1976 Bicentennial Cadillac 

BY VERN PARKER

1976 Bicentennial Cadillac

In the beginning of automotive history, most every car was of the open variety. When closed cars first appeared, they sold for premium prices.

After closed cars became the norm, convertibles commanded the higher prices. Because roads and cars both improved, speeds increased, thereby spelling the doom of rumble seats. Forty years later, as interstate highways spread across the land, speeds crept even higher, and with the proliferation of air conditioning, convertibles met the same fate as the rumble seat.

Sales of factory-built convertibles kept dwindling until only Cadillac was left producing them. During 1976, a total of 14,000 Cadillac Eldorado convertibles were manufactured, and those were to be the last American factory-built convertibles.

The final 200 were slated to become special bicentennial editions. They were identical with white convertible tops to match the white bodies enhanced with dual pinstripes of red and blue. The last car was retained by General Motors for museum display purposes while the other 199 were shipped, one to each of the Cadillac dealers with the best sales records. One of the much-coveted Bicentennial Cadillacs was sent to a dealer in the midwest. He sold it to a caring owner who babied it from the start. After the car changed hands a couple of times, it was purchased by a Pennsylvania man.

About 10 years ago, that man, weary of caring for a museum piece, decided to get a modern car he could drive. He struck a deal with Daniel Jobe, a Maryland Cadillac dealer. The Pennsylvanian agreed to swap his pristine 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible for a new Cadillac Spring Edition Sedan DeVille. The Bicentennial Eldorado convertible had been driven about 1,500 miles -- or 100 miles a year.

The owner drove the 5,153-pound convertible to the Maryland dealership where the swap took place, and then he drove back to Pennsylvania in his new car.

"These cars have every factory option, except fuel injection," Jobe remarks. The enormous 500-cubic-inch, carbureted V8 engine produces 190-horsepower. The fuel injection option boosts that output up to 275-horsepower.

All 200 Bicentennial convertibles featured the following: power seats, power brakes, trunk release, load levelizer, power antenna, power steering, power windows, "pull down" trunk lid, Bicentennial red piping with white leather upholstery, red carpeting, wheel covers, reclining passenger seat, AM/FM radio with 8-track, glass rear-window defogger, thermometer on left mirror, plus a Bicentennial plaque on the dash.

This vehicle also has a hard boot for the convertible top, but the previous owner says the boot has never been used. Since the car has been sheltered from the beginning, Jobe had only to replace the tires. The tread was, of course, still good, but because rubber does deteriorate, Jobe thought a new set of tires was cheap insurance.

"I like to drive it around," Jobe admits. On the red dashboard near the 120-mph speedometer are an amber light and a green light to alert the driver when caution is advised.

The federal government was just beginning to dictate emissions controls in 1976, which is why the huge 8.2-liter V8 -- choked by government-mandated emissions controls -- could produce such an anemic horsepower rating. Beneath the floor, integrated into the exhaust system, is a catalytic converter. The car burns unleaded gasoline.

After a few years, Jobe discovered the weak points of the car -- the front and rear bumper extensions. He replaced them and had them painted to perfectly match the finish on the car.

"The triple-plated chrome has held up well," Jobe observes. The odometer now indicates that, after 25 years, the Bicentennial Cadillac has accumulated 4,000 miles. Jobe simply shrugs and explains the mileage by saying, "It's my favorite car."

If you have an antique car of interest to ``Classic Classics'' readers, write to Vern Parker detailing its merits. (Please, no inquiries about selling or buying vehicles.) His address: 2221 Abottsford Drive, Vienna, VA 22818

Copyright 2000, Motor Matters