One for the 1970 Cadillac Experts

[66 Eldo]

 I have a question about 1970 Cadillacs and the differences with some of the controls and gauges between various cars I have owned and seen over the years.

1. The gearshift lever. Some 70s have a long one that when is in the park position almost touches the edge of the dashpad. Some have a much shorter one which does not come close to the dashpad.

2. Some have a fuel gauge with a red level indicator needle and others have white needle.

3. Some have a trunk release button in the glove box that is red and some are black.

The difference does not seem to follow a pattern of models, i.e. Sedan DeVille, Fleetwood, Coupe DeVille, Calais, etc.

For years my speculation has always been how a car was equipped in regard to these features depended on if it was an early or late production model. However, I have owned a few 70s but can't seem to confirm it this is the case.  Does anyone have any information on this topic?

For an example, our family ordered a 70 Sedan deVille new in September 69. It was delivered in October 69. This car had the long gearshift lever, white fuel gauge needle and red trunk release button. Conversely, our neighbor had a 70 DeVille convertible with the long gearshift lever and red fuel gauge needle. It did not have trunk release.

If these were running changes between early and late production models, can anybody confirm? Has anybody noticed these differences? Does anybody care? Stuck at the in-laws for the holidays and boredom has brought on this age old query for me 

Below are links to two 70s on ebay that show the different length gearshift levers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-Cadillac-Fleetwood-Brougham-/262186191923?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=6MqcqKx0GME%252FVXQ0JGueuOBpLOU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-Cadillac-DeVille-/121842887379?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1c5e66ead3%3Ag%3A4iYAAOSwnH1WacHP&item=121842887379&nma=true&si=6MqcqKx0GME%252FVXQ0JGueuOBpLOU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

As I write this I seem to remember differences in the lengths of the gearshift levers on various 71 and 72 Cadillacs too but not sure.

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

On the gear shift lever, one of these cars has a tilt and tele column and the other doesn't.
Greg Surfas

[66 Eldo]

On the gear shift lever, one of these cars has a tilt and tele column and the other doesn't.
Greg Surfas

Greg, I think you got it on the gearshift handle.

[Scot Minesinger]

Greg is right on the gear shift, I had a non-tilt and switched out the column to a tilt and the lever was closer to dash. 

All three of my 1970 RWD Cadillacs have the red trunk release button and the white fuel needle.  The 1972 Eldo I worked on had a red fuel gauge needle, so not sure what year this color was changed.

[okccadman]

I was told early 1970 cars have the white needle on the fuel guage but it was switched to red because drivers had trouble determining the fuel level since the "!/4, 1/2 and 3/4" indicators are very similar white lines.

[Marcel75]

Hi all,

On my 1970 Eldorado (built october 1969), the fuel gauge needle is white. On the official Cadillac 1970 brochure, only one clear picture of the dashboard.... and that needle is red.

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

Don't shoot me with this question........  How can you find the build date? Without ordering the build sheet.
Jeff

[jagbuxx #12944]

Build date can be located on driver door sticker which would be month/year or on the cowl trim plate it will list the week and month. for my car it is 06/70 and on the cowl tag, left side center area, 06A which is the 1st week of June.
If yours is say, 12D it would indicate 4th week of December, etc

[66 Eldo]

Hi all,

On my 1970 Eldorado (built october 1969), the fuel gauge needle is white. On the official Cadillac 1970 brochure, only one clear picture of the dashboard.... and that needle is red.

Marcel, thanks for that info. By chance is there a copyright date on the brochure you mention?

[Marcel75]

Don't shoot me with this question........  How can you find the build date? Without ordering the build sheet.
Jeff

Hi Jeff,

As mentionned above, on the blue sticker driver door...if still alive.

Marcel

[Marcel75]

Marcel, thanks for that info. By chance is there a copyright date on the brochure you mention?

I have two original samples. For info try that:

http://oldcarbrochures.org/NA/Cadillac/1970_Cadillac/1970_Cadillac_Brochure

[Scot Minesinger]

Marcel is right, just looked in my factory brochure and needle is red, but on all three of my 970 Cadillacs the needle is white.  The brochures were issued in 1969, so maybe it was something planned but never done.

[Marcel75]

Hi Scot

Could it be some hand made job on picture for readability/cosmectic purpose?
Marcel

[jwjohnson86]

Yep, another white fuel needle here.  Longer shift lever as mine has the tilt column.  Was a trunk release optional?  I don't have a release button.

[Scot Minesinger]

trunk release was optional.  A black button would be impossible to see almost, so red makes sense. 

probably the red needle in gas gauge of 1970 Cadillac brochure was artistic license, as all those pictures are "photo shopped" ala 1970.  Look at the convertible white interior picture, that is major modified.

[Marcel75]

...  Look at the convertible white interior picture, that is major modified.

Think you are right. I have same Nottingham firemist (as the convertible you are mentionning) on my Eldo, no vinyl roof and medium red leather

[R Schroeder]

Fleetwood shows , red.
I Googled 1970 Cadillac dashboard. A few models came up with red.
Roy

[Scot Minesinger]

Roy,

Would not have believed it if you did not show me, but it could be a replacement?


My key insert on steering column has a red paint in the slot that indicates position on just one of my 1970 Cadillacs, does anyone else have that too.  The red paint on ignition is on SDV, and the two DVC do not have it, maybe it wore off or was not on convertibles?

[Dan LeBlanc]

Would not have believed it if you did not show me, but it could be a replacement?

I think the probability of two cars, selected completely at random from an Internet search, both having fuel gauge replacements is highly unlikely.

[R Schroeder]

This NOS one was on Ebay. Mind you, I am not the expert on 70's.
Roy

P.S. There were more than just the two I posted. Eldorado also showed red. I probably found 6 or 7.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-1970-Cadillac-Deville-Fleetwood-Calais-Eldorado-Pulse-Fuel-Gas-Gauge-NOS-/252217696890?hash=item3ab958a27a:g:V8MAAOSw3KFWdCJE&vxp=mtr