In an age when car companies were downsizing vehicles due to government regulation and rising oil prices, Cadillac continued to produce the large and luxurious Eldorado. Notably, 1978 was the final year for the 126-inch wheelbase, front-drive E-platform that had been in use since 1971.

While waiting one more year for an all-new downsized body, the Eldorado received no major change other than a revised crosshatch grille; identifiable by heavier horizontal bars. Cadillac did, however, introduce a new Electronic Level Control system in 1978, and it was included on the Eldorado as part of the model’s impressive list of standard features, which had long come to be expected by the brand’s clientele. As such, examples of the 1978 Eldorado are highly coveted cars representing the end of an era for Cadillac’s so-called “stretched-out” styling, with luxurious tailoring, and a comprehensive suite of standard amenities.

As noted by its accompanying window sticker, sales invoice, and manufacturer’s statement of origin, this outstanding and well-preserved Eldorado Biarritz was delivered new to Kinman Cadillac of Grand Island, Nebraska on 8 December 1977. With beautiful Mulberry Metallic paintwork over two-tone Mulberry Sierra Grain leather upholstery and a matching grain-vinyl false Landau hardtop, this 1978 Eldorado showed just shy of 3,620 actual miles at time of cataloguing. Power is derived from a correctly detailed 425-cubic-inch V-8 engine and routed to the front wheels by a smooth Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission.

In addition to its remarkable state of originality and preservation, this Eldorado was also desirably specified from new with 23 factory-installed options, including a telescoping steering wheel, Twilight Sentinel auto-dimming system, cruise control, Guidematic headlight control, automatic door locks, AM/FM stereo with cassette player, rear window defogger, multi-adjustable power front seats, and a full set of door-edge guards. As to be expected from a top-of-the-range Cadillac, significant luxury features such as air conditioning, climate control, power steering, and color-coded chrome disc wheels wrapped in whitewall tires came standard.

Prior to the consignor’s purchase in December 2021 (then indicating 3,422 miles), this stunning Eldorado Biarritz resided for many years within the noted collection of Glenn Boyd in Henderson, North Carolina.

Desirably specified and lovingly preserved since new by a noted chain of owners, and documented by its original factory sales literature, this 3,600-mile 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Coupe is an attractive offering that is unlikely to be repeated in the marketplace anytime soon.