The Cadillac Eldorado was a very old nameplate that came into existence in 1952. A long sweeping hood with tapering rear quarter was the iconic cue that was common to all generations of the Eldorado. Cadillac followed a very mellow layout for the first few generations of the Eldorado, up until the 8th Generation model that was launched in 1967.

The '67 Eldo is one of the Greatest Caddys ever produced. It was unique in a lot of ways and was the revival that the dull yet much potent luxury mothership needed. It was the first-ever Cadillac to come with an FWD setup. it shared the platform with the 1st Gen Oldsmobile Toronado and Buick Riviera. The FWD layout was also taken off from the Toronado and turned out to be quite the selling point.

But the most crucial eye-popping factor was its all-new wedged out sharp design language that was a refreshing detour from the classic cues that the Eldorado came with, till the generations before. It still turns eyes and the design was so loved that Elvis Presley had one, and Dean Martin had a custom made station wagon of it. General Motors had quite an interesting bunch of automakers under it that made interesting cars, and thus, cars like the 1967 Eldorado were successful with shared components.

The 1967 Cadillac Eldorado was the most radical generation of the luxury coupe and was also Cadillac's first-ever FWD car.

The '67 Eldorado Was Powered By A Sizable 7.0L V8

1967 Cadillac eldorado engine bay view
Via: Mecum.com

The '67 Cadillac Eldorado shared a lot of its mechanics with the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, including its larger-than-life V8. It packs an insane 7.0L naturally aspirated motor that churned out 340 hp and 480 lb-ft which was wholesome for the time. This engine was tuned to provide a maximum surge of torque in the lower rev-band, owning to this Caddy's 4,950 lbs. curb.

The engine was effortless in gliding this luxury mothership around and could do 0-60 mph in a swift 9.5 seconds. It had a top speed of 120 mph which was commendable for a luxury car of such caliber. This was all possible because of the combined effort of the V8 and an all-new 3-Speed Turbo-Hydramatic transmission that used drive chains to transfer power silently.

Related: A Detailed Look Back At The 1965 Buick Riviera

Came With The First Ever FWD Layout For A Cadillac

1967 Cadillac eldorado front third quarter cornering view
Via: Automobilemag.com

The 1967 Eldorado came with the first-ever FWD configuration to be used in a Cadillac. It was also shared with the Oldsmobile Toronado. Oldsmobile was the experimenting ground for GM and so they could indigenously develop new and adaptive technologies to go ahead with time. FWD was crucial for a car that measured a mind-boggling 221 inches in length.

It allowed this luxury mothership to curb power loss which was predominant with RWD layouts among other downsides and also made them much more reliable. The longitudinal layout of its V8 and weight balance gave it an uncanny control, which was not expected from a car with such a form factor. The new E-body that was shared with the Toronado was also built to take on more stress.

There Was No Compromise, In Terms Of Comfort And Luxury

1967 Cadillac eldorado interior view
Via: Classicdriver.com

The Cadillac Eldorado was a thorough luxury offering but it was not keen on being open about its lux-appeal. Well, you sure did get premium vinyl that came close to leather upholstery, but the dashboard was rather plain for the build-up. The instrument cluster was radical and quite usable but nothing of it spoke of 'luxury'.

On the flip side, comfort got a notable bump because of the FWD conversion. The absence of a transmission tunnel helped clear up more space for seating in both rows. The Eldorado was a comfortable car for 6 occupants without any hassle. It came with air-conditioning and a radio as standard. The visibility was fairly good for a car this big and it also flaunted electric window switches with one-touch functionality.

Related: Here's What Makes The 1965 GMC Pickup Truck A Classic

The Most Radical Looking Cadillac Eldorado; Sharpest Yet

1967 Cadillac eldorado front third quarter view
Via: Curbside.tv

The most notable change for the 1967 Eldorado was its design language. It was a much-needed upgrade from the classic rounded design cues to the generation before. The hidden headlamps, flared-out fenders, chunky vented wheel cover designs, and a design language that Batman approves, made this one of the best looking Eldorados. This was one of the insanely long cars, that would be baffling and downright undrivable in today's conditions.

The meshed out grille and chrome front bumper were tapered. This design cue was also followed to the rear which also housed the iconic narrow Caddy taillamps. It can be argued that the '67 Eldorado gained fame mainly because of its revamped form factor. GM Design Chief Bill Mitchell stated that the redesigned Eldorado's cues have a swagger that still turns heads. And it's evident as collectors are keener on getting their hands on these sharp-edged Eldorados.

This Elongated Caddy Slowly Shrinked Away (Literally) Due To Changing Norms

1967 Cadillac eldorado front view
Via: Automobilemag.com

Cadillac did churn out impressive numbers with the 1967 Eldorado but that couldn't bring about a notable shift to make GM invest more in this luxury coupe. Cadillac started shrinking the length of the Eldorado from its 10th Generation in 1979. From there on, the length kept on reducing, and with dwindling sales that went hand in hand, things were starting to look pale for this Caddy.

The selling point of the Eldorado was its design language and the insane length it carried. Various governmental and safety regulations forced Cadillac to take this drastic measure and thus began the Eldorado's downfall. By the end of its regime in 2002, the 12th Generation Eldorado had become a more sensible buy, which wasn't what it stood for.

The 1967 Eldo was what sparked a change and made people fall in love with this lavish machine. Thus the 8th Gen Cadillac Eldorado remains the most loved and sought after of the bunch.

Sources: Automobilemag.com, Hemmings.com, Blog.timesunion.com, Auto.howstuffworks.com,

Next: A Detailed Look At The Evolution Of Cadillac