1971 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible #1 Plus Parts Car NO RESERVE

1971 Cadillac Eldorado Description

Of the 6800 Fleetwood Eldorado Convertibles built in 1971, this is the bona fide first one off the assembly line - body tag #1, production sequence #00002 with a letter from Cadillac in 1976 verifying the claim. The last rear wheel drive Eldorado was built in 1966, and it also happened to be the last Eldorado Convertible of the 60's. It was reintroduced in 1971 as a replacement for the DeVille Convertible with the new (in '70) 501 series engine, the legendary 500 cubic inch big block that is still the largest mass production engine ever made.
She runs and drives, that I can say.The numbers correct engine has a freshly rebuilt, numbers correct, Q-jet carb from Summit Racing. Tires are new. The scissor-top frame is in impeccable condition, almost looks brand new. I have not pulled the tank, but I have run the car a multitude of times with fresh gas, and the main line and return seem to be flowing well. The top motor works, as well as all the window motors. The window tracks, however, will all need help.The exterior rust is mainly centered on the trunk lid (the first couple of hundred cars had louvered lids, and they tended to hold water at their base), around the rear deck of the convertible top (which also tended to hold water), and at the right rear quarter. The right rear floor pan will need to be replaced, but exact replacement pans for this car are available through OPGI. You'll see that the trunk looks pretty clean, and that the left rear quarter looks tight. The right rear quarter needs help. The rusted body parts you should be able to scavenge from the very straight 1972 Eldorado Convertible parts car that also comes with the deal. It has clear title like the '71, but will not have an engine (I'm keeping it for a rainy day). The car bodies, other than some added rubber pieces on the '72 bumpers, are identical. The '71 comes with lots of little extras, like a clean replacement dash cover and speaker grilles (just need to be painted) and a really clean set of fiberglass correct color parade boots, which are $500-$600 alone. The '72 interior is trashed, but I do have a bunch of extra good quality and correct color blue interior body panels that will come with it, just in case you want to salvage that car.
This is a project, make no mistake. If I knew how to run a plasma cutter, could weld, and was more adept at body work, I would continue on with it. I've got several other complete cars, though, mostly Cadillacs, that are always in need of my attention, so it's hard to devote the time. Truly, if the '71 wasn't #1, I would move the interior out of the '71 and restore the '72. The body of the '72 is super straight, and the only significant rust I've found was in the left rear passenger floor pan (find them at OPGI).
What's '71 Eldorado Convertible #1 worth when it's done? I have no idea. I did see a super clean original low miles '71, same color, sell at Mecum for $22,000-$23,000 recently, so I'm sure it would be something far north of that, because for the '71 -'76 aficionado, hands down this is the Holy Grail.
Ask any question you'd like, and I'll answer the best I can. This car is for sale locally, and I reserve the right to shut down the auction early if it sells outside of eBay. Shipping arrangements will be the complete responsibility of the Buyer. Happy bidding!




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