Custom Upholstery by Trim & Stitch of Glastonbury, CT

Harte Collision Center Manager Chris Damiani and Joe Machate of Trim & Stitch in Joe's Glastonbury Facility. Trim&Stitch does Custom Auto and Boat Upholstery, Convertible Tops and Headliners, and Antique Car Restoration.

                                                                                                                                                      Front Seats and Seat Backs

            Rear Seats , White leather with Contrasting Piping

                                                                                         Head Rests in Progress

            Various Door Panels Awaiting Restoration

Contact Trim&Stitch at 860 796 1993 or Email Joe Machate Joe@TrimAndStitch.Com

More Body Restoration Prep

 

 

Prep for Body Restoration

 

Interior Restoration Begun

Eldorado recognized and acknowledged its heritage in 1975 by refining its styling to better reflect that of the first generation Fleetwood Eldorado that dated back to 1967. Few would disagree that the original styling was one of General Motors finest styling efforts ever. It ranks up there with the first Cadillac Sixty Special Sedan and Coupe deVille, the 1963 Buick Riviera, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, and all the other legendary designs that have come forth from GM over the years.

However, it seemed like the U.S. auto industry just couldn't get a break during the 1974 and 1975 model years. After Cadillac experienced two record setting years in a row for 1972 and 1973, it got hit with sluggish sales due to the oil scare that caught America off guard just as the new '74 models appeared in dealer showrooms. When the oil scare ended in spring 1974, sales began to pick up again, only to fall off during the 1975 model year due to the worst economic recession since 1958!  For 1975, pricing on the Convertible passed the five-figure bracket for the first time. At $10,354, it was priced $917 higher than in 1974.

Part of the responsibility for the increase in base prices lies with the new catalytic converters that had found their way onto most 1975 models. They allowed the engines to be retuned for improved performance, as they aided in the clean up of vehicle emissions, which allowed engineers to remove some of the emissions duties engines had been saddled with during the previous few years. The catalytic converters were expensive, and that cost was passed along to the consumer.

Advertising for the 1975 Cadillacs was as one would expect from Cadillac. Simple, elegantly understated, and sometimes posed with an older model Cadillac in the background. Golfer Arnold Palmer appeared in several print and television ads about this time.

Part of a Cadillac's mistique included offering owners a high resale value at time of trade in, as well as low maintenance costs during their time of ownership. Cadillac led the luxury market in owner loyalty at the time, as it had for many years, and there was a growing trend for original owners to retain cars for a longer period of time, which may have had a small impact on repeat sales each year.

CADILLAC FLEETWOOD ELDORADO Convertible, model year 1975, version for North America with 2-door convertible body type, FWD (front-wheel drive) and automatic 3-speed gearbox. Gasoline engine of 8194 cm3 / 500 cui displacement with advertised power 141.5 kW / 190 hp / 192 PS ( SAE net ) / 3600 and 488 Nm / 360 lb-ft / 2000 of torque.

Dimensions: this model outside length is 5692 mm / 224.1 in, it’s 2027 mm / 79.8 in wide and has wheelbase of 3208 mm / 126.3 in. The value of a drag coefficient, estimated by a-c, is Cd = 0.58 . 

Reference vehicle weights: shipping weight 2344 kg / 5167 lbs estimated curb weight 2420 kg / 5330 lbs .

Performance: top speed 178 km/h (111 mph) (theoretical); accelerations 0- 60 mph 13.2 s; 0- 100 km/h 14 s (a-c simulation); 1/4 mile drag time (402 m) 19.4 s (a-c simulation).

Fuel consumption and mileage: official: , average estimated by a-c: 29.4 l/100km / 9.7 mpg (imp.) / 8 mpg (U.S.) / 3.4 km/l, average estimated combined driving range of this car is 349 km / 216 miles.

Cadillac made significant advancements in engineering for 1975, that resulted in an increase in gasoline mileage. Among them, the new catalytic converter, installed on Cadillac for the first time in 1975. This was an important advancement, as it scrubbed engine emissions outside of the engine—allowing the engine itself to be recalibrated for improved efficiency under varied conditions. The High Energy Ignition System introduced last year as an option was made standard for 1975, an important advancement in engine performance, reliability, and length between scheduled service.

Other changes made to improve fuel economy included modifications to the transmission torque converter to make it "tighter" for more immediate, positive response. Lower axle ratios also helped increase mileage, as did steel-belted radial ply tires, which reduced drag up to 33 percent compared to bias-belted tires. This meant less rolling resistance, and better fuel economy.

Cadillac introduced a new, wider radiator for 1975 for better cooling in heavy traffic conditions. New engine mounts also isolated the engine better, to reduce vibration and noise. New stainless steel sandwiched rear brake lines resisted corrosion longer.

The value of buying a new 1975 Cadillac was in its reputation as America's most popular luxury car, the fact that it was constantly being improved, held its value better than many cars, and that of all the Cadillacs built—dating back to 1902—more than 44% were still on the road at that time

The Eldorado model was part of the Cadillac line from 1953 to 2002. The Cadillac Eldorado was the longest running American personal luxury car as it was the only one sold after the 1999 model year.
The name was proposed for a special show car built in 1952 to mark Cadillac's Golden Anniversary It was the result of an in-house competition won by Mary-Ann Marini , a secretary in the company's merchandising department.
Another source, Palm Springs Life magazine, attributes the name to a resort destination in California's Coachella Valley that was a favorite of GM executives. In any case, the name was adopted by the company for a new, limited-edition convertible that was added to the line in 1953.

The name Eldorado was derived from the Spanish words "el dorado", which is translated "the gilded one" or "the golden one" in English; the name was originally given to the legendary chief or "cacique" of a South American Indian tribe.  The name more frequently refers to a legendary city of fabulous riches, somewhere in South America, that inspired many European expeditions, including one to the Orinoco by England's Sir Walter Raleigh.