RARE - 1984 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe Convertible by Hess & Eisenhardt

[CaddyShack]

Can you guys help me with what it is worth?? Trying to decide if I should sell it.

I have a very rare 1984 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe (ETC) *Convertible* by Hess & Eisenhardt. Only 814 Touring Coupes were built for 1984 and this is one of the less than 10 that were made convertibles by Hess & Eisenhardt. One of the few still in existence.

It does need to be restored. It has been sitting in a barn and under cover for 20 years. My father bought the car 30 years ago but he has since passed away, so I don't know much of the car's history.

[V63]

Unfortunately, I believe you are going to be VERY disappointed. I have owned a 1984 H&E ...

Restoring it would leave you further disappointed,  from a Purely financial perspective.

I would suggest your car anticipated "realistic" value is about $2,000 as is.

[Big Fins]

Unfortunately, I believe you are going to be VERY disappointed.

I would suggest your car anticipated "realistic" value is about $2,000 as is.

You are being nice.

[Bryan J Moran]

Since this is a request for worth - didn't Cadillac make factory convertibles in 1984-85?  Why would a Hess & Eisenhardt be preferable?   

Respondents are being nice. The main issue is it has an HT4100 motor.  I would throw it on eBay with a low starting bid. 

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

The "factory" 84/85 convertible was offered in Biarritz trim only. What distinguishes this one is the fact the conversion was based on the Eldorado Touring Coupe of which probably a handful were ever done.

That said, this one needs an awful lot of help, the cost of which will likely exceed the entire value of the finished product therefore has very little value as is.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day S S.

Firstly, you have an email from the Moderators of this Forum that requires your attention.

Now, In the picture you show a car trailer near the back of the car.   Is it there because the car has just been dropped off, or is it there to carry the car to a safer place for storeage?

It might very well be a rare car, but in this case, rarity could have very little to do with value, as rarity also means expensive to replace, or find parts.

There is going to be a problem with deciding the value of the car as if you are wanting it to survive, you need to get it under cover as soon as possible to protect it.

Cleaning it will make a world of difference as as it stands now, it is going to be a parts car.

Bruce.

[35-709]

"The main issue is it has an HT4100 motor."
That bears repeating!

With that engine and the condition the car has been allowed to deteriorate to, it might be worth more as a parts car.  Unfortunately, however, again because of the HT 4100, fewer than usual of any 4100 cars even survive for someone to want parts for.
Bryan's suggestion of eBay with a low starting bid is probably your best bet. 
My opinion.

[James Landi]

as the seller mentions it is a very rare bird--- with the special touring suspension, interior, and design...and I certainly agree that putting in some elbow grease, getting it cleaned up and running makes a world of difference from its present conditon.  And, we don't know the mileage... perhaps, if it's very low, the 4100 still has some life left in it...  The car is certainly very well worth the time and effort to make it clean and presentable.    ( and I put in here, that having owned 5 4100 Cadillacs, ONE kept going very well for 315,000 miles over the 25 years that I owned it--- the other four lived up to their horrible reputation) James

[chrisntam]

To the op, you have it listed on FB marketplace for $3400 obo.  Seems like you didn't need our opinion...

[Bryan J Moran]

To the op, you have it listed on FB marketplace for $3400 obo.  Seems like you didn't need our opinion...

Or perhaps he did because there is no interest.  As usual, I knew nothing about a particular Cadillac.  Meaning this touring coupe.  Some of you guys have a lot of knowledge. 

Of course, I did some Googling.  1st, I don't see those cool ETC specific wheels.  I hope they are in the garage (unlikely).  2nd, I was impressed by all of the changes that made to the ETC. 

Unfortunately saddled with the HT4100.  Why could Cadillac not have thrown a better breathing HT4100 in there, even 20 more hp, a bit more torque - to seperate.  To be fair, a lot of the ETC improvements were not seen. 

Those bucket seats look like a marked improvement over the standard pillow soft ones. 

One of the Google result articles I read was from Hemmings and the guy actually restored and slightly altered his ETC.  He gave it a black leather interior.

Question:  Can the HT4100 be yanked out of there in favor of an Oldsmobile 350 like in 1979?  Going from a fuel injected, possibly computer controlled engine management back to a good old carb would be great, but maybe not entirely possible.    It would look reasonably stock, would not win any CLC award but not look "hot rodded" and I used to run Oldsmobiles and know that the 350 can be made to look stock and still push 325 hp out, more than enough for spirited driving. 

Sorry for the ramble, just trying to educate myself and others. 

[V63]

If memory serves the ETC were the same seats shared with the cimmeron?

[dn010]

I absolutely do not buy the sitting in a barn story. It might have been covered at some point but judging by all the leaves in the engine compartment and how the tires look like they've been sunk in mud for a long time, I'd really wonder what it looks like underneath the car. There is a very good amount of debris from the elements on the the body and looking at the holes the tires made in the ground in the photos, I'd bet the car was just pulled back a car length towards the trailer and I see no barn in sight. Putting all the mouse damage aside, there looks like there is a lot of mold on those seat backs to make it a rolling biohazard. Good luck with the sale, though.

[76eldo]

I bought and restored one of these about 10 years ago.
Yes, super rare. The ones I bought had a MINT interior and all the trim was excellent.
Hess always repainted these cars from the doors back and the added thickness of the lacquer led to cracking paint. Mine was Bordeaux red which is a maroon.
I did a bare metal paint job and installed a new top. Added proper white letter tires and the car was striking and about a 72,000 mile car.
I sold it to a British gentleman who flew in to Phila International and drove it home to Colorado. He had it for several years and had gotten older and moved back to England.
I helped him sell it and it went to a collector in California. I think he got about $12,000.
Car was still excellent and fully sorted and ready to roll.

The one you posted was on Facebook too. It's rare and all that but you will probably spend $20,000 restoring it and the value isn't there.
The seats and console are rare as is the plastic body cladding on the bottom of the car.
So you can't grab seats from another car unless you find a Touring Coupe parts car.
It's an ambitious project with no real upside in my opinion.
 

[James Landi]

"Question:  Can the HT4100 be yanked out of there in favor of an Oldsmobile 350 like in 1979?  Going from a fuel injected, possibly computer controlled engine management back to a good old carb would be great, but maybe not entirely possible.    It would look reasonably stock, would not win any CLC award but not look "hot rodded" and I used to run Oldsmobiles and know that the 350 can be made to look stock and still push 325 hp out, more than enough for spirited driving. "
--
Yes Bryan,  a friend and I converted my '85 Biarritz convertible very successfully about ten years ago.  The carbureted Olds engine was a good match.  THe Olds even accepted the 4100 computerized distributor, and all of the various digital readouts and controls work.    James

[TMoore - NTCLC]

James - That is really good information.  I have often wondered how difficult making this conversion would be, especially since that body style started out with the 350.  How would you rate the difficulty of the conversion?  That could greatly expand the consideration of  Eldos and Sevilles of this era if a swap is easily doable.

[James Landi]

"James - That is really good information.  I have often wondered how difficult making this conversion would be, especially since that body style started out with the 350.  How would you rate the difficulty of the conversion?  That could greatly expand the consideration of  Eldos and Sevilles of this era if a swap is easily doable."

The major considerations were not issues.  The engine, as I recall, mounted without  challenge.  As I recall, the list below I've order in most challenging to less challenging
1. Since a header to header exhaust over the bell housing crossover was not available, an expert wielder created this piece out of new exhaust stock.  The throttle and transmission cable bracket also had to be created.  I created a simple bracket to secure the cruise control modulator. WE used the 4100 distributor, as well as several engine sensors that would work with a carbureted engine. I paid 1,500 for a low mileage 260 2 barrel Olds from Action Auto recyclers.   I first received a  larger  350 Olds engine, but it had a cracked block and the company promptly sent me the smaller engine... this engine was in very good condition... we installed a new timing chain and gear set as well as a new water and gas pump.  It all turned out much better than expected.   I don't recall the final price... there were no labor charges, but I think with the engine and parts it was over 4k... maybe even more--- since I changed out wheel hubs, rotors and etc. I had replaced two 4100 engines with used ones for the same recycler.  Neither lasted for more than 50 k miles even with my babying them.  I sold the car to our CLC president, and he told me he enjoyed the car while he owned it.   It had just turn 200,000 when we did the engine transplant.  Hope this helps,  James

[79 Eldorado]

I had one of the 1984 ETC's for a very short time. I ended up giving it to my uncle. Looking back I wish I would have kept the car. It ran well but it had the HT4100 so it made me think it was likely a car I wouldn't keep. I've owned 4 Olds powered 79-84 E-Bodies. I loved the interior though. A tree ended up falling on it across the windshield/roof area. I've only ever seen one other 84-85 ETC in person.