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74 Eldorado parade boot question:

Started by danjarrett1, January 11, 2018, 10:56:49 PM

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danjarrett1

Are there any other options for a parade boot other than the hard shell boot? When I bought my 74, there was no boot with the car, I looked at the hard shell fiberglass boot offered by OPGI, $600 unpainted with install kit. I actually prefer the vinyl soft boot but have not seen an application for a 1974.....any ideas?
1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible
2007 Cadillac Escalade
1980 Cadillac Seville “Bustleback”
1985 Cadillac Eldorado

The Tassie Devil(le)

Not sure about '74, but there is no reason why one cannot fit a soft boot in place.

If your car has the fittings for the soft boot, the press studs that is, I don't think it is possible to safely fit a Hard Boot without removing them.   The same translates to the Hard Boot.   To fit a Soft Boot, you have to install the press stud receivers, but you don't have to remove the two attacking brackets for the Hard Boot.

My book shows the Convertible Top Boot as an option costing $40.00, so if that was for the Hard Boot, then the Soft Boot would have been standard.

From what I can gather, the Soft Boot was the only cover for 1971, and in 1972, the Hard Boot became a no cost option.

Bruce. >:D
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

danjarrett1

There are currently no provision for attach studs for a soft boot. Presumably this car left Detroit with a hard shell boot, there are latching receiver mounts in the sidewall of each rear passenger side. The cover was probably cracked and discarded at some time
1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible
2007 Cadillac Escalade
1980 Cadillac Seville “Bustleback”
1985 Cadillac Eldorado

The Tassie Devil(le)

In that case, you need to get a replacement Hard Boot, especially with the original attached Deuz fasteners.

The Hard Boots can be a bit tricky to install, but definitely a lot easier than the soft cousins.  A lot of pulling and stretching to get it to fit.

BUT, the Hard Boots in themselves are a pain to store in the trunk as they take up so much room.

I wish GM had designed them to take up less room.

Bruce. >:D

PS.   The other thing to be wary of is when installing the Hard Boots, take care not to destroy the Fibre Optic mount that is attached to the back of the seat back.
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

danjarrett1

The little light in the rear is fiber optic? I had no idea fiber optics were even available in 1974
1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible
2007 Cadillac Escalade
1980 Cadillac Seville “Bustleback”
1985 Cadillac Eldorado

The Tassie Devil(le)

Yes, Fibre Optics to show the driver that the rear lights are working.

The same as those at the front on the Fenders.

Cadillac was ahead of its' day.

Not sure when it started, but my '72 has them, front and back.

Bruce. >:D
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

76eldo

STOP!

Do not drill your belt molding and put studs on it.

You can contact Hydro Electric in Florida or Convertible Top Specialists in Florida for a repro soft boot.

The boots have nylon tabs that slip under the belt molding from the painted surface of the car and your car should have some Velcro running on the top of the back seat upright. You should also have two or three snap receivers on the wood grain metal parts of your rear quarter upholstered side pieces.

Don't mutillate the molding with ugly snaps.

Brian
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

danjarrett1

Bruce, you’re right! Top specialists in Florida makes soft boot, just visited their website. I prefer a soft to hard food. The hard boot just doesn’t look right to me, the soft boot this ultimate signature of a  convertible. 
1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible
2007 Cadillac Escalade
1980 Cadillac Seville “Bustleback”
1985 Cadillac Eldorado

The Tassie Devil(le)

G'day Brian,

I hope it didn't come out that I was advocating installing studs in the belt moulding.   That would never do.

Only cheap convertibles have those hideous things ruining chrome and stainless parts.

Bruce. >:D
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

TC

Quote from: 76eldo on January 12, 2018, 07:43:44 AM
STOP!

Do not drill your belt molding and put studs on it.

You can contact Hydro Electric in Florida or Convertible Top Specialists in Florida for a repro soft boot.

The boots have nylon tabs that slip under the belt molding from the painted surface of the car and your car should have some Velcro running on the top of the back seat upright. You should also have two or three snap receivers on the wood grain metal parts of your rear quarter upholstered side pieces.



Don't mutillate the molding with ugly snaps.

Brian

Ditto. Good advice.

76eldo

I think the 68 Corvette had fiber optic light monitors in the center console.  I'm thinking that was the first.

Brian
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

The Tassie Devil(le)

Ah ha.   Yes, I converted a '68 'Vette to RHD, and thankfully, didn't have to modify these.

Bruce. >:D
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

e.mason

Quote from: The Tassie Devil(le) on January 12, 2018, 06:10:33 PM
G'day Brian,

I hope it didn't come out that I was advocating installing studs in the belt moulding.   That would never do.

Only cheap convertibles have those hideous things ruining chrome and stainless parts.

Bruce. >:D

I can't verify it.  I think there were times when Cadillac or their dealers offered simulated convertible tops, and did everything possible to make them look like a real life convertible, including adding the snaps around the rear belt line.  They had a fiberglass piece that fit over the roof before the top was applied, to give the appearance of convertible bows.  The phaetons had that piece on the roof across the rear, on top of the rear window,
Eric Mason

76eldo

Eric,

These were factory offerings.  They were beautiful cars in my opinion.

Dealers used to load up Eldo's and Sevilles in the 80's with a RR Grill and the Roadster tops which looked like converts.

Good times!

Brian 
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

andysarcade

 As others have said, the soft boot slips under the chrome molding at the rear, and attached two snaps to passenger pads and velcro along the back. I like the soft look too, i have  white vinyl soft boot and my car is Apollo yellow so its a nice complement.

I have however picked up a hard parade boot recently that i need to get refinished (currently metallic green!).. The quandry is - do i make this body-color yellow or do i make it a nice white?

I was thinking of roughly refinishing the parade boot in white primer and offering it up on the vehicle to judge the look before taking it to a shop to be properly painted.

Every parade boot i see online is body color, would i be an outcast for straying from this formula?

1974 Eldorado Convertible

danjarrett1

Actually, if I go with the hard boot. I was considering painting it red, same color of the interior. My car is black with red leather interior. Just a thought
1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible
2007 Cadillac Escalade
1980 Cadillac Seville “Bustleback”
1985 Cadillac Eldorado

Barry M Wheeler #2189

How about a picture of your '80 Seville? Especially if it's a neat color.
Barry M. Wheeler #2189


1981 Cadillac Seville
1991 Cadillac Seville

danjarrett1

I’m sorry to report that I sold the 80 Seville some time ago. It was a yellow ish color with matching leather! Bought a set of true-spoke wheels but the offset was wrong and I never could get them balanced. Ended up reinstalling the factory wheels. Loved that car. It’s been my experience that the general public either loved, or hated the Seville in the early 80’s! I loved it!!!
1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible
2007 Cadillac Escalade
1980 Cadillac Seville “Bustleback”
1985 Cadillac Eldorado

The Tassie Devil(le)

Looked too much like the back of a Rolls Royce/ Bentley/Daimler to me.

Cadillac was going backwards in trying to copy something that was old and outdated.

Bruce. >:D
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

76eldo

The way Cadillac did it was the correct way.
Soft boot was interior color but the hard was body color.
It will just look like you have the wrong color boot if you paint a hard boot to match your interior. The hard boot is meant to be an extension of the body not the interior flowing out from the car.

The soft boot can actually go either way. My 76 Eldo is black with a red interior.
It came from the factory with a black hard boot and a black soft boot.

If the hard boot was red it just wouldn't look correct.
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado