How can you tell if it is a "real" 1966 convertible fleetwood eldorado?

[porshapower]

Hello   From what I have read it seems they made like 20,000 convertibles in 1966 and of these 2500 were fleetwood eldorado's (am I saying this wrong?)..should it be eldorado fleetwood?  I am looking at one with wood on the door panels.  Is there just 2 models of the convertible for 1966..base and fleetwood eldorado?   Is there just an eldorado convertible or fleetwood convertible or are they only fleetwood eldorado?  Confused!  What are the differences?  Thanks again. :)Nel

[Blade]

Hi Nel, I'm not an expert on the '66s but far as I know Fleetwoods only came in 4 door hardtop sedans and the factory limousines. The convertibles in that year were only the DeVilles and the Eldorados.

Are you looking at a particular car to purchase? Maybe we can assist you.

[Glen]

I’m not an expert either but the CLC directory shows that the style number on the body plate would be 66-68467 for the Eldo convertable and 66-68367 for the Deville convertible. 

Also the VIN would have an E in it for the Eldo.  The Deville would have an F. 

[cadillacmike68]

1966 was the last year of the RWD Eldorado, and it was offered only as a convertible with VINs starting with "E6".

Part of the confusion was that Cadillac brought the Eldorado under the "Fleetwood series" in 1965 or 66. Thus all Eldorados of this time period - through 1972, were technically "Fleetwood Eldorados", for whatever that's worth. For 1965 and 66, there was the "Fleetwood Eldorado Convertible". In 1967 the convertible was dropped when the Eldorado went to front wheel drive. When the convertible came back in 1971 (now as a FWD) there were two bodies (but the coupe was never called the Seville again) , and for a couple more years they were still technically "Fleetwood Eldorados"

99% of folks didn't bother with the "Fleetwood" and just referred to them as Eldorados. I think by 1973 Cadillac finally gave it up, and just referred to them as Eldorados once more. By this time the convertible had been priced higher than anything except the Fleetwood 75s.

If your car has an "E" VIN number, It's an Eldorado. If it has an "F", it's a DeVille.

Check out this chart and click on Cadillac overview you can see all there different series and body styles over the years 1958-1975:

http://dcl16.nl/cf/

This is a great site, and its where i got my 60s and 70s Cadillac "Masters" degree from! 

I got the PhD from having the actual cars for some 24 years ...   

[Louis Smith]

My short answer is, that I think Eldorado's were part of the fleetwood series.  Look at the badge.  Does it have the wreath and crest signifying the fleetwood series.  Look for the word Eldorado on the lower front fender.

[cadillacmike68]

Louis, that's probably correct for 65 as well as 66. I know that in 66 Eldorados were in the "Fleetwood series" but I can't get to the dutch site right now to look at the brochures, because the morons at netcon are blocking it 

Did the earlier (61-64) Eldorado convertibles have the wreath as well? I can see it on the sides of a 63 Biarritz from this site, so probably yes:

http://www.lov2xlr8.no/cadillac.html

And this is from wiki, but we all know how much that is worth: 

Eldorado's bore the Fleetwood designation from 1965 through 1972.

[Davidinhartford]

Mike is right.   The Eldorado was a "Fleetwood Eldorado" then.    The base convertible was in the "Deville" series.    So there were two convertibles that year, two different series.    The Eldo was just a tarted up Deville though.  Much much nicer interior with those heavy wood door panels.   Usually well optioned.   The Eldo was easily distinguished from the exterior by its lack of mid level bodyside moldings. It had lower moldings plus rocker moldings that the Deville did not have.


Above:  Eldorado

Below:  Deville

[Davidinhartford]

Front and rear visual trim differences.


Hood emblems different.  Deville vs.  Fleetwood.


Trunk emblems different, plus different decorative horizontal grilles in the bumper.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

    The Eldo was just a tarted up Deville though...

Ooooooh.....Ouch. 

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Louis, that's probably correct for 65 as well as 66. I know that in 66 Eldorados were in the "Fleetwood series" but I can't get to the dutch site right now to look at the brochures, because the morons at netcon are blocking it 

Did the earlier (61-64) Eldorado convertibles have the wreath as well? I can see it on the sides of a 63 Biarritz from this site, so probably yes:

The Eldorado officially became part of the Fleetwood Series in 1964 and was no longer referred to as a Biarritz.

The 1964 Fleetwood Series included the Eldorado, 60 Special and Series 75.

1963 Fleetwood 60 Special and Eldorado Biarritz had gotten exterior wreath & crest ornamentation in 1963; Series 75 didn't get it until 1964.  HTH

[Louis Smith]

The Eldorado officially became part of the Fleetwood Series in 1964 and was no longer referred to as a Biarritz.

The 1964 Fleetwood Series included the Eldorado, 60 Special and Series 75.

1963 Fleetwood 60 Special and Eldorado Biarritz had gotten exterior wreath & crest ornamentation in 1963; Series 75 didn't get it until 1964.  HTH

It was on another post that earlier Cadillacs, I believe the '62 Fleetwoods, had as an option the crest and wreath embroidered on the rear arm rest.

[Walter Youshock]

The wreath and crest came in the '62 Fleetwood 75 and 60 Special with the all wool broadcloth interior.

'64 was also the first year the series 62 convertible became part of the DeVille line, which it always shared the same trim level as the Coupe and Sedan deVille anyway.

Don't forget that the second year 1954 Eldorado basically looked like a dressed-up series 62 convertible and then the Eldorado got a distinctive body for '55 through '58.  A lot of that exclusiveness was lost on the '59 Eldorados where they shared the same basic body...  Sorry to say it but...

[porshapower]

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful information.  I will look at the vin on the car and go from there.  Will try to post some pictures soon.  Thanks again!!

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

"... Fleetwood 60 Special and Eldorado Biarritz had gotten exterior wreath & crest ornamentation beginning in 1963..."

[Davidinhartford]

Ooooooh.....Ouch. 

LOL,  No disrespect intended.    But it is true.   The 55, 56, 57 & 58 Eldorados had their own unique rear sheetmetal.   Even the 64 Eldo had it's own unique style without the rear fender skirts.    But the 54, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65 and 66s were just trim packages on the basic body of the series 62/Devilles.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

LOL,  No disrespect intended.    But it is true.   The 55, 56, 57 & 58 Eldorados had their own unique rear sheetmetal.   Even the 64 Eldo had it's own unique style without the rear fender skirts.    But the 54, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65 and 66s were just trim packages on the basic body of the series 62/Devilles.

True enough, although the Eldo did receive a better appointed interior. 

_{Just be sure to say the "tarted-up" thing very quietly when standing near a '59 Ritz owner...shhhhhh}   

[cadillacmike68]

True enough, although the Eldo did receive a better appointed interior. 

That's what he meant by "tarted up" 

The Eldos of the period had the same engines and chassis, nothing special to set them off there. 

That said, some of those interiors were quite nice. But then again so were the late 60s DeVille Convertibles (leather interiors with real wood in the 68s) and Fleetwood 60 Specials & Broughams , and they had the 472 in them, without the 71 & later emissions bullshite.   

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

"Tarted up" or not, I'll be more than happy to relieve anybody of all those pesky RWD Eldos with shared sheetmetal with their "lesser" siblings: '54, '59, '60, '61, '62, '63, '65, '66- all day long. 

These cars are not lacking in high demand for no good reason.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Could the reason for not being in high demand, due to the high prices?

Edited my last post to:

These cars are not lacking in high demand for no good reason.

Pardon the error.

[Louis Smith]

Edited my last post to:

These cars are not lacking in high demand for no good reason.

Pardon the error.

So to regroup, allow me to ask, is the reason for the high demand, due to the fantastic styling of cars of the past, which attracts many people today?