Where would we be today without the ground-breaking efforts of General Motors and their indomitable front-wheel-drive coupes of the 1960s? No, of course they weren’t the first and Europe had been using front-wheel-drive for decades, but putting 400 horsepower through the front wheels was something entirely new and the engineering involved in THAT particular feat is really quite impressive. Full-sized luxury cars such as the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado (interestingly, corporate cousin Buick Riviera wouldn’t go front-wheel-drive until 1979) were no longer wallowy barges but rather agile machines that seemingly defied the laws of physics, as their 5000-pound bodies had the moves of a lightweight Camaro. Go ahead and read up on the development of these front-wheel-drive GM twins—if you’re an automotive technophile, you’ll really enjoy the story!

This 1970 Cadillac Eldorado was the first recipient of Cadillac’s behemoth 500 cubic inch V8, which, until recently, was the biggest production V8 ever built. In the long, lean, and low Eldorado it created a personal coupe for which performance was the ultimate luxury and endowed it with effortless road manners that are still impressive today. The razor-edged styling was avant-garde when it was new and has aged extremely well, showing design influences that can still be seen today. Despite being nearly 18 feet long, the Eldorado conceals its bulk quite neatly with great proportions and a minimum of styling add-ons, making for one of the most attractive cars of the era. Repainted a few years ago in its original code 74 San Mateo Red, it stands out without being an extrovert. The finish is two-stage urethane, and as is typical of modern urethanes, there’s a bit of orange peel in the finish, but a proper cut and buff would eliminate 90% of it and make this car truly sparkle. Even better is the news that the bodywork underneath is excellent, with no signs of heavy rust or accident damage, leaving those long fenders and quarter panels in fantastic shape. The doors fit well and open easily despite their bulk, the hood gaps are tight, and the trunk closes without a major slam, all suggesting a car that has never been twisted or wrecked. The lack of a vinyl top is a rather rare feature and gives the big Eldo a clean look that highlights the V-shaped rear window, one of the most dramatic shapes in the industry until the arrival of the “boat tail” Rivieras in 1971. All the chrome and stainless trim is probably original, so it’s in decent condition with a few bumps and bruises on the bumpers themselves, but nothing that would require any immediate attention. Overall, this is a great-looking car.

The black leather and vinyl interior is brand new, finished two years ago and using proper patterns for a factory look. The seats are a little less shiny than the original leather might have been, but the soft contrast works well in the big coupe. The door panels were re-skinned at the same time and look great and use most of the original hardware, including the unique zebra-grained faux wood inserts that match the dash. The doors are long enough to be able to include both ashtrays and release handles for rear seat passengers and the power window, lock, and mirror controls are at the driver’s fingertips. Cadillac’s wrap-around instrument panel likewise puts all the controls close at hand, including the automatic climate control on the left and AM/FM stereo radio on the right. This car is loaded with features, including the aforementioned power accessories plus a tilt/telescope steering column and a power front seat, and all of it appears to be fully functional except the radio. There’s also an unusual rear defroster that blows recirculated air from the trunk onto the rear window, perhaps in hopes that slightly warmer temperatures would clear the glass. There are also modern speakers under the rear package shelf, so we suspect that the car once had an upgraded stereo that was perhaps removed and the original head unit was reinstalled—it powers up but does not make sound. There’s also a leather wrap around the steering wheel, which is in OK condition with some cracking around the perimeter of the woodgrained insert that’s typical of these cars. New carpets, a correct headliner, and an immaculate dash pad round out a very nicely finished interior. There’s also a massive trunk that’s been finished with matching black carpets and it includes a full-sized spare and jack assembly behind a neatly finished panel at the forward end of the trunk.

The remarkable engineering behind this car enables that mammoth 500 cubic inch V8 to churn 400 horsepower and 550 pounds of torque through the front wheels without torque steer or any risk of breakage. The engine itself appears to have been rebuilt, although we don’t have any documentation on it, and it runs superbly today. It starts easily and idles well, and pulls as if all 400 horses showed up and were quietly going to work. It’s impeccably smooth under power and the bright blue engine is properly dressed with a big air cleaner and Cadillac valve covers. The TH425 3-speed automatic transmission is essentially the guts of a bulletproof TH400 stuffed into a case riding shotgun beside the engine and linked to the crank by what even GM engineers called an “indestructible” chain. The final drive offers 2.73 gears, so this is a superlative highway cruiser designed to hammer across Texas at 95 MPH all day. The front suspension uses torsion bars and there are air shocks out back, so the ride height can be fine-tuned for conditions and load. A rather throaty dual exhaust system is fitted with glasspack-style mufflers, so it sounds muscular at idle, but from inside the car it’s quite tranquil at speed. Firm brakes, power steering, and big 255/70/15 radial tires make it feel competent, not mushy, even when the road starts to turn. No, it’s not a sports car by any means, but it’s no land yacht, either. Quite honestly, I took it out for my usual test drive and ended up cruising around in it for another hour simply because I was enjoying the ride so much.

This is a heck of a lot of car for not a lot of cash. Solid, clean, well-appointed, and in great colors, it has aged quite well and with the big-time horsepower under the hood, it’s more than entertaining to drive. If you like your luxury with a big dose of style and a hint of rakishness, the Eldorado certainly fits the bill. I like this car a lot more than I expected to, and I’m sure you will too. Call today!