Rare Rides Icons: The Cadillac Eldorado, Distinctly Luxurious (Part LXXI)

In our prior installment of the Cadillac Eldorado’s saga, we saw the last full-sized Eldorado bow out at the conclusion of 1985. A holdout alongside the bustleback Seville, the duo were the final two products of the “old” product methodology established at Cadillac in the late Seventies. In 1986 a new Eldorado (and Seville) arrived, and the former appeared in its smallest iteration ever.

For 1986 the Cadillac lineup aside from Seville and Eldorado was a carryover. For its downsizing efforts, Cadillac was rewarded in 1985 with its highest sales figures ever and rode into the following year feeling very confident in its product. It would turn out 1986 was a one-off in regards to product mix, and the lineup would be reworked again in 1987. 

The 11th generation Eldorado debuted with its Irv Rybicki design to conform with the rest of the front-drive lineup (only the Brougham remained full-size and rear-drive). As mentioned previously, the majority of new Cadillac models were aimed at a younger affluent buyer, one who did not shop for button tufted seats and 215-inch long vehicles. The move started in earnest with the prior generation Eldorado when the Eldorado Touring Coupe trim arrived in 1982. The Touring offerings would expand throughout the Eighties to other Cadillac models. 

The Eldorado still used the E-body platform for its 11th iteration, alongside the Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado. Engineers shaved a full six inches off the previous wheelbase, down to an even 108 inches. Also removed was a notable amount of length: At just 191.2 inches overall, the Eldorado was 16 inches shorter than the previous model and the smallest it had ever been. 

Surprisingly, width increased over the outgoing model from 70.6 inches in 1985 to 71.7” in 1986. Height decreased from 54.3 inches on the old model to 53.7 in ‘86. The dimensional changes combined to cut a considerable 350 pounds from the car’s overall weight. 

In a reversal, the new trio of E-bodies in 1986 put the Cadillac back on top as the longest version available. While all three cars shared the same 108-inch wheelbase, the Toronado started out in 1986 at 187.5 inches. That measurement was nearly four inches shorter than the Eldorado, and .3 inches shorter than the 187.8-inch Riviera. These measurements would only apply for a couple of years however, as General Motors returned to adding length to its cars again for 1989.

In 1985 General Motors modernized many of its mid-size and large front-drive vehicles onto the Buick 3.8-liter V6, not to be confused with the 3800 V6 that arrived later. The 3.8 was a modernization of the LD5 that debuted in 1978, and was replaced by the 3800V6 in 1988. The exception to this Buick V6 norm was Cadillac, which offered the exclusive HT4100 V8 it debuted in 1982. 

The 4.1L still managed 130 horsepower, and 190 lb-ft of torque. It too was in its last few years, as engineers worked to make the engine more powerful, more reliable, and larger after high projected fuel prices did not materialize. The switch to the 4.5-liter also reflected a marketing shift away from the “High Technology” brand that was by then associated with failing head bolts.

Underneath, the lighter E-body Eldorado used a fully independent suspension in 1986, with MacPherson struts in the front and a new transverse leaf spring rear made of fiberglass. Cadillac proudly advertised the four-speed automatic transmission with a viscous converter clutch, the latter detail a Cadillac exclusive feature. The clutch was attached to the new-for-’85 THM 440-T4, which was later relabeled as the 4T60. The VCC (as Cadillac abbreviated it) used a solenoid-operated valve within the transmission that coupled the engine flexplate to the input shaft of the transmission via the torque converter. This feature was intended to reduce slippage loss in the converter and improve fuel economy. 

In 1986 there was one fewer body style of Eldorado as the specially-constructed convertible made by ASC was no longer offered. American convertible sales were at a low point, and confined largely to exotica in the mid-80s before resurgence later in the decade. And Cadillac had another convertible in the works which was certainly not a simple ASC special. It was to arrive the following year. 

The remaining Eldorado coupe was split into two trims rather than three. Although Touring offerings would enter into their heyday around the end of the Eighties, they were limited to Deville Touring Coupe and Touring Sedan in 1986. It’s unclear why this choice was made when the focus was on the younger Euro-intender customer.

Left in 1986 was the standard Eldorado coupe and the Biarritz that layered on additional trim. The Biarritz treatment in ‘86 granted a two-tone paint scheme, full cabriolet roof, and opera lamps. Additionally there were faux wire wheels as standard, and bodyside molding in chrome that wore additional bevel detailing. 

Biarritz buyers also received real wood on their dash, doors, around the instruments, and in the center console. It seemed the days of real wood as a standard feature on the Eldorado were long past. The Biarritz seats were different too, and had separated padding via a windowpane design. Power seating for driver and passenger were included, as well as power lumbar. These were optional on standard Eldorado. 

Available features for 1986 included an expensive factory-installed carphone, an expensive glass Astroroof, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. In addition to the standard Twilight Sentinel was Dimming Sentinel, which dimmed high-beams in the event of oncoming traffic (a feature which still has not been perfected to date). 

The word Touring did appear in the ‘86 Eldorado’s marketing, but only under a suspension option. The Touring Suspension included 15-inch wheels and low-profile Goodyear Eagle GT tires, with black walls as standard. There was an upgraded rear stabilizer bar, a stiffer stabilizer at the front, and other “specially tuned components,” that remained unnamed.

All these features were packed in a much smaller Eldorado that managed to maintain the same interior space as its predecessor. However, the size shrinkage was not without cost, as the proportions and overall look of the Eldorado - short wheelbase and short overhangs - became a bit stumpy. We’ll review the exterior styling in our next installment. 

[Images: GM]

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