I’ve had a real taste for steak, lately. I don’t know what it is about colder weather that brings out the carnivore in me, but it does. Maybe it’s the thought of a juicy steak sizzling on a hot grill that makes me think warm thoughts, much like the DVD of a roaring fireplace that’s been in constant rotation in my house has tricked my brain into thinking it hasn’t been quite as cold as it’s been this winter (which is, technically, on its way out in just a couple of days). Perhaps it’s the smell of food-smoke that evokes the hazy bliss of late-afternoon summer cookouts. Regardless, it has been my intent for weeks now to get back down to one of the local pubs for a sirloin steak dinner.
The outdoor patio at Moody’s Pub. Saturday, February 2, 2013.
Moody’s Pub is a neighborhood institution that has been open since 1959, straight from that era of Mid-Century architecture where nature met the future. Its website describes its interior ambiance as being reminiscent of a ski lodge, which it sort of does resemble. To me, it much more evokes the memories of the (non-Ponderosa/Bonanza) steak houses and roadside restaurants of my youth. There’s the exposed wood beams and paneling. The backlit stained glass fixtures. Two little fireplaces. Freestanding chairs and also a banquette set into a private alcove, all upholstered in classy, shiny red vinyl.
Inside at Moody’s. Saturday, May 26, 2012.
There’s also the near inability to see for a few minutes once you enter from the outside, given how dimly lit it is. Moody’s fits right into the mold of the old-school supper clubs that dotted the upper Midwest, particularly Wisconsin and parts of Michigan. The only thing that’s missing to complete the total childhood throwback experience is choking on secondhand cigarette smoke, though the old air purifier (no longer needed in Chicago after 2008, when no-smoking laws went widely into effect) is still mounted in the ceiling.
It’s within this setting that I had discovered, two years ago, one of the most delicious, satisfying sirloin steak dinners I had eaten in years – which included a big salad and giant, thick-cut steak fries. I went back to Moody’s last summer to order the same thing and, lo and behold, the steak dinner is available only on their “winter menu”. Fail. The clock is ticking, so I need to get back there soon to get my fix.
Long before anyone had thought or heard of Cadillac’s “Art & Science” design language, there was the very first Eldorado personal luxury coupe. This one was parked outside of Moody’s, which I thought at the time couldn’t have been more fitting or era-appropriate. As far as car styling is concerned, I’ve been on an angular, linear kick of late, as evidenced by my fondness for the ’68 Plymouth Fury III I had featured last week. It’s true that trends are cyclical, and I think it’s important to have a range of tastes in rotation, regardless of how often or infrequently the cycle will repeat itself. Life is more fun when you mix things up.
The first FWD Eldorados have been covered here at CC before, and I’ve included links to a few of those articles, below. I think it is an appropriate metaphor to think of the Eldorado as having been sort of a fancy “steak knife” in the silverware drawer of the personal luxury offerings of the day. I’ll start off with a few facts. The nearly top-shelf $6,600 ($47,800 / adjusted for 2019) ’68 Eldorado sold about 24,500 copies that year, up from about 17,900 of the first-year ’67s. This ’68 production figure is just over a third less than the 33,800 Escalades flagships that Cadillac sold in the U.S. in 2018, starting at base price of about $74,700 (albeit, with many standard features the ’68 Eldorado simply didn’t have).
All 1968 Cadillacs came standard with a 375-hp 472 cubic inch V8, which made the Eldorado good for a 0-60 time of just under 12 seconds, according to a vintage review. Its portly 4,600-pound starting curb weight probably contributed to its not-exceptional 0-60 time, but it could clearly get out of its own way. By comparison, a 2017 Escalade Platinum had a starting weight of about 5,600 pounds, and equipped with a 6.2L (376 cubic inch) V8 with 420 hp, the newer vehicle could hit sixty in about half that time. The Esky is also the much safer vehicle.
However, this isn’t meant to be a comparison between old and new Cadillacs, so let’s move on and get back to the kitchen and silverware drawer. As I had started to say, the Eldorado is definitely the steak knife of the personal luxury cars. With a razor-edged style with just enough “serration” around its leading edge to leave a fast and deep impression, the Eldorado’s look cuts through your retinas with gravitas worthy of its marque. Even its taillamps resemble blades. It possesses a geometric look done correctly, with just enough curves present to provide relief and keep it from looking too scientific. And like a good steak, its rear is also thick and juicy. Yum.
What other “utensils” are in that drawer? Ooooo… the Toronado. By ’68, El Toro still sported its curvy, uninterrupted, flowing fastback roofline (for the last year). Sporting a less-sleek but still attractive split grille up front, the Toronado’s new face gave it a bit of extra bite – which I understand is polarizing, given the purity of the 1966 and ’67 designs. Still, I’m a sucker for a full pout, and I like the ’68 Toronado’s face. I’m going with “soup spoon” for the Olds, given its swoopy, scoopy side-profile and the larger dimensions of this type of spoon, which requires one to open wide – like the grille on this Olds.
The Lincoln Continental Mark III is the dinner fork. Just as the Roman numeral “III” resembles the tines on said utensil, the fork is arguably the fussiest-looking piece of metal on the table. Versus the zen-like elegance of a butter knife or a spoon, the fork, while still a beautiful object, wants only just to stab things. From the Mark’s Rolls Royce-aping radiator grill, to its humped trunklid, the Mark very clearly wants you to know it has few facets to its identity – all luxury, no sport, and all business.
That leaves us with the Ford Thunderbird and Buick Riviera. I know I recently likened both the four-door configuration and color of a ’68 Thunderbird to salsa verde, but within the context of the silverware drawer, and referring to the sedan, I’m going with chopsticks. I, for one, cannot understand how anyone could not like Chinese food. I mean, technically, I could, since to each his or her own. However, I do have friends who simply do not like to eat things that are anything but basic, which can make things tricky when finding a place for all of us to eat. Some folks simply didn’t “get” the Thunderbird sedan, but for those who did, they were rewarded with a somewhat exotic, novel experience that even came equipped with coach doors.
As for the Eldorado’s platform-mate E-Body Riviera, Flint’s approach has always been understated luxury for fancy people who didn’t want others to know they thought of themselves as fancy. With that said, the gorgeous ’68 Riv is probably the butter knife – sleek, curvy, and smooth as Land-O-Lakes.
I’ve probably taken this metaphor as far as it can go (what’s left in that silverware drawer?), and I’m starting to get hungry, but I hope I’ve successfully left you with the impression that our featured car was a feast of visual delights. Also, just as the personal luxury car has passed into history, and with as many things that have changed in my neighborhood in the decade-plus that I’ve lived here, I am going to do my part to support local businesses and enjoy their old-school flavor while they’re still around. Bon appetit.
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois.
Thursday, June 30, 2011.
Click on the following links for related reading from GN, Phoenix, and myself.
The two-door Thunderbird may be chopsticks; the 4 door is a spork.
Ah, the poor, ever-maligned spork! This almost made me laugh out loud. The metaphor does kind of fit the four-door Thunderbird, as it tried to be more things to more buyers.
I’ll never understand why people don’t embrace sporks. I don’t use forks, I only use sporks. Once you use one, you’ll understand.
Haha!! Will, I have nothing against the spork in 2019. It is, however, a symbol of my grade school education. “Hot lunch” was invariably served with a small, plastic packet that included one spork, a (scratchy) napkin, a small, pink plastic straw, and one small, paper packet apiece of salt and pepper. I have come to embrace the spork in present day much like I imagine Napoleon Dynamite would as a working adult.
I seem to remember a neat feature of this Eldo was that the rear quarter windows slid *back* into the C-pillar, rather than down in to the body. Am I remembering right?
Vis a vis the Riviera… is this gen of E-body the only time GM offered the same chassis in FWD and RWD simultaneously?
The Mark III also had windows that slid back into the C pillar.
Evan, I think you’re right about these E-Bodies being the first with the FWD/RWD thing, though the next-generation E-Bodies (1971-’78) shared this.
la673 is thinking of the four-door Thunderbird as a spork; to me it’s more like a salad fork – one can function just fine by leaving it in the utensil drawer. Although the wide grille in the ad makes me think of the misshapen spoon used to dip jelly.
This Eldorado is quite the catch although those twin chrome tailpipes sticking out that way is an epic case of gauche. Otherwise, this is fairly restrained for a late ’60s Cadillac, rather the opposite of a late ’10s Escalade.
Jason, the tailpipes didn’t really bother me in person. My overall impression of this Eldorado, exactly how it was very mildly tricked-out, was that it was all-of-a-piece. To me, the gold sidewall tires and tailpipes were acceptable items of automotive “jewelry”.
What a great looking car! I dig the gold/whitewall tires, although they must be expensive. The Eldo is probably the only car that can pull off that look.
The sexiest Cadillac ever built.
I agree about the exhaust, it looks out of character and cheap on a car of this caliber. I also wonder if that is the original color? I’ve never seen one in turquoise before.
Probably not my first choice for a Cadillac exhaust system, but all of the pictures are from a low angle. If you are sitting beside it at the lights you probably wouldn’t notice it so much. If they didn’t cheap out with glass packs it might even sound acceptable.
That color is interesting. Cadillac had a Silverpine Green and a Caribe Aqua. It is hard to tell which one this is, though I am leaning towards the former that seemed a bit more subtle. Pictures online gyrate all over the blue-green spectrum and this may be one of those instance where every modern mixer’s color looks a little different.
I think turquoise shades were rapidly going out of style in 1968 but I think they look great on this Eldo.
Here is the list of colours and paint codes for ’68
Sable Black 10
Grecian White 12
Regal Silver Metallic 16
Summit Gray Metallic 18
Arctic Blue 20
Normandy Blue Metallic 24
Emperor Blue Metallic 26
Caribe Aqua Metallic 28
Silverpine Green Metallic 30
Ivanhoe Green Metallic 36
Kashmir Ivory 40
Sudan Beige 42
Baroque Gold Metallic 43
Chestnut Brown Metallic 44
San Mateo Red Metallic 48
Regent Maroon Metallic 49
Spectre Blue Firemist Metallic* 90
Topaz Gold Firemist Metallic* 94
Monterey Green Firemist Metallic* 96
Rosewood Firemist Metallic* 97
Madeira Plum Firemist Metallic* 98
*Firemist colors available at extra cost
Of the 3 E bodies I almost always prefer the Toronado, but ’68-’70 I would definitely pick the Eldorado.
In theory a black top on a teal car doesn’t sound great, but it works on this one.
Dan the Olds Man!
I love me some Buick Riviera and often represent for Flint, but these Eldorados look sensational in a way the Rivs are “only” stunning.
I think the vinyl roofs look great on these because the roofline and greenhouse are so chiseled as to provide logical points for their installation.
There was a time when I considered the Mark III the pinnacle of elegance while the contemporary Eldo was just trying too hard. I think I have reversed course and can now appreciate the sharpened and honed styling on this car. There is an aggression about the Eldo and your steak knife analogy is spot on. I might argue that the Mark III is a table knife in comparison – perhaps more pleasant and useful day to day but lacking that sharp edge necessary when the occasion demands.
It is about 8:30 am as I read this but you have me licking my chops for a good steak.
I can still recall the intense furor in the “Motor Trend” letters to the editor section each year, the month after MT had their annual “King Of The Hill” comparison road test between the Cadillac El Dorado and the Lincoln Mark series of that model year.
Then, as now, I was/am torn between these two cars.
JP, it is never too early for steak. I have to admit that I was actually considering eating out after work today instead of being financially responsible and eating at home. Common sense won out, but I hope Moody’s doesn’t pull the plug on the steak dinner for the season on Wednesday, the first official day of spring 2019.
“The … $6,600 ($47,800 / adjusted for 2019) ’68 Eldorado sold about 24,500 copies that year…just over a third less than the 33,800 Escalades flagships that Cadillac sold in the U.S. in 2018, starting at base price of about $74,700”
Of course, the Escalade takes the place not only of the Eldo but of both the Fleetwood Brougham (the top owner-driven four door Caddy) and the Fleetwood Series 75 limos (the livery-service go-to).
Although I usually prefer Cadillacs of this era to have vinyl roof coverings, I think I prefer this series of Eldorado without one.
That is one awesome looking Eldo!!!
The MSRP on a 2019 Escalade Platinum reasonably equipped is $94,770, not including paperwork fees and taxes. I nearly spat coffee on my monitor when I saw the initial price without options. For giggles, I priced 2017 models and they sell for around $60,000 with reasonable mileage.
I’d rather buy and restore a rust free ’68 Eldorado!
I have to say that Eldorado is beautiful, i miss the days when Cadillac was King of the hill!! As for the rest, the Mark 3 would be my 2nd choice as it is one classy car. The Toronado is a very very close 2nd(my mom had one and i loved it). the Riviera is ok. The T-bird is a really nice car but i prefer the 1970 4 door simply because of the front end. Thanks Joe!!!
In searching for pics of a ’68 Eldorado, I came across this pic of a passenger-side door panel.
I’ve always wondered whose idea was it to put a second door release handle on these cars. I believe this feature stayed through the ’78’s. I guess after the downsized ’79 they felt it was unnecessary.
I just wonder if this was a safety concern or just a thoughtful convenience feature.
Another thoughtful feature I’ve always admired was the rear door power door lock switches in the smaller Cadillacs of the late 1980’s/early1990’s.
1968 Cadillac Eldorado passenger side door panel:
That second door handle was found in the higher-trim version of the 66 Toronado as well, so it is not surprising that the Eldo would get it too. I believe it was just a passenger convenience feature. It didn’t happen that often but I remember being in back of a 2 door car when there was nobody in the front seat, like if someone had been dropped off or someone got out for a restroom stop. This would be a lot nicer than folding the seat up and straining to reach the front handle. I wish my father’s Mark III and IV from those days had come with that second handle.
I had forgotten that the dreaded Cadillac expanded foam interiors were in cars this early. This may have looked sleek and fresh in 1968 but they aged poorly. Lincoln used materials that may have been less modern but they looked more luxurious.
Let’s forget about opening these doors from inside for a moment; how on earth do you close them? There doesn’t seem to be any sort of door pull.
Minivan-style power door? Wonder how reliable that would have been in 1968?
I don’t know which year they started requiring latchable seat backs, but I’d guess the ’68 would still have the flop forward (non-secured) seat backs so someone might conceiveably lean far enough forward to be able to reach the front door latch, though a door pull strap would probably help (especially in the rear).
By ’79, when the smaller models came out, I think they probably had the seatback latches…but of course you could still unlatch them and would have been able to use the secondary door unlatch had there been one. But also by ’79, fuel economy and cost was probably a bigger factor (why the car was downsized in the first place) and with shorter door they probably just eliminated the feature. If you really want a two door badly enough, you have to put up with some inconveniences even in a Cadillac… even though it was the fuel mileage requirements that really decimated the marque in the 80’s and beyond.
If table service then yes, the steak knife works for the Eldorado. Unfortunately the ’68 has a few stains, I guess water spots from the dishwasher. Those side marker lights are redundant and should not have been needed – given the already visible side lighting on the ’67s. Otherwise I agree; this angular one is among the best looking Cadillacs of my lifetime.
Also I agree with the above comment by Michael that the car is even better without the vinyl roof.
The first series FWD Eldorado, from the first minute I saw one in late 1966, was instant infatuation. Its styling has been best described in the old SIA Drive Report as “carved from a single block of fine quality steel”, all of a piece. I was a devoted Lincoln fan then but had to admit when I saw the Continental Mark III the first time that it was elegant and luxurious but not on design par with the Eldorado. Too many derivative in details and compromises. Apparently by the public response, I was odd man out.
Late on, I owned a ’70 Mark III, which had been rather abused before I got it but I still enjoyed it. But, I don’t want another one. I do still lust after ’67-’68 Eldorado, as well as another ’66-’67 Toronado of which I had the latter, one of my best remembered cars.
It is worth mentioning the Mark III interior design, some of the last work by Herman C. Brunn of Brunn Body Company fame who joined Ford Styling after that storied coach-builder closed, was better and more elegant than the Eldorado.
“The Esky is also the much safer vehicle.”
and its engine actually makes that rated 420 hp.
unlike the Eldo’s SAE Grossly over-rated 472.
Your title immediately made me think of Glengarry Glen Ross:
First prize – a Cadillac Eldorado
Second prize – a set of steak knives
Third prize – you’re fired
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4PE2hSqVnk
+1 Great scene.
Another Chicago connection – well played.
I was sure I would see Alec Baldwin’s face in the story.
Only you could find some way to make analogies to silverware with luxury cars, but that’s what I like about your writing Joe, and some ways, it reminds me a lot of my particular writing style sometimes.
Sharp edged is definitely the proper adjective for this Eldorado, which is why I like it so much, there is this certain sense of daring and danger to it, something that only is enhanced in a much darker color. Though I personally prefer the 67s myself, the federally mandated side markers added on just ruin the flow of the car, now it looks like a steak knife that’s got a section of teeth missing, still sharp but its a detail just noticeable enough to where it bothers you.
Joseph thanks for a most delicious and delectable post! Does anyone else lament the passing of the personal luxury car? I happened to see a Mark V driven on the freeway yesterday, and well, it does look antiquated and out of place in modern traffic. I’ll take a Mark VII.
“Does anyone else lament the passing of the personal luxury car?”
Every Damned Day!
My handle here would be T-Bird Rick if they still existed.
The Marks and the Elodos were too rich for me, though.
I also like a nice Boat Tailed Riv… Make mine a ’72 in dark green please.
So sad these cars went away…
…now it looks like just simply CARS are going away. Sigh….
Without a doubt, one of my favorite (exterior) designs of all time. Every square inch, from the hidden headlights and long hood, to the sheer, clean profile to the sharp and simple lines of the rear end. I was only about two when these came out, but I vividly remember being aware of them and loving them whey they were contemporary. I loved all the E bodies then, as well as the T-bird and Mark III.
What a great color, and I think it looks as good with the full vinyl roof covering as without.
Very interesting photographic angles on a fascinating car, I’m amazed how vulnerable the fuel filler position is on the central back bumper, and how low and vulnerable the front number plate nascelle is in the first picture. Not an easy car to park I’m sure..
I’m not normally into old Cadillacs for anything but pleasant background but the early FWD Eldorados are just stunningly perfect with not a single bad line or angle, right up there with the all the greatest of late 60s designs like the 68 Charger, Lamborgini Miura, 70 Camaro, etc. These were the peak of Cadillac for me, it was downhill (soon)afterward.
I agree. Not a practical design by any stretch of the imagination, but pretty exceptional as an objet d’art.
Oh, these cars push all of my buttons with or without knives or any other flatware.
My former brother-in-law had a ‘67 Eldo in which I spent a lot of time when I was young; in other words, a long time ago. I loved being in that car.
I just bought a 2016 Z06, but my next car will be a ‘67 or ‘68 Eldo. That purchase may be surprisingly soon.
Cool car – just hate the interior – that steering wheel and the plain looking speedometer….awful awful gimme a toro, riviera, third of mark III anyday- interior just ruins this car
I’m a bit late for your dinner, but I like the analogies.
I was pretty blown away when these first came out. Wow; I did not see that coming… And it was a pretty bold piece. Too bad the Mk III had to come along and seduce folks away from this Arts and Sciences v.1.0 style. Who knows where it would have led to.
The first ’67 I saw (triple black) blew me away. Then the ’68 appeared. Those few external tweaks were the icing on the cake. Like a ’69 to a ’70 Grand Prix.
This GM Photostore pic of a ’67 is close enough to a ’68 for me.
I’d take the 1968 just for the better brakes.
But either year has just about the most beautifully styled rear-end ever attached to a domestic car. That, alone, is reason enough to choose one over a Mark III with its tacky fake spare time hump.
One of the most iconic Cadillacs ever. If I could own only one ‘60s Caddy, this would be it. Loved them ever since I had a light green Husky diecast one as a kid.
Absolutely stunning design. Not a bad line anywhere. It’s remarkable how consistently beautiful this generation of E-Body was – the ’66-67 Toronado is one of my all-time favourite cars. I’d have trouble choosing between the Eldo and the Toro, and then there’s the lovely Riv too.
At least the Eldorado stayed pretty for the whole generation. The Riv, too – I don’t even mind the ’70. But Olds ruined the Toro for ’68-69 (ok, it still looked fine, but considering what came before…) but then introduced the pretty handsome ’70.
I am amazed that these all seem to have come with bench seats. Which seems ridiculous for a personal luxury car.
My guess, Jonathan, is that GM really wanted to showcase that flat floor that was seen as one benefit of the FWD configuration. I am with you, though… I like my personal luxury coupes with big, comfy Barcaloungers up front.
Different time, different era. Everyone expected a carpet-like ride on wheels on billiard table-smooth expressways with far less traffic than today; coupled with no one in a rush to get anywhere. No fast corners, just sit back and relax on that oversize Broyhill when your wife could cuddle up next to you with no seat belt laws or menacing airbags lurking in the steering wheel or behind the dash.
In 1968, instead of going to Val Preda Cadillac/Olds in South Burlington (where he had previously bought the 1965 Olds F85 Wagon) my Dad went to Almartin motors (also in South Burlington, but near the Airport) and bought a new 1968 Renault 10 (his first “new” 2nd car)…after his ’59 VW was totalled when parked in front of our house on the street by one of the sons of the publisher of our local newspaper who lived at the end of our street.
Of course I’m referring to a previous writeup on the Eldorado that Paul mentioned that the Eldorado didn’t come with disc brakes (maybe in 1967?…did they become standard in ’68…forgot that part of the writeup) whereas the R10 had them standard.
Of course European cars phased in disc brakes (and Radial tires, which the R10 also had) sooner than American cars did, but at that price, I guess the implication was that they should have been standard. I guess braking (nor tires) were a big emphasis on new car sales in the 60’s, many cars were under-braked or under-tired, which seems like a big lack in a luxury car…maybe more so in hilly areas.
Well, my Dad wasn’t one who needed a luxury car to get him back and forth to work, which was what the R10 was intended for…he never bought a luxury car his whole life, though he did own some nice full sized Ford and Chevy wagons. He only kept the R10 until 1974, when ironically he replaced it with something less fuel efficient, but with an Automatic transmission, which he wanted my Mother to be able to drive to avoid driving said large Ford Wagon (F85 was replaced by ’69 Ford Country Squire then ’73 Country Sedan). I doubt the R10 even had 30k miles on it when it was replaced as it was only used for commuting short distance to work….I got my license the next year, so I never got to drive the R10…only problem he had with it during short ownership was the clutch went when we were in downtown Washington DC to see a Senator’s game (we’d moved to northern Virginia by then)…kind of a Father/Son day…interesting in that my Dad didn’t follow baseball, but was a big Washington Redskins (football) fan until his passing 3 years ago.