The seller of today’s Nice Price or No Dice Caddy claims they should be selling it at auction but says who’s got time for that? Let’s see if we have the time for this custom convertible at its non-auction price.
Many of you agreed that the $950 asked for yesterday’s 1984 Plymouth Colt GTS turbo project car was “chump change.” Even more of you felt that paying even that lowly a sum for the half-there hatchback would make a chump out of the buyer. The result was a solid “no thank you” and an even more solid 82 percent No Dice loss.
Unlike yesterday’s Colt, which needed everything, today’s 1994 Cadillac Eldorado coachbuilt convertible needs little to nothing. Described by its seller as being in “excellent condition,” it even sports a brand new set of Vogue whitewall/gold stripe tires on its chrome-plated wheels.
Two main factors are important when considering this car. The first of those, naturally, is the convertible conversion. It was seemingly done by Custom Coach Builder Ltd (now Drop Top Customs) out of High Springs, Florida. We don’t get to see what sort of structural reinforcing was done during the decapitation process, but the top itself—with rear windows that lower and a full headliner inside—shows some careful consideration went into the work.
The top is canvas and resides under a floppy tonneau when fun in the sun action is called for. While it looks to generally be in solid shape, the top does show some binding wear and related cobbled repair stitching above the passenger door and has a plastic rear window which looks kind of chinzy. Aside from those minor issues, though, it seems to get the job done.
The other big consideration with this car is the 4.6-liter Northstar V8 that sits crisscross applesauce under the hood. These all-alloy engines are notorious for a number of issues, including head bolt pull-out, oil and coolant leaks, and overheating, all suffered while being stuffed into engine bays that require the motor to be yanked out for any major repairs.
Fortunately, these earlier (pre-’97) engines seem to be less trouble-prone, and the seller helpfully includes a picture of the digital dashboard readout showing the engine temp in a reasonable range. Another plus is that the car has new A/C components, refreshed shocks and struts, and has recently enjoyed a transmission filter and fluid service.
Aesthetically, there’s nothing much about which to complain, either inside or out. Oh sure, the color combo and chrome wheels and arches may not be to universal liking, but then this is a car for specific tastes, not community appeal. In the cabin, the leather upholstery looks to be in excellent condition, as do the carpets and plastics. Also, although modern enough to have dual airbags, this Eldorado is old enough to have lots of knobs and buttons for the stereo and climate control rather than screen controls.
The instrument cluster is digital, with fluorescent displays for all pertinent information, including the car’s 124,570-mile odometer reading. The title is clean, and the car comes with receipts for eight years’ worth of work done under the present owner. The asking price is $8,600, which the seller boasts is half what the car would go for if they only had time to take it to auction.
It’s lucky for us that the seller’s dance card is full up. That means we get to judge the Eldo at that half-off $8,600 asking and decide if there’s any validity in the seller’s boast. What do you say, is $8,600 a fair price for this clean Caddy convertible as it’s presented in the ad? Or is that “half-off” still too high a price to pay for a converted coupe?
You decide!
Orlando, Florida, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Don R. for the hookup!
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