Cadillac History Eldorado 1968

Cadillac Models & History  Eldorado 1968

In a way, you can call the 1968-70 Eldorado a modern classic and certainly a collectible. For 1968 came a new 472-cid V-8 with 35 more horses than the 429-cid engine it replaced and 45 more torque to reach a thumping 525 lbs/ft torque. It was designed mainly for easier emissions control in that first year of federal smog standards. Now it was possible to spin the front-driven wheels on smooth, dry surfaces. Cadillac proudly noted that most engine accessories bolted rigidly to the block, rather than being attached by brackets, and boasted about the new V-8’s two-million miles of testing.
Washington also decreed new safety features for 1968. Eldorado complied with discreet round side-marker lights, thicker dash padding, and non-injury interior hardware. Left alone were the broad hidden headlamp eggcrate grille distinctive vee’d backlight (i.e., back window), knife-edge fenderlines, and small backward-sliding rear-quarter windows. Wipers, however, were newly concealed by extending the hood 4.5 inches toward the cowl. The Eldorado had the front parking lamps located on the leading edge of the fenders where they were mounted vertically. The design of the lens for the front cornering lamps (formerly vertically ribbed) was modified.
Spring rates were slightly lowered to give a more cushiony ride. Upholstery trims included diamond pattern cloth and vinyl; Deuville cloth with vinyl bolsters in four color choices and genuine leather options. Removed from the rear roof pillar, but not the hood and deck lid, were the familiar wreath and crest style Fleetwood emblems. Regular equipment on the luxury sports type car included all Fleetwood standards plus power rear quarter ventipanes; power front disc brakes; retractable headlamp covers; and Rosewood pattern dash panel appliques.
Though base price jumped some $330, due mainly to the new safety and emissions gear, Eldorado production improved by nearly 37 percent for the model year, reaching over 24,000 units.

Model number	Body/Style number	Body type	Seating	Factory price	Shipping weight	Production
68-693	69347H	2-dr hardtop Coupe	6 pass.	$6605	4580 lb	24,528

ELDORADO ENGINE
Engine type	V-8 Overhead valves. Cast iron block
Displacement
Compression ratio	10.5:1
Brake horsepower (SAE gross)	375 @ 4400 rpm
Torque	525 @ 3000 rpm
Main bearings	five
Valve lifters	Hydraulic
Carburetor	Rochester four-barrel Quadrajet model 4MV (Eldorado type)
Transmission	Turbo-Hydramatic
Standard axle ratio	3.07:1

CHASSIS DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase	120 inches
Overall length	221.5 inches

AVAILABLE OPTIONS
Auxillary horn	$16
Automatic Climate Control	$516
Bucket seats with console (with leather upholstery required)	$184
Firemist paint	$132
Cruise control	$95
Rear window defogger	$26
Front disc brakes	$105
Door-edge guards	$5
One-piece front and rear floor mat	$20
Soft Ray glass	$51
Guide-Matic headlamp control	$51
Head restraints	$53
Leather upholstery	$158
License frame(s)	$6-13
Power door locks	$47
Rear quarter power ventipanes	$63
AM radio	$162
AM/FM stereo radio	$288
AM/FM radio	$188
Reclining front seat with headrests	$84
Power seats with lefthand Four-Way bucket	$53
Power seats with Six-Way front	$83
Rear center seat belt	$11
Front seat warmer	$95
Shoulder belts	$32
Tilt & telescope steering wheel	$90
Remote control trunk lock	$52
Twilight Sentinel	$37
Padded vinyl roof	$132

HISTORICAL

• Dealer introduction for 1968 Cadillacs and Eldorados took place September 21, 1967.
• Fourth successive yearly sales record set this year despite 21 day UAW shutdown at Fisher Body Fleetwood plant in Detroit (November 1967)
• Production was down 1.1 percent, due to same strike.
• Four-wheel disc brakes with floating calipers optionally available.
• All-new dash-board design.
• Larger, shrouded rear view mirrors to eliminate wind buffeting.

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