Junkyard Find: 1985 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

[cawimmer430]

Junkyard Find: 1985 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

The Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz was made for the 1976 through 1991 model years, but the real Biarritz existed only through 1985. Today's Junkyard Find is a final-year example of the proper, stainless-steel-roof-equipped Biarritz.



www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHzh6eghVFo

This car is best-known as the Ace Rothstein's exploding Cadillac in the opening sequence of the film Casino.

The Eldorado Biarritz was a very expensive machine in its day. How much? $35,500 in 1985, which is close to 80 grand in inflation-adjusted 2014 dollars. For that kind of cash, Ace Rothstein could have had, say, a new BMW 735i ($36,680), a Mercedes-Benz 300CD ($33,750), or even a Porsche 911 Cabriolet ($36,450). But hey, check out that stainless-steel roof panel!



In my role as Chief Justice of the 24 Hours of LeMons Supreme Court, I hectored teams about the need for an Eldorado Biarritz race car until one team finally put together the "Ace Rothstein Special" '84, complete with the appropriate suits.



This one is pretty well used up, but you can still see flashes of the casino-manager-grade luxury here and there.



The chain-based front-wheel-drive system developed for the original Toronado back in 1966 was still being used in 1985.



Opera lights, landau roof, and all.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZji51I6u9I



Link: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/06/junkyard-find-1985-cadillac-eldorado-biarritz/

[Morris Minor]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZji51I6u9I

I REALLY like the way the car instantly aged him 40 years as soon as his hands touched the steering wheel. General Motors awesomeness at work.

[cawimmer430]

I REALLY like the way the car instantly aged him 40 years as soon as his hands touched the steering wheel. General Motors awesomeness at work.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I can't believe people paid that kind of money for something like that, it's even more unbelievable when you realize GM was losing money back then. Selling 15K "luxury" cars for 40K and still couldn't make a dime outside of the financial division.

Truly a disgrace.

[cawimmer430]

I can't believe people paid that kind of money for something like that, it's even more unbelievable when you realize GM was losing money back then. Selling 15K "luxury" cars for 40K and still couldn't make a dime outside of the financial division.

Truly a disgrace.

I'm guessing back then this was the shizzle and people needed it. 

[Laconian]

I REALLY like the way the car instantly aged him 40 years as soon as his hands touched the steering wheel. General Motors awesomeness at work.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Reading your comment before I saw the video really made me laugh my ass off. Thanks!