Ninth-Generation Cadillac Eldorado Values Climbing: Report
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In the age of electrification, the phrase “they don’t make ’em like they used to” couldn’t be more appropriate. As such, certain ICE-based collector vehicles are rising in value. Among these are the ninth-generation Cadillac Eldorado, the value of which, on average, has increased significantly in the last three months.
According to the Hagerty Price Guide, the average value of a 1971 through 1978 Cadillac Eldorado has increased by 16 percent in the last quarter, one of the largest percentage value increases recorded for Q2 of the 2024 calendar year. A few other notable models include the 1966 through 1972 Lamborghini Miura (up 22 percent), 1989 through 1993 Dodge diesel pickup trucks (up 19 percent), the 1980 through 1993 Ferrari Mondial (up 17 percent), and 1949 through 1971 Military Jeeps (up 12 percent).
“Nothing says peak 1970s personal luxury like an Eldorado,” Hagerty writes. “They’re big, they’re plush, and they have that massive 500-cubic-inch V8, which completely ignored the crunch of rising gas prices of the era.”
As Hagerty points out, more than a few buyers saw the writing on the wall and scooped up new examples of the Eldorado with the intention of reselling the vehicles later. This led to a fall in prices, at least initially, as an abundance of well-preserved examples hit the market. Now, however, it appears as though prices are on the rise once again. The increase in value for the Eldo coincides with a general rise for ’70s-era American collectible cars, and Hagerty expects those gains to continue on into the future.
For reference, the Hagerty Price Guide is based on an analysis of various data and criteria, including auction results, peer-to-peer sales, vehicle asking prices, and dealer and broker sales, all of which are considered when gauging vehicle value. These decisions are then peer-reviewed by professional analysts, accredited appraisers, and Concours judges and then either reconsidered or approved.
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Not every car made was epic, but the memories of driving / riding in them are….
My former boss–a radio station owner–once offered to sell me his 1976 Eldorado convertible for $5,000 in the late 1990s. It wasn’t a Bicentennial edition, but it would have been worth considering had I had a suitable garage and the 5 grand, Who knew?
I bought a 1976 Eldorado Convertible four years back with 20K on the odometer. Paid 17000; put about that much into gaskets, brakes, and other work. My “New [Old] Cadillac” is the best daily driver I’ve ever owned.
Cadillac should make a convertible.
Those 1971 – ’78 Eldorados are ” luxury ” at its finest , but at the same time , were quite expensive to purchase new . At today’s fuel prices , it would cost a fortune to drive one , especially when they require premium unleaded ! Most collector cars are only driven occasionally like to fine restaurants or vintage auto shows , which seems reasonable if you own one . Happy Motoring !
Today , the Cadillacs are so modern and different from those made in the sixties , and seventies . There so hightech , that the average person cannot work on one unless they are a certified technician or mechanic . That’s the only problem with owning a new or late model Cadillac . Other than that , they are still a luxury car owned by wealthy people .
Cars until this century had a much more open feeling in the interior. I think part was the A-pillar not being so thick (rollover safety). I really enjoyed that airy interior feeling and of course some was they were just plain bigger. I recall being in an Electra 225 in high school someone had around 1975. The thing was like a living room inside and rode like it. Remember the commercials where they would cut a diamond while moving or play a record.
I of course remember the 70s Eldos. Interesting enough, here in Southern California the most popular color combination was white exterior with red leather interior. As I remember most of them in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley were convertibles. Yes the were big and luxurious, I would go for the Lincoln Mark lVs and Vs, 1974 to 1978. It’s no wonder to me that US car buyers are buying up all the Big American luxury cars. That also includes full-size wagons. I have loved everything about American cars ever since I was a kid growing up in the 60s. The cars from the 60s and 70s are the last of the great American luxury cars. They were not only big and beautiful, they all have excellent reliability. I blame the extinction of our favorite American cruisers on that damn 1973 oil embargo. Many of us never believed we were running out of oil, although someday we will. Instead we understood it was an emotional decision based on the political issues between the US and the Middle East, and I hate that. The entire US was affected by the embargo, It put the US into a tailspin that in my opinion we have never fully recovered from. Who knows where the US would be today if that embargo changed everything. It’s safe to say that the the US was not living in a sustainable way, but I think we would have been better off if we changed slowly. If you were very well off you most likely never even felt the crisis, but most of us were living in a very dark time for American people. I say I love cars too much not to allow myself the pleasures that are the ownership of cars.
As a Canadian, I was (and remain) puzzled by the politics surrounding the mid-70s oil embargo and the resultant lack of gasoline in the US.
Canada, then as now, imported most of its oil from the middle East, yet there were no gas lineups in Canada that I ever saw and no stations posting signs saying “no gas”. It was, for us, a non-event.
Was it all strictly politics? I guess we’ll never know.
My uncle purchased two of the 1978s if I remember correctly. The Cadillac salesman told him that GM would never build another convertible, so he got a his and hers. Unfortunately to make room in the garage he sold his 1970 4-speed, Six Pack, Superbird. I believe he’s often regretted that move.
“The Cadillac salesman told him that GM would never build another convertible”
Well GM would, just not in such a wonderfully massive car!
1976 was the last year for the big Eldorado convertible. I think they started back with the smaller Eldorado convertible in 1983?
1985 was the last year for that one.
You’re right, they were 1976s. Apparently, the Feds had passed a bunch of new rules concerning convertible safety, etc. The panic was on and, as I alluded to, the Caddy salesman convinced him they would be instant collectors’ items. Didn’t really pan out.
That was the only Superbird I ever got to drive. It was amazing at speed for something built for the street in 1970. I was horrified that he’d traded it for those Caddies.
I HAVE CADILLAC ELDORADOS CONVERTIBLES THAT HAVE TO BE RESTORED CAN YOU ADVISE ME WERE TO ADVERTISE AT. THANKS
The last “real” Cadillac?
I love those 70’s Cadillacs, I currently have a low mileage 77 yellow base model, a 74 Eldo (one of 458) that I will be selling soon and a 76 Eldo convertible that just broke 10k original miles. I have also sold numerious 74-78 Eldorados over the past 3 years from my little collection which also consists of old school Olds and Lincolns. The Caddies are my favorites by far. Just bought a 39 Cadillac Series 61 Convertible for Christmas and am restoring it.