What was even more brave was when he put that modern car next to a real Cadillac. He did have some nice things to say about it though, so I'll give him that. "Cadillac" and "Turbocharged 4-cylinder" don't belong in the same sentence. I bet it has that idiotic Stop/Start garbage on it too.
@@jdslyman1720 Agree. I'm surprised Adam opted for the 4 cylinder in a car so big and heavy as an XT6. And, yes...all GM cars have that idiotic auto-stop built in. I have a 2023 XT5, and I HATE that feature. You can turn it off, but you have to remember to do it every time you start the car, as it defaults to auto-stop every time you restart. So annoying!
@@Sam62254 Appearently, he can get the 3.6 V6 in it as an option. The only thing I'm wondering is if that engine still has issues with carbon buildup on the intake valves and timing chain failures if you are not dead on with oil changes. I had a previous version in my Impala, and while I didn't have really any engine issues when I had it, others did. It was mostly Traverses and Acadias when the soccer mom owner was "too busy" to change the oil on time and just kept driving when the monitor went all the way down to 0. Signs of transmission failure caused me to ditch my car, and the engine was pretty much clean inside. I also wanted something that was easier on fuel.
My dad was a Cadillac man starting in the mid-60's. He had one of those late 80's Brougham d'elegance's. He would pronounce it like a Frenchman. Classic. What a boat.
To own a Cadillac meant that you have arrived! I aspired to own a Cadillac. It wasn’t to show it off, it was to hit the very top of the luxury rung. They were very special cars. Today’s BMWs and Mercedes and whatever else, does not come close even to a Calais.
The long wheelbase creates a smooth ride. Luxurious comfortable interior. Styling. And it used to be the quality of construction. These are what a Cadillac represents to me. I own a 66 coupe and my oldest brother has a 49 sedanette.
Even back in the '60s or '70s one of the car magazines calculated that the difference in cost for GM to build a Cadillac versus an Impala (note: this is the cost to GM, after buying materials by the ton at a massive discount) came to about $47 and this was in things like a slightly deeper pile carpet, richer upholstery and additional sound deadening.
I too, as a kid in the '60s, used to enjoy riding in the car with dad at night ... cars were distinctive back then, and we'd challenge each other for identifying cars in the distance, and as we caught up to them, seeing who was right.
From a time when Engineers got the say in style and design comfort. Today its all about Name recognition and cost savings. Incredible how much detail in production went into these cars!
I think that Cadillac had more than just styling. Their image was second to none, be it just hype or what have you. Back in the day when you drove up in a new Cadillac it said that you had arrived. The engines were exclusive and great until the infamous HT4100. The diesel I won’t even mention! Even small things like the climate controls and the radio knobs spoke quality! I miss them.
Thank you for posting another great video, Adam. I've also been thinking since watching yesterday's xt6 video, how I'm still not impressed. I so yearn for the days when Cadillac made magnificent smooth quiet comfortable cars. Seems like it's gone forever. ( so are the chances of me buying a new Cadillac)
You are so right about the egg crate grille being a Cadillac theme. I remember my parents bringing home the 73 Caprice claiming it looked like a "Caddy" from the front.
The egg crate grill was first used on the top of the line Postwar packards in 1948 - 1950. Biggest engine, most luxurious model had egg crates. Look it up.
Adam, I wish to differ with you on the trunk pull-down description and operation: The cylinder is pneumatic like a screen door closer, it has an internal spring and air chamber which slows the movement of the internal piston which is compressed by lowering the trunk lid where the rubber wheel (not a dampener but rather a mechanical lever for the closing cylinder) charges the pull-down device attached via a cable running across the floor under the carpet and the latch strike rises when opened and retracts just after the trunk is closed. I first saw this on my neighbor’s 1968 Coupe DeVille and it is a feature on my 1973 Eldorado.
I remember when people complained that Cadillac owners thought they owned the road! I suppose looking in your rearview mirror and seeing that imposing Cadillac front end, you would feel that way.
I owned a '70 Coupe Deville (turq., blk roof/interior) from '88-'08 when I was forced to sell after layoff and loss of storage. When opening the door after a bit of storage, the smell of all the black leather was almost intoxicating!...A beautiful car that I sold with 49K original miles. I truly miss that car, and being young!...lol.
Cadillacs from 1946-1980 are my favorite cars. They might not be the "best", but they were always handsome, comfortable cars. I think Cadillac stylists turned in good work during this era, and made designs that are still attractive and distinctive today. Cadillac represented something special back in the day, and while today a 67 Camaro or Impala might be just as or even more desirable than a 67 Sedan DeVille, the cadillac still remains a great dependable car that looks amazing and drives well. I love them! From the fabulous 50s fins, the sleek and sculpted cars of the 60s, to the big brougham boats of the 70s, I genuinely just feel connected to these machines. The represent a by gone era of American auto design, and way of life.
I remember when I was sourcing a Pontiac 455 for my Firebird, I made several trips to salvage yards only to find an Olds or Buick 455 - the young guys didn't realize that there was very much a difference. The divisions went their own way. They were all excellent engines, just ...different.
I like 1979 Eldorado, especially Bizarre model, with stainless steel roof cover. Older models have distinctive characteristics that looks different from other cars. Long and sleek side view.
They definitely stopped building Cadillacs in 1984. 40 years without Cadillacs. What a sad, end-times world we live in today with nothing but "suv's" and trucks. So glad I grew up in another era when we had several American luxury cars to choose from.
@MarkWG Huh? The classic Brougham was made until 1992, and I always thought that car was the last to fit the description of "Cadillac." It was probably because it was still the classic RWD sedan (and was) ancient by the time fancy Toyotas (Lexus) debuted. Ever since then, Cadillac changed forever. After the Brougham, (and that includes the bubble body Fleetwood, as that was also RWD), they started to use the Northstar in nearly everything and that almost killed them, until someone came up with the idea of pimping out a GMC Yukon and calling it an Escalade. The classic Cadillac Sedan was dead after that, I think.
Speaking of the egg crate denoting luxury, in 1948, the Packard Custom Super, their top of the line car, had the egg crate grille, which carried through til the 1951 redesign. But what made the car distinctive was the 5" longer wheelbase, all forward of the cowl.
It was always nice to see buttons that were distinctive to the each GM division. By 76 Cadillac had crest on the radio and headlight buttons. Nowadays they are mostly all the same across the GM lines.
Looks like Caddy is going back to the more vertical headlight styling. Look at the 2025 CT5 refresh and the Escalade refresh. Loving that design return!
I believe the truck release mechanism on these cars is vacuum but the pulldown mechanical, the spring and cable system being loaded in the last inches of downward lid travel by the roller arrangement at the hinge. I've only owned the electric pulldowns, but a friend and I decades ago examined his 1970 Eldorado and attributed the Rube Goldbergian arrangement to that end. So, absurdly, the trunk was made notably harder to lower so it would be easier to latch.
Alex, another great video. I have a 2020 XT5. Yes, it still has some Cadillac queues to it like the tail lights. (I don't like that the turn signal inside) is angled. I like the dash and the outside styling all come to a point like the chevrons - "V". I've had 25+ Cadillacs from my 1st a 1962 Sedan DeVille to 2023 CT4. There is still some Cadillac blood running through all of them. My favorite to look at 1970 Convt and Coupe but they were rattle traps a frankly not up to par. Looked fantastic through. My 2019 XTS was a favorite. But #1 my '20 XT5. Best ever imo. That Eldo is DD gorgeous.
Thank you for this wonderful walk down memory lane. When I was growing up in the 1960s and 70s, my mom always had Sedan de Villes. Those Cadillacs had substantial presence, which did not continue after the 1980s. Today's Cadillacs are a disappointment.
Hello Adam, Fisher Body responsibility was cowl rearward. However, taillamps was division responsibility. Also, FB controlled stamping, so those 'sharp' quarters were a result of having freedom in the dies (no. of hits per panel).
Man, that is a gorgeous car. I love pretty much everything about it...including the colour. Definitely my fav car from Adam's collection (I haven't seen all of them, however). Honestly, this might be the most impressive, best looking Cadillac that I have ever seen.
Very Distinctive Features on the Caddies back then, Adam...The best era for Caddies was the late 60's/early 70's for sure and well before the downsizing of Engines and Bodies...Cheers fm Damo.
Cadillac used to be a unique division in GM. Not only were the engines exclusive to Cadillac most of the parts were also. They also were some of the most technically advanced cars in the world. None of that is true anymore. The XT6 is a dressed up Chevy Traverse.
The modern magnetic ride suspension on some Cadillac models is actually advanced; this Eldorado has rear leaf springs. The Chevy pickup the same year had sophisticated coil springs and long trailing arms.
I think what some people who are complaining about modern Cadillacs are missing is the fact that government regulations make it almost impossible to make unique products. The costs associated with design, certification and manufacturing today make individualized items for vehicles cost prohibitive. Look at Ford and Lincoln, Toyota and Lexus, Nissan and Infiniti, Hyundai and Genisis, Honda and Acura, the amount of components they share. It’s the nature of the vehicle manufacturing business these days.
The hood closure on the Eldorado sounds virtually identical to the 67-72 truck. Can hear the flutter of the sheet metal. I wonder if you can see vibration in the sheet metal at a red light for instance. That is a beautiful car. Cadillacs bumpers and chrome were the best GM had to offer. The Cadillac exclusive side view mirror with the brand name formed in the casting, Even in the 70s and 80s with the specific Cadillac only early font for the controls, all the color coordinated parts… Cadillac is definitely a car you bought for its details. I’m not sure if that’s true today.
This car is just gorgeous. I especially like the tail end, taillights, rear quarter panels, and rear window glass. They simply don't build them like this anymore.
Great Review ! We have to state, it was incredibly bizarre that by the seventies the Cadillacs didn't come STANDARD with a passenger door mirror. What was the additional cost for the passenger side MIRROR if a buyer checked the box on the order sheet ? 🚘🔍 - 💲💲
The taillights on your Mercury demonstrate that when you copy a copy, it isn't as sharp as the original. :) But seriously, it and the Eldo are both great-looking cars. I think if I were to get a classic Cadillac, I'd want a first-generation Fleetwood Eldorado.
Sadly, with the safety, emission and fuel requirements these traditional Cadillacs will remain a pleasant memory. I rented an XT6 and hated the damned thing. Rough riding, hard and uncomfortable seats, plastic everywhere.
I love the colour of this one and the ass end is gorgeous. If I had to choose this car or the new SUV version to take on a cross country road trip, I’m picking the old one. (fuel cost not considered)
Thanks for this one Adam. It seemed to me that as the Cadillac began to shrink in size that they would start adding more and more Cadillac crests everywhere. In case somebody wasn’t sure what kind of car they were in. The big V emblem under the crest on the hood, and on the rear of the deck lid made a Cadillac a Cadillac to me. Going back to the early 1960s having electric windows made a Cadillac a Cadillac at a time when that was a very rare option for more pedestrian vehicles, as was climate control HVAC at a time when regular air conditioning was a rare and pricey option.. The heavily sculpted front end of every Cadillac resulted in a very dramatic presence. The front end in particular always had a scowling or snarling kind of presence to it, very snooty. Buick didn’t do that. Oldsmobile didn’t do that. Nor did Pontiac or Chevrolet. That was another thing that made a Cadillac a Cadillac. Cadillacs had the biggest V8 engines GM offered. Nothing less than a V8 was offered in a Cadillac, and always GM’s biggest. Because Cadillac. Cadillac had constant velocity joints instead of universal joints for the driveshaft. That also made a Cadillac a Cadillac. Cadillac assembly lines moved slower and employed the most senior GM assembly workers. And of course, you mentioned the vertical rear tail fans that continued in some measure most recognizably ending with the 1992 Fleetwood, which was the last of the old squarish C bodies. Red light bulbs behind clear tail light lenses was another Cadillac trademark that made a Cadillac a Cadillac .
They say that Cadillac wanted the same tail light that the 67-70 Eldorado's had for the 1971 models but it cost too much to produce the stampings at Fisher Body so it was discobtinued for the latter models . Great color !
One other thing which, while hardly unique to Cadillac, came to signify the brand's traditional nature, was the thumb-button exterior door handle, which graced the cars from around 1950 up into the early 1990s, after which, Cadillac succumbed to the prevailing trends and used the dreaded fingertip pulls for a while, before switching to today's grab-handles. While the thumb button handles could pose problems for the handicapped at times and for everyone during the winter, they had more style than anything used since.
What makes them so special? Just being a Cadillac! The dealerships were beautiful and all they sold was Cadillacs. They were for wealthy people. Footrests for rear-seat passengers. No gauges, just idiot lights.
Remember the old little song in the ad for Mercury?? ARE YOU CRAZY FOR A MERCURY?? Lol the things you remember from the older days when you see a car 🤣🤣 I think GMC gingle was LIKE A ROCK 🪨😂😂
Happy Thanksgiving Adam. I truly enjoy your videos. When I was a kid, I would doodle the name Cadillac,over and over. My first was a 1987 Carmine Red, white carriage top, white leather interior. It was a head turner. Next a 1966 deVille convertible, a 1990 1/2 Allante, a 1992 sedan de Ville, a 1996 sedan deVille. Then I went German. Do you own a convertibles?
I really like your channel and I would like to see more content on the fuselage era (1969-1973) Mopar full size cars (Imperial, New Yorker, Monaco-Gran Monaco, Fury-Gran Fury). Thanks!
I can see how the Olds 98 copied the vertical emphasis in the rear, but Buick's Electra took it to a much lesser degree: ridges on the outboard edges of the trunk area but vertical taillights only in 1964.
My ‘68 Bonneville had hidden wipers - I’m pretty sure that Pontiac was the first to have hidden wipers, starting with the 1967 B-Body cars (it’s mentioned in the ‘67 brochure).
As to the Cadillac pointed hood, it did indeed return on the '77 de Ville. But it was reduced in size and it was made of FIBERGLASS. These had a captive hood with a front clip.
Cadillac’s were always special. That all changed in the eighties. GM tried to get that back in the nineties and the early twenty first century. The SUV craze has taken away most what made a Cadillac special. GM isn’t going to have an easy time getting it back.
This 69 Eldorado is beautiful from every angle!!!!!
That's when Cadillac was a "Cadillac"! Big, comfortable , powerful, and yet yes, sooooo quiet!
Adam, Featuring a XT6 on your channel may have been the...... bravest thing you have ever done. 🤣
What was even more brave was when he put that modern car next to a real Cadillac. He did have some nice things to say about it though, so I'll give him that. "Cadillac" and "Turbocharged 4-cylinder" don't belong in the same sentence. I bet it has that idiotic Stop/Start garbage on it too.
@@jdslyman1720 Agree. I'm surprised Adam opted for the 4 cylinder in a car so big and heavy as an XT6. And, yes...all GM cars have that idiotic auto-stop built in. I have a 2023 XT5, and I HATE that feature. You can turn it off, but you have to remember to do it every time you start the car, as it defaults to auto-stop every time you restart. So annoying!
@@Sam62254 Appearently, he can get the 3.6 V6 in it as an option. The only thing I'm wondering is if that engine still has issues with carbon buildup on the intake valves and timing chain failures if you are not dead on with oil changes. I had a previous version in my Impala, and while I didn't have really any engine issues when I had it, others did. It was mostly Traverses and Acadias when the soccer mom owner was "too busy" to change the oil on time and just kept driving when the monitor went all the way down to 0. Signs of transmission failure caused me to ditch my car, and the engine was pretty much clean inside. I also wanted something that was easier on fuel.
Agreed. Mr. Wade was bold on this video.
Would love the hear what Adam thinks of that car.
Those tail lamps are like candy ! Sweet !!!
My dad was a Cadillac man starting in the mid-60's. He had one of those late 80's Brougham d'elegance's. He would pronounce it like a Frenchman. Classic. What a boat.
The late 80s Cads were small compared to the 70s and earlier Cads.
There will never be a more beautiful automobile. Period.
I’m a Ford guy. But that Cadillac really is motoring artwork.
I still miss my 1969 Coupe Deville to this day. And I will stand on my opinion that 1969 was the peak of Cadillac, both styling and drive-line.
I had a 1970 Coupe de Ville, which I would argue was just as good as the 1969. It was essentially the same car.
My 78 CDV Gold Firemist and Doeskin interior was a cloud with its 425. Factory moonroof too!
Happy thanksgiving to you, too, Adam. Thank you for making all these good videos.
To own a Cadillac meant that you have arrived! I aspired to own a Cadillac. It wasn’t to show it off, it was to hit the very top of the luxury rung. They were very special cars. Today’s BMWs and Mercedes and whatever else, does not come close even to a Calais.
Tailored is good word for all Cadillac attributes
The long wheelbase creates a smooth ride. Luxurious comfortable interior. Styling. And it used to be the quality of construction. These are what a Cadillac represents to me. I own a 66 coupe and my oldest brother has a 49 sedanette.
Today’s Cadillacs are nothing more than fancy Chevy’s.
Exactly, I call them the "corporate car"
Last year for Cadillac was 1977. 1978 up can be Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, or various European derivatives, especially Opel.
Even back in the '60s or '70s one of the car magazines calculated that the difference in cost for GM to build a Cadillac versus an Impala (note: this is the cost to GM, after buying materials by the ton at a massive discount) came to about $47 and this was in things like a slightly deeper pile carpet, richer upholstery and additional sound deadening.
@@xqqqmejust the 492 engine alone would account for more than that.
I had a 63,74,76,79,99. Loved them all.Ive painted many over the years for my customer's.
That was an impressive feat to open that heavy hood with one hand. Adam strong arming the Caddy.
I have a whole new appreciation for the design language used on these cars. Marvelous
One of if not the most bueatiful body styles. A true understated American Classic. My favorite Cadillac of all time.
That was an impressive feat to open that hood with one hand. 😊
I remember as a kid that I could tell a Caddy at night by those thin vertical tail lamps. I still love those late 60s to mid 70s Caddys.
I too, as a kid in the '60s, used to enjoy riding in the car with dad at night ... cars were distinctive back then, and we'd challenge each other for identifying cars in the distance, and as we caught up to them, seeing who was right.
From a time when Engineers got the say in style and design comfort.
Today its all about Name recognition and cost savings.
Incredible how much detail in production went into these cars!
Beautiful Caddillac and certainly one of the most beautiful of cars! Thank you for sharing this!
I think that Cadillac had more than just styling. Their image was second to none, be it just hype or what have you. Back in the day when you drove up in a new Cadillac it said that you had arrived. The engines were exclusive and great until the infamous HT4100. The diesel I won’t even mention! Even small things like the climate controls and the radio knobs spoke quality! I miss them.
Thank you for posting another great video, Adam. I've also been thinking since watching yesterday's xt6 video, how I'm still not impressed. I so yearn for the days when Cadillac made magnificent smooth quiet comfortable cars. Seems like it's gone forever.
( so are the chances of me buying a new Cadillac)
Happy Big Block in the morning
You are so right about the egg crate grille being a Cadillac theme. I remember my parents bringing home the 73 Caprice claiming it looked like a "Caddy" from the front.
Thank you for getting me into some different big 70's cars that I might have previously overlooked.
58 eldo is my absolute favorite caddy of all time
The egg crate grill was first used on the top of the line Postwar packards in 1948 - 1950. Biggest engine, most luxurious model had egg crates. Look it up.
The top-of-the-line 48 - 50 Packards did indeed, but Cadillac did it first BEFORE the war.
Adam, I wish to differ with you on the trunk pull-down description and operation:
The cylinder is pneumatic like a screen door closer, it has an internal spring and air chamber which slows the movement of the internal piston which is compressed by lowering the trunk lid where the rubber wheel (not a dampener but rather a mechanical lever for the closing cylinder) charges the pull-down device attached via a cable running across the floor under the carpet and the latch strike rises when opened and retracts just after the trunk is closed. I first saw this on my neighbor’s 1968 Coupe DeVille and it is a feature on my 1973 Eldorado.
I remember when people complained that Cadillac owners
thought they owned the road!
I suppose looking in your rearview
mirror and seeing that imposing Cadillac front end, you would feel that way.
I owned a '70 Coupe Deville (turq., blk roof/interior) from '88-'08 when I was forced to sell after layoff and loss of storage. When opening the door after a bit of storage, the smell of all the black leather was almost intoxicating!...A beautiful car that I sold with 49K original miles. I truly miss that car, and being young!...lol.
Although I truly love the hidden headlamp Eldos, this car is still ✨👌
Cadillacs from 1946-1980 are my favorite cars. They might not be the "best", but they were always handsome, comfortable cars. I think Cadillac stylists turned in good work during this era, and made designs that are still attractive and distinctive today. Cadillac represented something special back in the day, and while today a 67 Camaro or Impala might be just as or even more desirable than a 67 Sedan DeVille, the cadillac still remains a great dependable car that looks amazing and drives well. I love them! From the fabulous 50s fins, the sleek and sculpted cars of the 60s, to the big brougham boats of the 70s, I genuinely just feel connected to these machines. The represent a by gone era of American auto design, and way of life.
I remember when I was sourcing a Pontiac 455 for my Firebird, I made several trips to salvage yards only to find an Olds or Buick 455 - the young guys didn't realize that there was very much a difference. The divisions went their own way. They were all excellent engines, just ...different.
I like 1979 Eldorado, especially Bizarre model, with stainless steel roof cover. Older models have distinctive characteristics that looks different from other cars. Long and sleek side view.
Biarritz*
Love this channel.... He's always got the closest to perfect cars, and a great deal of knowledge about them.
Wow Adam, truly informative video about these beautiful massive Cadillac cars of the hey days in the 50s, - 80s, they were incredibly stunning
Wow! That is one gorgeous car.
Makes me a bit sad because we will never see the likes of this again.
Happy Thanksgiving
Your Eldorado looks great in that color combination! I love old Caddy's!
I miss the chrome bumpers that new ones will never offer
They will eventually, it just won't be real Chrome, it'll be plastic.
They definitely stopped building Cadillacs in 1984. 40 years without Cadillacs. What a sad, end-times world we live in today with nothing but "suv's" and trucks. So glad I grew up in another era when we had several American luxury cars to choose from.
@MarkWG Huh? The classic Brougham was made until 1992, and I always thought that car was the last to fit the description of "Cadillac." It was probably because it was still the classic RWD sedan (and was) ancient by the time fancy Toyotas (Lexus) debuted. Ever since then, Cadillac changed forever. After the Brougham, (and that includes the bubble body Fleetwood, as that was also RWD), they started to use the Northstar in nearly everything and that almost killed them, until someone came up with the idea of pimping out a GMC Yukon and calling it an Escalade. The classic Cadillac Sedan was dead after that, I think.
@jdslyman1720 Chevrolet engine in a Cadillac is not a Cadillac.
You have great taste in cars. I like just about everything you own.
Thanks for your erudite commentary on these wonderful cars! Great stuff, regards.
Speaking of the egg crate denoting luxury, in 1948, the Packard Custom Super, their top of the line car, had the egg crate grille, which carried through til the 1951 redesign. But what made the car distinctive was the 5" longer wheelbase, all forward of the cowl.
It was always nice to see buttons that were distinctive to the each GM division. By 76 Cadillac had crest on the radio and headlight buttons. Nowadays they are mostly all the same across the GM lines.
Cadillac had a unique feeling to the steering too. Not only the mechanics, but the steering wheel itself.
If only GM would bring back some of that styling, sad times we are living in design wise that is. Great content Adam!!~
To me, grill shapes and textures, along with taillight shapes, are the glue which lends cohesiveness to all of the various overall designs.
And Cadillac was never the same again...
Shame.
You said a mouth full when you said used to be a Cadillac. The 65 and 66 are still my favorites.
Looks like Caddy is going back to the more vertical headlight styling. Look at the 2025 CT5 refresh and the Escalade refresh. Loving that design return!
I believe the truck release mechanism on these cars is vacuum but the pulldown mechanical, the spring and cable system being loaded in the last inches of downward lid travel by the roller arrangement at the hinge. I've only owned the electric pulldowns, but a friend and I decades ago examined his 1970 Eldorado and attributed the Rube Goldbergian arrangement to that end. So, absurdly, the trunk was made notably harder to lower so it would be easier to latch.
@desertmodern You are correct!
Alex, another great video. I have a 2020 XT5. Yes, it still has some Cadillac queues to it like the tail lights. (I don't like that the turn signal inside) is angled. I like the dash and the outside styling all come to a point like the chevrons - "V". I've had 25+ Cadillacs from my 1st a 1962 Sedan DeVille to 2023 CT4. There is still some Cadillac blood running through all of them. My favorite to look at 1970 Convt and Coupe but they were rattle traps a frankly not up to par. Looked fantastic through. My 2019 XTS was a favorite. But #1 my '20 XT5. Best ever imo. That Eldo is DD gorgeous.
The front bumper on a 1968 Chevrolet is three pieces, so, yes, Chevrolet did have three piece bumpers. It also had an extruded egg crate grill.
Thank you for this wonderful walk down memory lane. When I was growing up in the 1960s and 70s, my mom always had Sedan de Villes. Those Cadillacs had substantial presence, which did not continue after the 1980s. Today's Cadillacs are a disappointment.
Beautiful rides.
Hello Adam, Fisher Body responsibility was cowl rearward. However, taillamps was division responsibility. Also, FB controlled stamping, so those 'sharp' quarters were a result of having freedom in the dies (no. of hits per panel).
Man, that is a gorgeous car. I love pretty much everything about it...including the colour. Definitely my fav car from Adam's collection (I haven't seen all of them, however). Honestly, this might be the most impressive, best looking Cadillac that I have ever seen.
Very Distinctive Features on the Caddies back then, Adam...The best era for Caddies was the late 60's/early 70's for sure and well before the downsizing of Engines and Bodies...Cheers fm Damo.
Cadillac used to be a unique division in GM. Not only were the engines exclusive to Cadillac most of the parts were also. They also were some of the most technically advanced cars in the world. None of that is true anymore. The XT6 is a dressed up Chevy Traverse.
The modern magnetic ride suspension on some Cadillac models is actually advanced; this Eldorado has rear leaf springs. The Chevy pickup the same year had sophisticated coil springs and long trailing arms.
I think what some people who are complaining about modern Cadillacs are missing is the fact that government regulations make it almost impossible to make unique products. The costs associated with design, certification and manufacturing today make individualized items for vehicles cost prohibitive. Look at Ford and Lincoln, Toyota and Lexus, Nissan and Infiniti, Hyundai and Genisis, Honda and Acura, the amount of components they share. It’s the nature of the vehicle manufacturing business these days.
The hood closure on the Eldorado sounds virtually identical to the 67-72 truck. Can hear the flutter of the sheet metal. I wonder if you can see vibration in the sheet metal at a red light for instance. That is a beautiful car. Cadillacs bumpers and chrome were the best GM had to offer. The Cadillac exclusive side view mirror with the brand name formed in the casting, Even in the 70s and 80s with the specific Cadillac only early font for the controls, all the color coordinated parts… Cadillac is definitely a car you bought for its details. I’m not sure if that’s true today.
Great until 1970 for me…
Thanks for posting another good one, Adam!
This car is just gorgeous. I especially like the tail end, taillights, rear quarter panels, and rear window glass. They simply don't build them like this anymore.
The 1966-1970 Eldorado are my favorites Cadillacs.
I’ve had 4 caddies from the seventies, I could only afford them under the $1k range. Loved them to the death of them.
One of my very favorites
Great Review ! We have to state, it was incredibly bizarre that by the seventies the Cadillacs didn't come STANDARD with a passenger door mirror. What was the additional cost for the passenger side MIRROR if a buyer checked the box on the order sheet ? 🚘🔍 - 💲💲
Love the logo. When you look deep into it you find out that it is shallow and means nothing. Sorta like a Corinthian family crest. :P
The taillights on your Mercury demonstrate that when you copy a copy, it isn't as sharp as the original. :)
But seriously, it and the Eldo are both great-looking cars. I think if I were to get a classic Cadillac, I'd want a first-generation Fleetwood Eldorado.
Sadly, with the safety, emission and fuel requirements these traditional Cadillacs will remain a pleasant memory. I rented an XT6 and hated the damned thing. Rough riding, hard and uncomfortable seats, plastic everywhere.
I love the colour of this one and the ass end is gorgeous. If I had to choose this car or the new SUV version to take on a cross country road trip, I’m picking the old one. (fuel cost not considered)
Pontiac was absolutely not copying Cadillac in styling or anything else
Beautiful car, was the passenger wing mirror an optional extra?
Cadillac went from being Halo cars that people aspired to own to Hollow cars that have no soul.
Thanks for this one Adam. It seemed to me that as the Cadillac began to shrink in size that they would start adding more and more Cadillac crests everywhere. In case somebody wasn’t sure what kind of car they were in.
The big V emblem under the crest on the hood, and on the rear of the deck lid made a Cadillac a Cadillac to me. Going back to the early 1960s having electric windows made a Cadillac a Cadillac at a time when that was a very rare option for more pedestrian vehicles, as was climate control HVAC at a time when regular air conditioning was a rare and pricey option..
The heavily sculpted front end of every Cadillac resulted in a very dramatic presence. The front end in particular always had a scowling or snarling kind of presence to it, very snooty. Buick didn’t do that. Oldsmobile didn’t do that. Nor did Pontiac or Chevrolet. That was another thing that made a Cadillac a Cadillac.
Cadillacs had the biggest V8 engines GM offered. Nothing less than a V8 was offered in a Cadillac, and always GM’s biggest. Because Cadillac.
Cadillac had constant velocity joints instead of universal joints for the driveshaft. That also made a Cadillac a Cadillac.
Cadillac assembly lines moved slower and employed the most senior GM assembly workers.
And of course, you mentioned the vertical rear tail fans that continued in some measure most recognizably ending with the 1992 Fleetwood, which was the last of the old squarish C bodies.
Red light bulbs behind clear tail light lenses was another Cadillac trademark that made a Cadillac a Cadillac .
Happy Thanksgiving, Adam. Go Lions!
Long and dark, shiny and black, Open up your throttle, let 'em roar,
Tearing up the highway like a big old dinosaur!
They say that Cadillac wanted the same tail light that the 67-70 Eldorado's had for the 1971 models but it cost too much to produce the stampings at Fisher Body so it was discobtinued for the latter models . Great color !
Thank you for the video Adam.
One other thing which, while hardly unique to Cadillac, came to signify the brand's traditional nature, was the thumb-button exterior door handle, which graced the cars from around 1950 up into the early 1990s, after which, Cadillac succumbed to the prevailing trends and used the dreaded fingertip pulls for a while, before switching to today's grab-handles. While the thumb button handles could pose problems for the handicapped at times and for everyone during the winter, they had more style than anything used since.
Hi Adam, I thought full sized 61-68 Chevrolets also had three piece bumbers. Great video!
What makes them so special?
Just being a Cadillac! The dealerships were beautiful and all they sold was Cadillacs. They were for wealthy people.
Footrests for rear-seat passengers.
No gauges, just idiot lights.
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, Adam.
Remember the old little song in the ad for Mercury?? ARE YOU CRAZY FOR A MERCURY?? Lol the things you remember from the older days when you see a car 🤣🤣 I think GMC gingle was LIKE A ROCK 🪨😂😂
Generally indistinct is Cadillac, mostly everything nowadays
Cadillac does have very nice sedan right now with it's own DOHC V8.
Happy Thanksgiving Adam. I truly enjoy your videos. When I was a kid, I would doodle the name Cadillac,over and over. My first was a 1987 Carmine Red, white carriage top, white leather interior. It was a head turner. Next a 1966 deVille convertible, a 1990 1/2 Allante, a 1992 sedan de Ville, a 1996 sedan deVille. Then I went German. Do you own a convertibles?
There has never been another car like the Cadillac and there never be another one
I really like your channel and I would like to see more content on the fuselage era (1969-1973) Mopar full size cars (Imperial, New Yorker, Monaco-Gran Monaco, Fury-Gran Fury).
Thanks!
Adam covers these extensively, either scroll through his videos or do a search.
Can you please do a Cadillac Catera please...Thanks!
I can see how the Olds 98 copied the vertical emphasis in the rear, but Buick's Electra took it to a much lesser degree: ridges on the outboard edges of the trunk area but vertical taillights only in 1964.
My ‘68 Bonneville had hidden wipers - I’m pretty sure that Pontiac was the first to have hidden wipers, starting with the 1967 B-Body cars (it’s mentioned in the ‘67 brochure).
Happy Thanksgiving Adam
🦃 HAPPY THANKSGIVING ADAM 🦃😊
As to the Cadillac pointed hood, it did indeed return on the '77 de Ville. But it was reduced in size and it was made of FIBERGLASS. These had a captive hood with a front clip.
Adam, I think you're reaching on those power window switches, they're identical to any GM window/seat/lock switches of the time.
'69 Eldo is where its at!!
Cadillac’s were always special. That all changed in the eighties. GM tried to get that back in the nineties and the early twenty first century. The SUV craze has taken away most what made a Cadillac special. GM isn’t going to have an easy time getting it back.