Through the Fifties the Eldorado nameplate at Cadillac signified advanced design, sportier features, and could be found applied to coupes, convertibles, and even a couple sedans. For the '61 model year the Eldorado became a convertible coupe based on the DeVille series but with a more sporty mien.
In 1967, the convertible went away but, leaving just a hardtop coupe Eldorado, but even more significantly, the driven wheels moved to the front of the car, drawing on tech developed at sibling GM division Oldsmobile for the Toronado. The engine was still a big longitudinally-oriented V-8, but at the rear of the bellhousing was a massive roller chain shunting power to the Turbo-Hydramatic 425 3-speed automatic lying beside and below the engine block on the driver's side.
The Eldorado was completely restyled for the 1971 model year. The car's wheelbase had been stretched to a whopping 126.3" and the car itself was over eighteen and a half feet long. The sole powerplant was the 500 cubic inch version of Cadillac's V-8. An Eldorado exclusive at the time, the 500 was created by taking the 472 Caddy motor, which had been introduced for '68, and lengthening the stroke about a quarter inch. The enormous motor was proudly proclaimed by the "8.2 LITRE" badging on the Eldo's front fenders.
External changes for '72 were minimal. The "Eldorado" badging on the fenders and decklid was now in script rather than block lettering. Advertised horsepower was now given in SAE net rather than gross numbers, so while the engine itself remained unchanged (4-barrel carb, dual exhausts, 8.5:1 compression ratio) the output was adjusted from 365hp to 235hp.
This Palomino Firemist 1972 Eldorado convertible was snapped with a Canon EOS 7D and EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS zoom lens in August of 2022.
