CadiUte: 1974 Cadillac Eldorado Pickup Conversion – SOLD!
April 19, 2021 Update – we confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.
Cadillac was once such a symbol that when you drove one new, everyone who said you knew that somehow, you “made it.” A select few of those who “made it” also happened to have both the means and the need for either station wagons or El Camino like “Utes.” Elvis famously had Cadillacs converted to station wagons for family use. We’re not sure who the original owner of this Eldorado-based Ute originally for sale in March 2021 on Craigslist in Edgewater, Florida was or who the coachbuilder was. Currently offered at $10,495, comparing that price against the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool for a stock convertible confirms the private seller has their custom Eldorado priced between this guide’s #4 “Fair” (Daily Driver) estimate of $8,500 and its #3 “Good” estimate of $15,700. Similarly, the Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the asking price falls between this guide’s #3 “Good” estimate of $9,125 and its #2 “Very Good” appraisal of $14,900.
The current caretaker does not know who the coachbuilder of this classic was. While they hint it might be a Mirage, we doubt that as that company focused their efforts on converting rear-wheel-drive Coupe DeVilles, which would make more sense for pickup duty. To prove our point, we came across this video on YouTube showing a vintage Mirage Coupe DeVille based pickup:
Based upon the seller’s description, this custom Eldorado features a restoration completed in 2018 with less than 1,000 miles traveled since.
Here’s the seller’s description:
“1974 Cadillac Eldorado Pickup
500ci V8 Motor fully upgraded
Car was professionally converted to El Camino style
1 of a kind – Super Rare and Super Nice!
I purchased this car already converted from out of Parumph Nevada.
Not sure if it was a Mirage conversion which was popular, here’s some info:
https://www.facereplace.com/mirage/History%20of%20the%20Cadillac%20Mirage.htm
Or, it may have been a Caribou conversion:
https://www.caranddriver.com/photos/g22004364/the-spirit-of-76-cadillac-caribou-pickup-for-sale-gallery/?slide=1
Has 800+ miles since restored in 2018:
Fresh paint with updated ABS plastic bumper fillers
Nice marine-grade canvas cover for bed
Storage area below hatch
New front-wheel-well splash seals
Dashboard professionally recovered
Upgraded ignition to solid state HEI
Sheet and frame metal is pristine – Previously a Nevada desert car.
Front end completely rebuilt – New front axles, ball joints, etc.
New shocks all around – Air shocks in rear
A/C converted to R134 with new compressor
Front and rear brakes all rebuilt – New tires all around
Interior re-done, seat, headliner, door panels.
New carpeting – New rubber door seals
Storage area behind front seat is unfinished
Custom dual exhaust – Chrome tips
Daily driver – Fun to drive, gets the looks!
Many before and after pics, call or email for more detail
REDUCED $10,495. Much more invested.
Call Jim.
Located near Daytona Beach“
Show or go: what would you do with this restored Eldorado pickup? Comment below and let us know!
It is called a flower car.
Used by undertakers to take the flowers to the grave site
It may, in fact, be called a “flower car” but that doesn’t make it a “flower car”, “used by undertakers…”.
I totally agree with the flower car assessment, I remember these car/ pick ups when I was a kid.
You can tell a Mirage because it has a door for your golf club bag
not a flower car, cadillac between 74 and 76, had 4dr sedans converted into station wagons and pickups by a coach builder to be sold through the dealerships, they also used the eldorado for some of the pickups. they show up once in a while if you look for them. the flower cars looked odd, ill try to find one of that era soon and post it here. i think it was the sail panels and chrome accents that made it look different, flower cars have been around for ages and most looked a little odd since they were used for that purpose.