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1976 Mountain Laurel ?

Started by D.Smith, May 07, 2020, 02:41:21 PM

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D.Smith

I was doing some online research thru old newspapers and came across this ad from February 1976.

I know it was possible to special order previous years colors as I have the Dealer book that shows it as available.

So I went online looking to see if the car exists today.   I came across this color photo.   I think it is too dark to be Mountain Laurel.  What do you think?

TJ Hopland

So that was an $11,000 car that you could add $2,200 in options to including $647 for EFI so round that up to $14,000.  That leaves $6,000 for paint in 1976?   I know this should be better than Earl was doing for $100 but still......
StPaul/Mpls, MN USA

73 Eldo convert w/FiTech EFI
80 Eldo Diesel
90 CDV
And other assorted stuff I keep buying for some reason

Big Apple Caddy

Quote from: TJ Hopland on May 07, 2020, 03:18:46 PM
So that was an $11,000 car that you could add $2,200 in options to including $647 for EFI so round that up to $14,000.  That leaves $6,000 for paint in 1976?   I know this should be better than Earl was doing for $100 but still......

It wasn't so much about the special order paint.  The 1976 Eldorado convertible was supposed to be the last American convertible and dealers/speculators/flippers were seeking premium pricing for these cars at the time.

D.Smith

Indeed!    Towards the end of the year they were selling for way over sticker. 

This one being a rare special order color, they expected it to bring a premium.

No different today with high end sports cars.   Those Dodge Challenger Hellcats all had dealer mark ups on them,  Many $5000-$10,000 above sticker.     And people who want one right away will pay it.

Shouldn't surprise anyone that they were doing this in 76 with the last ragtops.

TJ Hopland

I guess I did forget that many thought the 76's were going to be extra valuable.  I wonder how many actually went for significantly more back then? 
StPaul/Mpls, MN USA

73 Eldo convert w/FiTech EFI
80 Eldo Diesel
90 CDV
And other assorted stuff I keep buying for some reason

76eldo

In 77 and 78 some 76 Eldo convertibles were going for big bucks.
I bought one in 79 that had about 50,000 miles on it for $6400.00.
I went to a local Lincoln dealer they had this black 76 Eldo convert on the lot. It had a red interior and a white top. Quite flashy.
It was marked $8995 on the window. I made a stupid offer of $6000 for the car and they called me back on the phone and offered it to me for $6400.
I had to buy it at that point.  I really loved that car.
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

Roger Zimmermann

Quote from: D.Smith on May 07, 2020, 02:41:21 PM
   I came across this color photo.   I think it is too dark to be Mountain Laurel.  What do you think?
Compared to the small paint sample I have, the Eldo seems a bit "warmer". This probably reflects the caution which can be seen on the car's order.
1956 Sedan de Ville (sold)
1956 Eldorado Biarritz
1957 Eldorado Brougham (sold)
1972 Coupe de Ville
2011 DTS
CLCMRC benefactor #101

Barry M Wheeler #2189

When I was selling Cadillacs in the mid-90s, I asked my dealer principle what he got for his two 1976 Eldo convertibles. He thought it was about fifteen each, well over sticker.
Barry M. Wheeler #2189


1981 Cadillac Seville
1991 Cadillac Seville

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

I've read speculators buying up '76 ELCs drove prices as high as double sticker. I remember that also occurring with the 1990 Corvette ZR1 which for a time was commanding the $90K mark at Manheim (dealer only) Auto Auction.

As almost inevitably happens, prices came crashing down shortly thereafter - with good reason. Some people will never learn - highest collectibility/appreciation almost always occurs where it is least expected; never when it is.
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

Big Apple Caddy

In addition to the Corvette ZR1, the late 1980s and early 1990s saw a few cars selling over sticker including Mazda Miata, Acura NSX, Dodge Viper, etc.  Even Chrysler TC by Maseratis were selling over sticker early early on...boy, that sure didn't last!

Going back to the 1976 Eldorado convertible, when "factory" convertibles started to be made in America again in the 1980s including eventually Cadillac with the 1984 and 1985 Eldorados, some owners of 1976 Eldorado convertibles filed a class action lawsuit against GM for "fraudulently marketing" the cars as the last American convertibles.

chrisntam

Quote from: Big Apple Caddy on May 08, 2020, 09:12:51 AM
snip...
some owners of 1976 Eldorado convertibles filed a class action lawsuit against GM for "fraudulently marketing" the cars as the last American convertibles.

What was the outcome of the legal action?
1970 Deville Convertible 
Dallas, Texas

Big Apple Caddy

Quote from: chrisntam on May 08, 2020, 03:55:59 PM
What was the outcome of the legal action?

The lawsuit was eventually thrown out.  Among GM's defenses were that the "last convertible to be made in America" claim was true to the best of their knowledge at the time and that there was never any warranty or guarantee of resale value or future collectability given.

TJ Hopland

So was that going to be one of those class action deals where the 14,000 owners each get $3 and the 12 lawyers each get about $20K?
StPaul/Mpls, MN USA

73 Eldo convert w/FiTech EFI
80 Eldo Diesel
90 CDV
And other assorted stuff I keep buying for some reason

cadillac ken

I thought Mountain Laurel was a light violet metallic?  I had a friend who had a 1958 (mountain Laurel IRRC) and that color was a light violet metallic looking color.  Am I mis-remembering?

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

Quote from: cadillac ken on May 09, 2020, 01:39:31 PM
I thought Mountain Laurel was a light violet metallic?  I had a friend who had a 1958 (mountain Laurel IRRC) and that color was a light violet metallic looking color.  Am I mis-remembering?

Mountain Laurel is a 56/57 Cadillac color which is a light pink pastel - not metallic. Car above is similar but darker than the Mountain Laurel cars I've seen.
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

D.Smith


gkhashem

I thought that was pepto bismol pink?
1959 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday Sports Sedan
1960 Cadillac Coupe Deville (CLC Sr #72)
1964 Oldsmobile 98 Town Sedan (OCA 1st)
1970 GMC C1500
1977 Oldsmobile 98 Regency Coupe
1978 Cadillac Coupe Deville (CLC Sr Crown #959)*
1992 Oldsmobile 98 (OCA 1st)
1996 Oldsmobile 98
*CLC Past President's Preservation

Past Cadillacs
1959 Coupe Deville
1966 Coupe Deville (Sr #861)*
1991 Eldorado Biarritz (Sr #838)

okccadman

A friend of mine and CLC member in the 80s and 90s,Laura Lea Evans in Nevada had a 75 Eldo conv that was a factory special order Mountain Laurel car.
Jim Jordan CLC# 5374
Oklahoma City, OK

55 Series 62 Sedan
56 Series 62 Coupe
56 Fleetwood 75 Derham Limo
59 Fleetwood Sixty Special
66 Fleetwood Brougham
66 Superior Hearse/Ambulance
67 Fleetwood Sixty Special
68 Fleetwood Eldorado
76 Coupe de Ville d'Elegance
90 Brougham
92 Fleetwood Coupe
93 Allante
94 Fleetwood Brougham
02 Eldorado Commemorative Edition

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

Certainly possible the car above could have been special ordered 56/57 Mountain Laurel but had been refinished at some point with paint that was slightly off color when it was mixed.

A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute