ultra classic 1967 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado 2 Door Hardtop. The car that Robert Dinero drove in the hit Movie Casino]

Its been awhile since I saw the film, but did Robert Dinero drive a 67 Eldo in "Casino".  I remember the late 70s and early 80s Eldos, but not a 67.  By the way it was reassuring to find out about the extra plate under the drivers seat, that prevents the driver to be blown up, if his car is fire bombed LOL.


Reagarding the windshield:

[There is also a crack in the windshield about 8" long on the passenger side.]

[Jack McClow CLC #15840]

Thanks to everybody who responded to my question regarding the manual rear windows on the 67 Eldo ......... I am facinated by details like this ........ especially facinated that both a manufacturer and a purchaser of a car such as this would cheap out in such an obvious area ....... what must the rear seat passengers have thought of this luxury car when they settled in only to find a window crank meeting their eye?

It appears as though GM finally figured out the obvious within a year, but I would be interested to know what the logic was behind the original decision to make those small rear windows manual on an otherwise technologically advanced automobile.  Its not as though they didnt know how to make the windows power operated ...... they apparently just chose to try to squeeze out an extra $63.00 on an already very expensive car.  If I had been at GM at the time I would have had a fit if Id been forced to accept such a management decision.  

Jack.

[Jack McClow CLC #15840]

Thats a very good point ....... seems to me he was driving one of the Eldos from the 79 through 84 period ....... Im sure he was.

[Dick Heller]

I agree.  It fascinates me that someone (including dealers) would order a car with tilt wheel and twilight sentinel and not spring for rear power windows.

[Johnny]

[especially facinated that both a manufacturer and a purchaser of a car such as this would cheap out in such an obvious area]

They sort of did the same thing again with the 81 models, with the introduction of the V 8-6-4 engine.  For the sake of a couple of hundred dollars, GM opted to produce this disasterous engine.  They could have kept the existing powerplants, but CAFE rules would have placed a surcharge of a couple of hundred dollars on each engine, so GM took the cheap way out!  Of course in the long run, it wasnt the cheap way.

[Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397]

I had wondered how many cars were equipped with power vent windows (when they were optional)and had assumed they were not that popular.  My parents 68 SDV was bought from dealer stock and although it was well-equipped (vinyl roof, leather interior, AM-FM Stereo, tilt/telescope wheel, Automatic Comfort Control, Guide-Matic headlights, disc brakes, six way seat,power doors locks,tinted glass, WSW tires, trumpet horns,door edge guards)it did not have power vent windows, cruise control, Twilight Sentinel, or Controlled Differential.  I was amused at Cadillacs description of the optional disc brakes that year: "Disc brakes are offered as an extra-charge option on front wheels for those drivers who prefer them".  I guess those drivers who prefer them were only those who wanted to stop quickly and with less fade.

[Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397]

I didnt see the movie, but the 79-85 Eldorados had styling very similar to the original 67s and, in fact, several ads for the later ones had pictures of both. I think the 79-85s are some of the best-looking modern Cadillacs as were the original FWD Eldos (then came the 86s...UGH!). Back to the rear vent windows,when the 79s came out, they couldnt be opened manually or electrically.

[Dick Heller]

Joe Pesci is driving Dinero in a 67/68 Eldorado dropping him off at the Casino.  

[Johnny]

[Joe Pesci is driving Dinero in a 67/68 Eldorado dropping him off at the Casino.]


Thanks for the info....

[Johnny]

I didnt see the movie, but the 79-85 Eldorados had styling very similar to the original 67s and, in fact, several ads for the later ones had pictures of both. I think the 79-85s are some of the best-looking modern Cadillacs as were the original FWD Eldos (then came the 86s...UGH!). Back to the rear vent windows,when the 79s came out, they couldnt be opened manually or electrically.

While most Eldorados from 67-85, had more or less the same lines distinguished by the long hood, and short trunk lid, I think what set off the 79s to 85s, was the rear window treatment.  Up until that time, the rear window had a forward slant.  The 79s introduced the more formal flat perpendicular rear window, which is reminded me of some of the older "town cars"  I agree the Eldos and Sevilles of the early 80s were the best looking Cadillacs of modern times.

[Kevin Bielinski]

It is a little bit shabby. But its right up a Greenwhich Village/Williamsburg  artists alley. Guys like that drive these cars on the street and do not want one that is in mint condition.

[Hank Modica CLC 17602]

Regarding the rust in the dash face.

Not necessarily from being outdoor with a leak, or
subjected to high humidity.

I read that this problem is somewhat unique to 67s.

My 67 SDV has the same problem on the dash, but no evidence
anywhere else of excess humidity or poor storage conditions.

                     Regards, Hank

[densie 20352]

  If it was designed for A/C, then why is that you cant get to the mixture screws or the distributor hold-down, because the freaking compressor is in the way?

-densie

[Alex Downie]

Dick,

Nothing wrong with the front wheel bearings on a 67 Eldo, except for the cost.

They used them on 66-68 Toronado and 67-68 Eldo only.  They are very expensive, around $330 EACH.  The later 69 - 78 type bearings are much less expensive.

When one of my front wheel bearings went I swapped in a spindle from a 68 Toronado.  Identical.  Still running.

Cheers,

Alex
CLC #14132
68 Eldorado

[Tom Sandstrom]

Wrong. Power windows were standard on Eldorados . The rear quarter windows which retract reward were considered to be vent windows power was optional for these only for 1967.