1971 Cadillac Eldorado

Removing the interior

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This weekend we’ll need our overalls at the ready as we take on the dirty task of removing all of the contents from inside the

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1971 Cadillac Eldorado Restoration Ended Early

Unfortunately not all projects are completed as anticipated. We received a call from Stewart at Splash Of Paint in Nantwich, Cheshire. Stewart already owns an Eldorado and needed a donor car to complete his project. As the parts he required were in such good condition on ours he decided to purchase the car ‘as is’ so he could look to complete his car.

We very rarely see uncompleted projects here at Bridge Classic Cars but as the car was available for sale, completed or not, the car has now gone to her new home to help finish another.

Removing the interior

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This weekend we’ll need our overalls at the ready as we take on the dirty task of removing all of the contents from inside the vehicle.

The vehicle has been sitting in the same position of a working workshop for the passed 8 years so although she is 100% dry she is not 100% clean free.

Our task this weekend is to bring back the contents to our workshops on Deben Road in Ipswich so we can start to clean up and store or create a kitting list of items that require replacements.

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Work is now underway on our Cadillac

Work is now underway on our 1971 Cadillac Eldorado. First things first we need to empty the car of all loose and removable components. As she has been sitting in the corner of a working barn for the passed 8 years everything is covered in a thick layer of dust and grime.

Before we can get too involved it is best to remove everything we can see and clean up so we can fully assess the extent of the work required on this restoration.

Identifying our Cadillac

From the chassis plate under the engine bay we can now officially identify the car and get an insight into it’s origins.

According to an online source the meaning of the Cadillac chassis plates are as follows:

First Digit:

Code – 6

GM Division – Cadillac

Second Thru Fifth Digits:

8169 – Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham

8247 – 2 dr. Calais Coupe

8249 – 4 dr. Calais Sedan

8347 – 2 dr. Coupe DeVille

8349 – 4 dr. Sedan DeVille

9347 – 2 dr. Fleetwood Eldorado Hardtop Coupe

9367 – 2 dr. Fleetwood Convertible

9723 – 4 dr. Fleetwood “75” Sedan

9733 – Fleetwood Limo

9890 – Commercial Chassis

Sixth Digit:

Code – 1

Model Year – 1971

Seventh Digit:

Q – Detroit, MI

E – Linden, NJ

Last Six Digits:

Production Numbers – 100001/^ 421298

So the origins of our car are as follows:

6 – Cadillac

9367 – 2 door Fleetwood convertible

1 – 1971

Q – Detroit MI

421298 – Production number

Our 1971 Cadillac Eldorado restoration project

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Source: Wikipedia

The Cadillac Eldorado is a personal luxury car that was manufactured and marketed by Cadillac from 1952 to 2002 over ten generations. Competitors and similar vehicles included the Lincoln Mark series, Buick Riviera, Oldsmobile Toronado and Chrysler’s Imperial Coupe.

The Eldorado was at or near the top of the Cadillac line during early model years. The original 1953 Eldorado convertible and the Eldorado Brougham models of 1957–1960 were the most expensive models that Cadillac offered those years, and the Eldorado was never less than second in price after the Cadillac Series 75 until 1966.

The Eldorado carried the Fleetwood designation from 1965 through 1972, and was a modern revival of the pre-war Cadillac V-12 and Cadillac V16 roadsters and convertibles.

Our Cadillac Eldorado is an early seventh generation model which was manufactured between 1971 and 1978.

The Eldorado was substantially redesigned for 1971, growing two inches in length, six in wheelbase and featuring standard fender skirts. Door glass remained frame less, and the hardtop rear quarter windows were deleted, replaced by a fixed “opera window” in the widened “C” pillar. A convertible model rejoined the line-up. This 126.3-inch (3,210 mm) wheelbase version Eldorado would run through 1978, receiving face lifts in 1973 and 1975. Sales in 1971 set a new record at 27,368.

In 1972 sales rose to 40,074.

Performance was not competitive with contemporary premium personal luxury cars.

In early 2018 we will begin the full restoration of our 1971 Cadillac Eldorado which has been tucked away in a workshop for over 8 years before we were introduced to her as a possible restoration project.

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