New to forum w/ 1970 Eldorado

[GoldEldorado]

Hello Forum Folks ! 
just to introduce myself and my just purchased 1970 Eldorado.

My name is Josh and this is my 20th car and 12th classic since I got bit by the old car bug back in 1984.

The Eldorado is a 1970, San Francisco car with 69k on it now. this car is somewhat unusual as the "dealer to whom delivered"  says GM Overseas Dist Corp NY NY. then it states delivered to dealer at San Francisco Cal.
  The original owners are long since passed so I can't find out what Mr. Charles Jennings did for a living. 
the car is loaded with all the power acc's, power trunk, climate control, cruise, rear defog and that cool Cadillac trumpet horn. Total on this car new was $ 8626.90 !

would like to hear from anyone else who has an overseas delivered car , might shed some light on this one.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Hello Josh,

Welcome to the CLC Forum. Yours appears to be a very nice example of a 1970 Eldorado. As I'm sure you're aware, 1970 was the last year of the 1st gen FWD Eldorado and the only of that generation with the 8.2 (500) engine and is very popular with collectors today.

I can't speak to the subject of vehicles produced for export but I'm certain there are members knowledgeable on the subject.

I strongly suggest you become a full CLC member which carries many useful benefits to a vintage Cadillac owner like yourself.

Welcome again. 

 

[Dave Shepherd]

As a car truly built for export it most likely has lower compression pistons or double head gaskets to tolerate poor gas quality. To add, as others have done, welcome to this great forum, BTW, 1970 Cadillacs across the board were some of GM's best made cars.

[C.R. Patton II]

Welcome Josh

Nice 69347 ECP!

[Davidinhartford]

Welcome aboard!   

[okccadman]

Welcome Josh.  I also have a 70 Eldo.

[GoldEldorado]

beautiful car !
I have wanted a 67-70 Eldorado for a long time and glad I was able to put the deal together.

this is from the guy I traded for it " I purchased this car from the original owners family where the car was in storage since the 80's. The original owner was from San Francisco and was on business in europe and saw this car and fell in love and had to have it. Before he left europe he special ordered the car and had it delivered to San Francisco ( I have the original order paperwork from Cadillac) . I have the original sales reciept for this car which will come with the car including all the other original documents I have. Anyway, this car was babied and rarely driven in the rain.

This car has a FACTORY 500 cu/inch block with NO emmisions equipment... not even a charcol canister. in the late 60's cars started having emmissions equipment and it really caused an issue as it was a new thing. California cars had the most. This car WAS NOT orignally sold in california so it has nothing on it. not even the standard charcol canister as stated above like most 60's Cadillacs "

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

One thing that puzzles me about your car is the stand-up hood ornament instead of the ornament & wreath mounted on the leading edge of the hood which I had believed was correct for the 1970 model. Was this a mid-year change or done aftermarket? (My knowledge of 1st gen Eldos is limited)

[76eldo]

It's quite common to see 1970 era Cadillacs with the stand-up hood ornament added.  I have a 1970 DeVille convertible that someone added one to.  Below you will see a photo of a low mileage original 70 Eldo hood with proper ornamentation.

There's a bit of a fin on the front part of the hood trim and a wreath and crest on the front of the hood.

Brian

[Dave Shepherd]

I worked for Cad Mtr Car Div in NYC in the 60's thru the late 80's never saw an Eldo with that hood fin or the 70 Eldo in particular not having the spring loaded hood ornament unless, which was common, it had been stolen.

[76eldo]

Dave,

Check a 1970 Sales Brochure and get back to me on that.  The photo I posted is exactly correct for a 1970 Eldorado.

Thanks,

Brian

[GoldEldorado]

The stand up hood ornament is original to the car, but that doesn't mean it came from the factory with it. It could have been added pre or post delivery. There are pictures of other Eldorados on line with the stand up ornament.  I'm not too fond of it myself and may change it in the future.
-J.Garrett

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Guys,
Brian IS correct!! The stand up wreath & crest came out in 1971 and everyone put them & older Cadillacs & coaster wagons. So many of those were done that some people think they're stock...This is exactly why I try so hard to correct misconceptions & WAGs on this board. People see things & then assume they're correct. Check the data books, sales brochures & MPB for yourselves.
Bob

[Glen]

Bob is correct.  I’ve owned two 68 Eldos and one each 69 and 70.  All of them had the gun sight ornament, not the standup.  In the late 70s I went to the dealer to buy one of those standup ornaments and the parts guy asked if my car had the chrome strip in the center of the hood or not.  It does so he brought me one that works with the chrome strip. 

But when I got it home I found I would have to drill out a larger hole for the spring and the mounting holes did not line up.  I could not do that to my car, besides I noticed it would look funny with two wreaths and crests.  So the stand up ornament sits on my workbench.     

[Aaron Hudacky]

Josh,

You have a nice looking car.  Are the roof and interior black?  Do you have more photos? 

I too have a 70 from San Francisco, but it has CA  emissions equipment intact.  Contrary to what your cars seller told you, CA emissions don't seem too extensive and haven't caused me any trouble or nuisance other than the evaporative fuel system, which reduces capacity of the fuel tank from 24 to 22 gallons, and seems to be small for the car's size and fuel consumption.  Little variations like that are interesting to me and I'm curious what other differences your car might have from cars that were originally intended to be sold in the US.  Does your paperwork list any changes that were necessary to bring it back into the US?  Welcome to the forum!

Aaron

[okccadman]

My 70 Eldo, although it has spent its entire life in Oklahoma, was sold new at Casa de Cadillac in Sherman Oaks, CA.  The emission devices were "partially" removed immediately upon its arrival here.

[Dave Shepherd]

I stand corrected on the hood ornamant issue, 71 was the first year for the stand up from the factory, the reflection in the picture made the hood fin look much higher, a closer look revealed that is correct.

[76eldo]

Guys,

I am never right when I "discuss" things with my wife.  At least I can be right here sometimes...

Brian

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Everyone here pretty much confirmed my belief that the first Cadillac to have the stand-up hood ornament was the 1971 Eldorado. Of course, legions of owners added them later. This alteration almost always meant that the car would be wearing 2 hood ornaments- which we all know is never correct (for the purposes of this discussion).

However, it should be noted that this is not the case for Josh's car which only has the stand-up but not the front facia wreath and crest. Presumably this would've required the front holes filled in and front of the hood repainted and blended.

Josh- when you get a chance, would you mind checking the inside of the front of the hood at the centerline to see if there are any signs of the holes having been filled in? If there is no evidence of this and the hood left the factory without the holes, this would be quite a mystery. Perhaps a very late model year change? Also, if you would, please let us know your vehicle's VIN #. A very late production VIN just may support that hypothesis.

[bcroe]

Hello Josh,

Welcome to the CLC Forum. Yours appears to be a very nice example of a 1970 Eldorado. As I'm sure you're aware, 1970 was the last year of the 1st gen FWD Eldorado and the only of that generation with the 8.2 (500) engine and is very popular with collectors today.                  Welcome again.     

Eldo used the 500 from 70 to 76, but only the 70 was rated 400 hp.  At this age, best to put
on a new all metal timing chain set, regardless of mileage.  good luck, Bruce Roe