The 1977 Eldorado Was Cadillac's Idea of Total Luxury


Advertisement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxHfrc60k8M

The 1970s were some crazy times. The Beatles split, Nixon resigned, Elvis died, and the car world was dealing with a gas crisis. Gas was expensive and car companies had to adjust, which meant cars like the 1977 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz (you may also remember similar models like the Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham and the DeVille) came with a choked down 7.0 liter V8 with only 180 horsepower. For reference, a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder Rav4 from 2009 had 179 horsepower. The restrictions on this engine didn't really do all that much as the car was still only rated at 9 mpg. Obviously, not the best fuel economy.

In the above video, Doug Demuro takes a tour of one of the craziest, quirkiest land yachts to ever grace our roads. Doug starts off with the sheer size of this beast, as it measures 255 inches long. That is the same length as a Chevy Suburban and weighs about the same as the huge SUV at 4,900 lbs. With that kind of size comes seating for six in the world's most luxurious interior featuring right pillow top seat cushions. Its red and white interior is perfectly reminiscent of the era and its four ashtrays are a reminder of the pervasiveness of smoking in the '70s.

Read More: Here Are the 10 Least Popular Cars in American Dealerships, Including the Chevrolet Corvette and the Buick Regal

Advertisement

Doug eventually takes the Eldorado Biarritz on the road and discovers that 180 horsepower is just not enough. The car feels sluggish, the steering feel barely connected, the brakes barely work, yet it is still an amazingly unique experience. Doug was kind saying that if he had an 80 car garage, then he'd buy one for sure. That's like telling your only son that he's your favorite.

At the end of the video, he gives the Caddy a "Doug Score," which ranks the personal luxury car in several categories and puts it up against other cars he's reviewed. You have to watch the video to find out how the Eldorado did but lets just say it tied with a 2005 Maserati Quattroporte. If you don't know, that's not good.

Read More: 10 Classic Cars and New Cars You've Fantasized About Driving, Including Toyota Supra, Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe, Honda S2000, and Nissan Datsun Hardtop

Advertisement