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1980 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz: Perfection at Patrick Cadillac
I usually attend at least one Cadillac LaSalle Club show in the greater Chicago area each year. I had to miss it in 2023 because of a date change, so I made sure I didn’t miss the event last summer at Patrick Cadillac in Schaumburg.
And it did not disappoint. As I was about three hours away, I got up about 6 AM and made it around 9:30—a bit late due to an accident on I-294 involving a jet ski that somehow escaped its trailer, but fortunately I was only a mile and a half from my exit.
The first car I zeroed in on at this fantastic show was today’s subject, resplendent in optional Desert Sand Firemist with Beige Metallic top and Light Beige Sierra grain leather interior. There were others of course, but we’ll get to them in future posts. I really loved this car. And it was neat as a pin, with nary a nick or ding to be seen.
1980 was the second year of the downsized E-body Eldorado, which replaced the beloved Nimitz-class 1971-78 Eldorados. But these are sharp, snazzy cars too, and much easier to get along with when you have to parallel park!
The biggest visual difference between the 1979 and 1980 Eldorado was the new eggcrate grille. The ’79 was similar but had more of a horizontal theme.
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The ’79 was powered by the fuel-injected 350 V-8, sourced from Oldsmobile and with 170 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. 1980 models gained the same 368 V-8 shared with de Villes, Fleetwoods, and non-diesel Sevilles, but horsepower was down to 145, though the torque rating remained 270. It was also fuel-injected.
Initially, I assumed this car had the 368, but my friend Ralph, who knows even more Caddy minutia than myself, had this to say: “It’s injected but no fuel monitor, so it must be a California car with the Oldsmobile 350.
“The 368 was the 49-state option, the Oldsmobile V-8 was California. All 79’s are Oldsmobile motor. Though the giveaway is that the Oldsmobile-motor cars don’t have the mpg computer.”
For 1980 the Eldorado had a base price of $15,509, however with the tony Biarritz package, that was bumped to $18,003. Curb weight was 3,806 lbs, and 52,683 Eldorados of all types were made for the ’80 model year.
However, due to inflation and other factors, the MSRP was bumped mid-year, and the Eldorado increased to $16,401. Unfortunately, I was unable to find what the summer-adjusted price was for the Biarritz.
1980 Cadillacs were first introduced October 11, 1979. Of course, the big news was the all-new bustle-back Seville, but the de Villes and Fleetwoods all sported a somewhat smoother overall silhouette for better airflow and resulting fuel economy. The Eldorado was the least changed Cadillac vis-à-vis 1979 models. Of course, it had been brand new that year.
Biarritz features over the standard Eldorado coupe included floating-pillow-style button-tufted seating, a brushed aluminum roof cap on the forward part of the roof (the back third featured a padded vinyl roof with chrome crossover molding), opera lamps, accent striping, and “Biarritz” script on the sail panels. Aluminum wheels were included but you could order the wire wheel covers seen here instead.
Plush Tampico carpeting, rear seat reading lamps, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel were also included. The Biarritz package cost $2494 with Heather knit cloth, and $2937 with Sierra grain leather.
I just loved this example and was very impressed with the condition. For whatever reason, I don’t see too many 1980 model Cadillacs at shows, perhaps because it was a down year for the marque. Sales dropped 39.4 percent over 1979 production.
Some of this was possibly due to the ’79 oil crunch, but tastes were beginning to change as well. At any rate, Cadillac production for the model year came to 231,028.
But this generation of Eldorado was just getting started. The model would last all the way through the 1985 model year, along with its Riviera and Toronado E-body FWD cousins!
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I liked these almost as much as the first gen. Never cared much for the second gen “Nimitz” cars.
Sheer “gorgeousity”!
Even today, I love the look of vinyl roofs.
It’s too bad that GM didn’t allow Cadillac to keep making its own motors.
There is so much beige that it could be used by UPS
And how did they get so little horsepower by so many cubic inches?
Low compression, mild camshaft profiles, restrictive cylinder heads, low RPM redline.
And an emission friendly tune.
Even Trans Ams and Z-28s that year had about the same amount of horsepower. Was a bad time for performance.
Performance on a Cadillac??? I would prefer pillow ride!!! Moving forward.
Beautiful automobile!
Nice car in it’s day to save up your money to buy it for cash money, right off of the Florida Cadillac Dealership Showroom floor only to find the engine had to be changed out at the owner’s expense to pass California emissions with the 368cifi from Cadillac in Crown Point, Canada.
The Rain Man Movie guy was the inventor of that fix. Rosenberg the Buick Guy
Um. What?
Forget it, he’s rolling.
Been a long, tough winter?
Schaumburg, I have family out there. Used to hang out there till I moved. Why is it when I see the word Biarritz my mind says Bizarre!
Inside and out, these Cadillacs remind me of caskets.
I had this exact same car,even the same color. Gave a new meaning to the reference “boat”. I thought the forward part of the roof was stainless steel? Nice car but the electronics started to go out one by one. When the climate control went out it was the last straw and it was gone inside a week.
Guess if I had to be in a casket this would be the one!!!! Chances are I won’t have that choice!
I always liked these, and 1980 is probably the best year (for the 49-states), due to the Cadillac motor (not that the Olds 350 was bad). SO much trimmer and attractive than the huge 1971-1976. The convertible version of this generation that came along a few years later was stunning, but the weak 4.1 engine was its Achilles heel.
These were incredible cars! I was a co-op student and worked at Cadillac. The bumpers had 3 coats of plating. Copper have it depth, nickel gave it shine and chrome gave it brilliance! The independent suspension delivered control (not like German cars of the time) with a luxurious ride. The 4.1L was a disaster but the Hydramatic 325 was rock solid. So much better than the 71-78 (?) edition, and the 86+M.Y. that followed. IMO this was the Pinnacle of Cadillac
It had a timeless & classic design though.