Cool Car File - '76 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible

With the arrival of the Cadillac CTS Coupe and rumors of a Cadillac flagship on the horizon, I've been thinking about the history of the brand quite a bit.  There were some interesting cars (Allante), some very bad cars (Cimarron), and perhaps the single greatest car every to ply America's roads.  That car is the '71-'78 Cadillac Eldorado.

When you take this car in, it doesn't take long until you're wondering what the hell people were thinking in the seventies.  This is a two door coupe, and, at 224 inches, is LONGER than a modern Chevy Suburban.  It's weight crested 5,000 lbs. at times. 

It was powered by an optional 500 cube V-8 (8.2 liters!) which, thanks to smog regulations, made a staggering 190 horses.  The engine was attached to a 3 speed automatic, which, for some ungodly reason, powered the front wheels. 

So what makes this car great?  The absolute sheer ridiculousness of it all.  It's a gigantic clown car which puts a huge smile on my face every time I see one.  It's totally ludicrous, wasteful, and very badly made, and that's what makes it great.

Only in America.

[Photo: Flickr]