1970 Cadillac Coupe de Ville: Aqua Heaven
I’ve always loved the 1970 Cadillacs. Chalk it up to riding in a copper 1970 Fleetwood Brougham on a school field trip back in first grade, and also by my friend Laurie Kraynick’s fantastic Lucerne Aqua ’70 Fleetwood Brougham, affectionately named “The Ark.” But let’s face it, they’re easy to love. They’re so pretty!
Despite their gorgeousness and luxury, however, 1970 marked relatively minor changes for the Cadillac model lineup. The previous year, all Cadillacs were redesigned except for the Eldorado, which lost its hidden headlights and gained a new grille, wheel covers, and received other slight changes.
For 1970, 238,745 Cadillacs were built, which set a record at the time. However that record would be surpassed yet again in 1973. Despite that model year record, sales were down quite a bit for the calendar year, thanks to the famous GM strike that began on September 14, 1970.
However, since the 1971 Cadillacs were introduced on September 29th of that year, the strike mostly affected ’71 models, which were totally restyled. That includes the Eldorado, which gained a convertible model.
But we’re talking about 1970 models today, not ’71s, aren’t we? Specifically, the Coupe de Ville, which was a marvelous conveyance and suitable for wafting lucky folks to the theater, supper clubs, and golf courses in style. Before options, the 1970 Coupe de Ville had a factory price of $5884 ($46,358 today); 76,043 were built for the model year and each had a curb weight of 4650 pounds.
The most popular de Ville for the year, however, was the hardtop Sedan de Ville, which sold 83,274 copies. Least popular was the pillared Sedan de Ville (with a more formal roofline reminiscent of the Sixty Special and Fleetwood Brougham), which sold only 7230 units. Even the de Ville convertible sold more—to the tune of 15,172 cars.
All Cadillacs except for the Fleetwood Eldorado Coupe had a 472-cubic-inch V-8 with 375 horsepower; the ’70 Eldorado had a 500-cu-in engine, which was exclusive to it that year. That engine produced an impressive 400 horsepower. Not bad for a luxury car, eh?
I saw this gorgeous example at the South Park Mall car cruise in Moline, Illinois, a decade ago on August 4, 2013. I should have taken even more pictures of it, but at the time my camera had a relatively small memory card, so I had to be judicious in my photo allotments. Especially at big shows. But it was my favorite car at the event, resplendent in Lucerne Aqua Firemist.
I was reminded of this car because I saw it again just today at a cars and coffee event at The Tangled Wood in Bettendorf, Iowa! Although it was lowered and is now sporting wide whitewalls, it has to be the same car.
I was happy to see it again, though I must admit I love it a little more in the factory-fresh pics I took, with proper ride height and narrow whitewalls. (Fear not. I will be writing about that black 1965 Fleetwood Brougham parked next to it very soon!)
So, until next time, ladies and gentlemen, keep Broughaming on. And always tip your bartender.
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Pretty car! Never understood this ridiculous lowering of classic cars. And the wide whites? Why?
You’re right about the “lowering”… To what purpose?
Wide whites DO exude a certain elegance.
Wide whites look “pimpy” to me, unless they are on a much older car which might have had wide whites originally.
Buy your own and do what YOU like.
BTW, that looks like air-ride, which allows for ride height adjustment.
Say Hi to the gateway pundit
I can live with the wide whites but lowering vehicles drives me nuts ! I just don’t get it !
In my opinion the 70s caddys were the epitome of elegance and style. In a class of there own, they represented top notch in American automobile when it comes to Luxury. So Long live the Cadilac Classics.
Yes ! I had a 71
Eldo ! Turquoise, opra back windows , white vinyl roof ! And a long hood with a Cadillac Stand UP Hood Ornament!!
The Eldo was ,
I THINK the Widest CAR EVER Made , front wheel Dr.
About 23 feet long ! I was 22 and traded in a Ford Pinto for the Eldo !!!
I loved that car and so did everyone else!!!
The OWNER OF the Company came out to see it ! About 14 months later he bought an ELDO !!! TOO !
I was in close proximity to a 70 coupe until they traded for a 71 sedan. The owners were friends of my grandparents and I was totally hot for the Caddy. Dark green, black top, mustard yellow leather. I couldn’t stand as a young teen why they wouldn’t let me wash it. Now I do. Later on in life my wife and I enjoyed a 89, 91, 94, 95 sedans before the stork showed up on a late run damning us to mini van purgatory. The 89 was a Mary Kay lease return. It was pink with 27,000 miles for $12,500 and very difficult to trade out of …
I like the car, I prefer it had not been lowered or the whitewall tires. Not really my thing but the car looks great.
The air bags are not just for lowering a car. They also provide an adjustable suspension.
It’s probably a function of my age but whenever I hear anyone say “Cadillac” THAT is what I picture in my mind.
When ever I hear someone say, “It rides like a Cadillac”, these are what I have in my mind.
Just an outright beautiful Coupe…My dad had a Black 1965 Fleetwood Brougham, before that he had 1960 Silver Coupe De Ville., which was on of the classiest models in Cadillac history. Ironic that he worked for a Volkswagen dealership at the time. We always had both Volkswagens and Cadillacs in our driveway…I still love them both. Thanks, Dad! I want to buy a 1976 Seville soon…classy mid sized Cadillac that will actually fit in my garage.
firebird Trans Am with the hood closed this car is not an automatic the sticker shows T/A 6.6 that means 400 four-speed
I have seen many, many 403/automatics with the T/A 6.6 stickers. When the cars are repainted (which most T/A’s of that era seem to be), folks often put the wrong stickers on. I have also heard, but cannot confirm, that some left the factory with the wrong stickers.
I have to credit Mrs. Tinkerah with noticing your unabashed broughamance.
Beautiful car in before pics… RESTORABLE car after all that money was spent on it.
All vehicles look better lowered slightly, but I agree that an aggressive lowering usually looks odd.
I used to mow grass for a restaurant owner that had a 1969 Calais hardtop, pale green – really nice. I guess he didn’t want to “show off” with a DeVille!