1976 Cadillac Eldorado Assembly

[SS454LS7]

Beautiful cars!, Big, long, large, low & superbly designed the FWD Eldorados of 1971 to 78, the 1975 to 78 are surely the best looking ones. Mitchell & his GM designers had such talent.... 35+++years later as pretty as in 1976.

[gmfive]

These aren't Biarritzes, they're convertibles. The Biarritz was a coupe with a thick padded top, and it was done off line.

[cadillacdreams01]

@gmfive Thanks for noting that, you are correct. When typing that I must have been thinking of the 1950's model names where the convertible Eldorado was a Biarritz.

[gmfive]

These aren't Biarritzes, they're convertibles. The Biarritz was a coupe with a thich padded top, and it was done off line.

[dvc0987]

Amazing footage! what a find.. well done

[kisscactus]

Great video! I own a 1964 Cadillac and I'd love to see an assembly line video for those. :)

[Watcher3223]

What also led Cadillac to embarrassing mishaps such as using trouble-prone Oldsmobile diesel engines, V8-6-4, and, of course, the Cimarron was the rather sudden need to comply with CAFE standards and Cadillac's inability to successfully adjust to those changes without compromises in the quality of their products.

Cadillac couldn't really make what they made best past the 1970s because that would have brought GM's Car Average Fuel Economy rating down.

[Watcher3223]

While I'd usually agree that larger cars were pretty much a dying market in the mid-late 1970s, we must consider the market segment where the demand was falling.

Demand was falling for large cars from lower end brands like Chevrolet and Ford.

The market segment that brands like Cadillac and Lincoln served was higher end with a clientele able to absorb the higher cost of ownership of these cars.

What killed off the large luxury cars of the 1970s was not gas prices but stringent CAFE standards.

[505stealth]

Man I remember as a kid riding in one of those including the brand-new Coupe Deville that year which my father paid cash for every two years(he made a ton of money as an engineer). Even then (my observations as a young boy)...the build quality was horrible...can't remember any exterior panel that fit correctly on any of our numerous Caddys we had. GM and the UAW then and Now still up to complacency or lack pride in their product or work.

[foxdev321]

@505stealth I think cadillacs are the best car I have a '94 and it's awesome.

[joh2]

An intriguing approach here of GM's teaming an 8.2L engine with front wheel drive...

[FATLAC96]

@joh2 GM was making front wheel drive cars in the 60's (Tornado) and the FWD problems were few, why couldn't they get the FWD right on the Sevilles of the 80's? Those Sevilles with the funky trunk are such nice cars. if they were RWD cars, I would be looking for one right now. I knew a girl in high school whos father had one, it was dark green with dark green interior. who would think dark green would look so good on a Caddy. BTW Love that white Eldo at the end of the video.

[optio4]

If I could go back in time for one day......this assembly plant is where I'd want to be!!!

[lasuvidaboy]

The GM 'scissor top' was a complicated bit of engineering. It allowed for a full-width back seat and the top's design brought the side rails inward as it was lowered. I have one on my '75 Grandville and it works perfectly BUT the top installer I use has alot of experience working on these tops. Convertible Service in CA are pros w/the 'scissor' top. If you take care of them, they work fine.

[crazeenydriver]

i was a kid when this car came out but i loved it then and still do now. i have had many cadillacs, but never one of these. well not yet anyhow ^-^

[wyecee]

OOOhhhhh, you did it, you did it, you did it, you did it, you did it in a minute!

[ProfessorJohnson1483]

Pot smokers and crack heads building Cadillac's.

[lasuvidaboy]

Sat on dealer lots?? Cadillac had to increase production to keep up w/demand!! GM built all they could until they ran out of the complicated convertible top assemby that first appeared on all 1971 GM full-size convertibles.

[luxaurum]

Demand varied with geog location...but it was higher because 1) it was the only American convertible still built (other GM conv were dropped year(s)before) and (2) it was the last year...in 1973 Ford sold double the number of conv Mustang from 1972 because people knew it was the last..the same was true here..that "scissor top" was trash..I had one; the joints wore & the top wouldn't unfold property going up..GM wanted a cheaper way; it used a smaller power window motor, no hydraulics..

[harley145000]

they sat on dealers lots,could get about a 6,000 dollar discount then

[gmfive]

You're out of your mind, those 76 convertibles (which is what we are seeing) brought $2000 to $5000 OVER sticker price.

[luxaurum]

Some areas this was true..I remember right after they stopped making them in some areas people were reselling them for $30-40k--about what Ferraris sold for back then--the sticker price was $12-$14k...and then there were the last 200 Bicentennial models--white with red & blue stripes..not every dealer got one & the ones that didn't accused GM of favoritism..I've seen only one of these in all my times....it was 5 years old, dirty, sitting in the rain; the owner didn't seem to know what he had..

[striker3523]

Smokin pot, and buildin Eldorados...

[blackandgold51]

their not smokin pot their smikin cigars.

[striker3523]

It was 1976, somebody was smokin pot!!!

[BennyCadillac]

Shitty quality, some parts are almost unviewable. but cool video none the less.