Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: Timbo on March 06, 2020, 02:19:55 PM

Title: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: Timbo on March 06, 2020, 02:19:55 PM
I found this forum via google search and I love the amount of knowledge the members have. I have owned a 71 Eldo convertible for about 10 years and have been restoring it as I get some extra $. Love this car, it's a head turner and a absolute joy to drive. Am currently converting the distributor to HEI for a variety of reasons and have read some valuable info on it. I will be looking for some body parts and hope to find folks who can assist me. She was born in Detroit, raised in Jersey and is now retired in Texas.
I look forward to sharing Caddy info with y'all.
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: "Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364 on March 06, 2020, 02:36:55 PM
Tim
Welcome to the forum and welcome to Tejas.
Greg surfas
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: 76eldo on March 06, 2020, 03:16:51 PM
Welcome to the forum. I also have a 71 Eldo and I love it.
Best looking year out of the 71-76 run in my opinion.
I have a few Eldo convertibles and never get tired of them.
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: James Landi on March 06, 2020, 03:35:34 PM
Tim, we love pictures, and we truly enjoy any historical narratives you can provide about your car.  I owned several Cadillacs of that era, and my 72 Eldo was a favorite.  Durable, comfortable, and provided the driver with the extraordinary feeling of watching the world go by from a comfortable sofa, especially with the tires inflated to specs, and air in the rear shocks. Please regale us with your impressions, insights, and especially some pictures of your baby.     Happy day,  James
l
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: Timbo on March 06, 2020, 04:17:53 PM
Hey Greg, Brian and James. Thanks for your comments. I will post pics as soon as I figure out how to do so.
My daughter comes up from Houston to my place in Ft Worth twice a year and changes the clocks for me in my newer vehicles. Technology has passed me up a little.
I have restored the Caddy bumper to bumper under the hood and she is ready for the beauty shop for a little work. Having spent 39 years in Jersey there are some bondo covered rust issues. The front DS fender won't hold a magnet. When I got it down here the first thing was to open the trunk and verify that Jimmy Hoffa wasn't there.
It's black with red interior and a white rag top. What cracks me up is that it was a top of the line vehicle in 1971 and doesn't have a pass side mirror. I guess that $20 option was too much for the original buyer.
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: Cadillac Fleetwood on March 06, 2020, 04:53:47 PM
Welcome to the forum! These are wonderful cars, and I'm certain you have enjoyed yours immensely during the past 10 years. The RH mirrors were not all that popular then, so it is not at all uncommon to find these cars without. Now that we've gotten used to newer cars where they are standard, the lack becomes apparent.  If you need a RH mirror, I can provide one, along with the red dash piece that mounts the control.

-Charles Fares
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: Timbo on March 06, 2020, 06:02:19 PM
Hey Charles, I got your note. Will get back with you. I found a pass side mirror with the cable and toggle but may need the dash cover.
Thank you!
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: 76eldo on March 06, 2020, 06:27:29 PM
The best color combination!  We need photos!
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on March 06, 2020, 06:33:37 PM
G'day Timbo,

Congratulations for joining the Forum, and for having your '71 Eldo for so long.

You have an email that requires your attention.

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: hornetball on March 07, 2020, 01:04:00 PM
Make sure to visit Honest John's in Justin.  Not very far from you and tons of parts + good folks.

I'm in Granbury.
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: Gene Beaird on March 10, 2020, 04:06:11 PM
Quote from: Timbo on March 06, 2020, 04:17:53 PM
Hey Greg, Brian and James. Thanks for your comments. I will post pics as soon as I figure out how to do so.
My daughter comes up from Houston to my place in Ft Worth twice a year and changes the clocks for me in my newer vehicles. Technology has passed me up a little.
I have restored the Caddy bumper to bumper under the hood and she is ready for the beauty shop for a little work. Having spent 39 years in Jersey there are some bondo covered rust issues. The front DS fender won't hold a magnet. When I got it down here the first thing was to open the trunk and verify that Jimmy Hoffa wasn't there.
It's black with red interior and a white rag top. What cracks me up is that it was a top of the line vehicle in 1971 and doesn't have a pass side mirror. I guess that $20 option was too much for the original buyer.

It's a convertible, who needs mirrors when the top's down?!?  Sounds like a fun project.  Drove a family friend's 74 Eldo vert to one of my HS proms.  Awesome ride!


Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: Rich S on March 10, 2020, 04:58:13 PM
Welcome, Timbo! The '71 Eldorado Convertibles are great driving cars. Yours sounds very close to mine in appearance--and although I love all '71 through '76 Eldorado Convertibles, my favorite is the '71 model year design. This pic of my "Black Beauty" was taken this past October:
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: Tpicks55 on March 11, 2020, 12:43:26 PM
Welcome to the forum Timbo.  also, join us on facebook.  Lots of  people there also.  Looking forward to some pics of yours.  Tony
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: "Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364 on March 11, 2020, 02:00:34 PM
This was the best car I have ever owned.  Bought it new and put nearly 500K on it before I sold it a few years back. Triple black and triple digit temperatures in Texas don't seem to go together.
Greg Surfas
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: dochawk on March 14, 2020, 06:45:23 PM
Quote from: Timbo on March 06, 2020, 04:17:53 PM

My daughter comes up from Houston to my place in Ft Worth twice a year and changes the clocks for me in my newer vehicles.

That's the joy of factory clocks from GM.

Set them once, and they stay there forever, as the *^#$%^ things never lasted for more than a couple of years anyway . . .

I quipped to someone that he'd clearly had a a non-gm rebuild done on the clock on his dash.

"Amazing.  How could you tell?"

"It's running."

Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on March 14, 2020, 08:42:25 PM
The factory clock in my '72 Eldo is running, and keeps good time.

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: dochawk on March 15, 2020, 02:21:04 PM
I just don't believe you . .

:P ::)

Or, perhaps the opposite spin down there has something to do with it . . .

I think the one in *my* '72 Eldorado tries for a few seconds every few hours, but I haven't been able to work on it in a while.
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on March 15, 2020, 08:40:53 PM
Quote from: dochawk on March 15, 2020, 02:21:04 PM
I just don't believe you . .   :P ::)   Or, perhaps the opposite spin down there has something to do with it . . . 
Took Lars Kneller for a day of sightseeing when he stopped off for a visit last month, and the first thing that he remarked on was that the clock was working, and it was original..... then he remarked about the Track Master , then I think the Metric Speedo........

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: dochawk on March 15, 2020, 08:54:30 PM
I suppose a metric speedo would at least cover a bit more than one from imperial units . . .

:o
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on March 15, 2020, 09:18:37 PM
The coverage is the same, but the numbering is different, plus it also gives Kilometre reading on the Odometer.

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: Newby here, 71 Eldo convertible, 8.2 beast
Post by: dochawk on March 15, 2020, 09:30:37 PM
oh, I know--it was a smart*** wisecrack about skimpy swimsuits  ;D