ClassyEldo

Make the Cadillac version a high-style, as close as possible to the Converj Concept Vehicle. The car for the masses can be a Sedan--leave the Caddy a high-style, luxurious, high-priced Coupe! It is gorgeous, and GM needs the profits this model can generate!!! :smilies-38096:

While visiting my local Cadillac dealer today (for Service), I spoke to the Sales Manager, and he had recently attended a meeting of Cadillac dealers. He said the GM representative told them the DTS will be offered through '09 and for model year 2010. Then in 2011, there will only be the CTS and STS (no DTS) and then sometime during model year 2012, the single vehicle will be introduced to replace the STS (and the discontinued DTS slot in the line-up)--possibly called a "DT7" model. Although it will supposedly be shorter than the current DTS, yet offer the same interior room. They also expect increased federal gasoline taxes and increased CAFE requirements.

Don't shoot me--I'm only the messenger! :smilies-38096:

The CTS Coupe looks SUPERB! It will replace my '08 CTS-4 Sedan when it goes on sale! It will be a perfect size for a Coupe. Hopefully, it will be called the "CTC" rather than CTS Coupe. The protruding "V" of the trunk will be tasteful and classy, in the spirit of the '67-'70 Eldorados. It's just what a Cadillac should do--lead the way in styling! :smilies-38096:

I see there are CTS-V Series cars on e-bay now, and some of them have the Recaro Seat option. Does anyone know what colors the Recaro seats are offered in?

It is a grave disappointment to hear the only surviving brands may be Chevy and Cadillac. It wouldn't bother me if Hummer, Saturn and Saab were nixed, but I hope Buick and Pontiac can survive. The reality is that whatever happens, it will be a much smaller GM Corporation, with less funds for new product development and persistent cash flow troubles. Sadly, the American dreams of so many are vanishing, forever. Of course, the collectibility of '60's thru late '70's GM products will soar, as long as the loyal GM supporters are around. The great era of GM dominance will not be seen again, and the demise started back with the Roger Smith era--irrepairably damaging the products in the eyes of U.S. consumers (i.e. the 'sameness' of products between the divisions, along with something such as the 'Cimmaron by Cadillac,' and eventual elimination of historically strong models/names). Next, the U.S. market is about to be assaulted by products from India and China . . .

Not to interrupt, but . . . What about the DTS "Platinum" Edition? My Cadillac dealer had a gorgeous one on display--really superb interior details, neat chrome door handles and chromed front grill and ultra-luxurious grade leather interior (Light Linen shade, of course!) and it made an elegant, but stately, appearance. Cadillac does not give the DTS "Platinum" Edition enough exposure--I'm sure alot of people don't even know it exists. It also had really attractive chrome rims.

Speaking of trips to the dealer, I noticed that the DTS's on display are a much smaller percentage of the vehicles readily visible, compared to in the past! It seems GM is just going to let this icon die, similar to the Eldorado, by not updating it. Really, quite a shame--it was the full-sized Cadillac sedan that built Cadillac's reputation.

Old school is still cool! The interiors look awesome in the Light Linen (color) Leathers. Lots of room, although within realm of full-sized luxury sedans today. Cadillac needs to keep producing a car like this--even add a two-door coupe! Warren Buffett, who could buy any car, drives a DTS--and there are many other prominent people who faithfully buy the latest iteration of the DTS (alot more than can be said of the other model offerings by Cadillac). Although the brand needs to keep current, and the CTS is a great step towards doing that, a full-sized DTS is essential to the Cadillac line-up!

1. Three (2001, 2003, 2008)

2. Yes (Hopefully, the CTC!)

What is good for Cadillac, is good for GM!

Thank you! Some of us fans just can't get enough of Cadillac info!

Because of the financial constraints at General Motors, it is unlikely there will be a Convertible CTC very soon after the Coupe's introduction. In my opinion, the sooner the better, and a true cloth-top/ragtop would do just fine--there is a certain romanticism associated with soft tops that the retractable hardtops will not ever quite capture. Also, it will be critical for the designers to work on the body at the level of the roof cut-off (i.e. bottom of the side windows and back direction)--there needs to be a slight "haunch" or rising of the bodywork to add interest and really make this drop-top Cadillac sizzle! (Historically, the '67-'70 Eldorados had a nice body line--or shoulder--just aft of the C-pillar, as did the '67-'70 DeVille Convertibles and the '71 to '76 Eldorado Convertibles--and many other Convertibles feature subtle curves in this area, and it helps to give them a solid, wide "stance" with the top down. Also, the Porsche Carrera Cabriolet incorporates this nicely.) Just my 0.02 cents!

Although production version will be gorgeous--it would surely trump any competitors if there is no B-Pillar! The concept CTS Coupe had four power window buttons on the door, so all of its windows could open, creating a true "hardtop." The information above that the picture of the profile at the C&D site today is accurate, which shows a B-post added to the previously released profile image, is disappointing!

The roof-line of the CTC is in some ways, a contemporary interpretation of, the American Motors AMX from '68-'70, but I haven't noticed any comments that there may have been an influence, but I thought of it when I first saw this slick CTC roofline. That creased trunk is fantastic, attempting to rekindle the '67-'70 Eldorado sharp bodywork!

Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is an "electronic parking brake?" I would be happy if Cadillac went back to the "Automatic parking brake release" (as in my 1971 Eldorado Convertible--it simply releases automatically as the gear selector is placed in gear).

It was a little bit disappointing to see the manual parking brake location on the 2008 CTS, similar to on my 2003 CTS, somewhat too close to the hood release lever. However, that won't stop me from getting a 2008 CTS--a GREAT car!

The car looks gorgeous! What color is the interior? It is the exact model/equipment I plan to order, if it has the Cashmere/Cocoa Accents Interior. Any chance of you posting a few more pictures? The White Diamond is still my favorite color!

Those "seven spoke" polished rims look so much better on the Black Raven car than the other 2008 STS wheel--they should be mandatory! I sure hope Cadillac releases more photos of that car with those wheels!

Did anyone notice the black car on e-bay features a different rear roof mounted antenna? It looks much better than the short, pointy one on so many of the earlier photos. Will they all come with this OnStar antenna? Can it be color-matched to the various colors? Either way, it is a subtle, but big, improvement, in my opinion. Nice work, GM (& Cadillac)!

Looks gorgeous! Enjoy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2008-CADILL...wItem#mainImage

Looks great! Especially like how the "molded" mud guards integrate so well. Usually, I don't like the big mud guards on most SUV's. My sister has the same SRX (her second, with the first having been an '04), but she had dual red pinstriping added (and it looks really sharp because it starts at the front fender, proceeds back and then curves upward behind the door windows to a corner, then back under the rear windows, similar to the pinstripe profile on the '79 thru '89 Eldorados with bare metal roofs, and there is a nice 'V' shaped dual red pinstripe under the window of the back hatch). Her family really likes their SRX Sport! I hope the new one is as good as her first one was.

Thanks for posting the pictures and video! The "Radiant Bronze" color looks much better than I was expecting--of course, the great styling of the car has alot to do with those perceptions! From every angle, this car looks very classy, just as a Cadillac should! I also agree, those 18" Polished Chrome Wheels with the colored "wreath & crest logo" center caps, they just complement the car so well!

I like this car alot, but was hoping for a better rearview.

The 3/4 view is still slightly ungainly.

With the new led bulbs you would think

they could do something real minimal with the tailights,

just a sliver of vertical red.

Think the early Eldos....that very elegant vertical tailight.

Still the sexiest element on Cadillacs when done right.

What a profound observation. . . I definitely agree! These new LED's show the two rows of "dots" illuminating, whereas the '00 to '05 Devilles featured a totally illuminated lens (even though I agree that the rest of the styling on those Devilles left alot to be desired). Even the first generation CTS's, with the circular illuminating portion, did not really follow-through on the vertical taillamp theme--but I'm holding onto hope that in-person these new CTS lights look better than the photos--the thin, vertical tallamp is such a classy trademark of Cadillac!

Great P.R. for Cadillac! This recognition exemplifies one of the many reasons the DTS-type-style of Cadillac must always be part of the model line-up (now let's see more than a MCE in its future, Cadillac)! :AH-HA_wink:

Do you have any shots of that '71? I think ours was a 71 or 72. Would love to see the old girl!

The only picture that comes to mind, and I would have to dig it up, is where the Silver Fern station wagon is in the "background" (across the street) as I was posing with my grandmother following my First Communion, outside of the Church. There may also be one or two candid shots of one of my parents standing near the clamshell, with either both the tailgate and window opened, or just the window opened, as they are unloading the car at the New Jersey shore. Even if I were to take the time to sort through old photos, I am not capable of converting them to a format for posting, so that is not very likely. Sorry.

I am certain ours was a 1971, and the car was "ordered" by my Mother, and she waited several weeks to receive one of the first 1971's in our area. After she got it, the Sales Manager at the Buick dealership then ordered an almost identical car, but with a slightly more silver color that was available that year.

We had a Buick with the clam shell that never ever failed on us in the 7 years we had it. On the flip side of that, we had many a wagon with the two-way tailgates that wore the hinges or had the latches pop off when slammed. Granted, we were in California when we had the Clamshell - I loved that car. I think it may be the first car I fell in love with. Yellow with tan interior and a painted roof insert that was silver...

Your '57 Buick Wagon is a gorgeous car to restore! Good luck with it--and those '57 hardtop wagons from GM also look great!

Growing up, one of my family's cars was a 1971 Buick Estate Wagon with the clam shell tailgate--and it was "Silver Fern" with Dark Green Vinyl Roof and Dark Green Vinyl Interior, and Woodgrain Side Applique, and the great Buick Chrome Rally Wheels. It was "loaded," including the optional cornering lamps, and it always performed very well. The tailgate was quite reliable, and remote controlled from the dashboard, for the 63,000 miles we had the car, getting rid of it in 1975. Really a well-engineered and useful feature.

1. The power running borads on the Escalade are AWSOME.

2. White Diamond is STILL the best color for a Cadillac.

3. the GMT-900s 22" wheels make the disk brakes looks small.

4. Interior wise, there is NO doubt in my mind Cadillac deserves an A+

5. 2008 STS looks great, & the 2005-2007 has aged well.

6. The DTS needs to be replaced... like yesterday.

7. I hope the rumors of the SRX's demise are wrong!

I agree with numbers 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7--with the caveat to number 6 being that a totally new high-level, full-sized model replace the current car. As for numbers 4--I think there is still some room for improvement, but overall, they do deserve an "A" (e.g. especially better color selections, including some very light leathers) and for number 5--I have never liked the STS (which softened the A&S themes too much, making it too nebulous or boring), and for the 2008 MCE, they did not do enough with improvements (e.g. the front quarters have the turn indicator, the air duct and the 'GM' badge--all separate)! I can hardly wait until Cadillac offers a new Coupe model--it will likely be stunning if based on the next generation CTS!

Although I'm partial to all Eldorados, and I really like the '67 to '70 Razorback models, when it came to restoring one, there were several reasons I liked this model best: It re-introduced the Convertible version (if I'm going to have a collector car, it's great to be able to enjoy the sunshine with the top down), it introduced the "lamp monitoring system" indicators, it introduced the Wreath & Crest hood ornament, it re-introduced fender skirts (a Cadillac hallmark) and in 1971, there were "side gills" with large fuselage-like rear quarters (similar to the first Eldorados in '53) and a somewhat more chiseled/angular bodywork than the later '73 to '78 Eldorados, which, in my opinion, diluted the design. In 1971, the word 'ELDORADO' is written in block letters on the front quarters and in individually mounted letters on the trunk, and I love the dashboard and steering wheel, and the elegant pullstraps on the back of the front seats and door panels, the two broad leather bolsters on the outboard seating positions . . . you get the idea--I really like the 1971 model. (Not to mentions fewer pollution controls choking the engine, lack of plastic body inserts to crack/discolor and lowest production at 6,800 compared to the 14,000 in 1976).

Even the sales catalog for 1971 would rank as my all-time favorite Cadillac brochure, as it is done extremely tastefully, with superbly written text about the different models.

However, if I can ever afford to expand my car collecting, it will be for a 1968 to 1970 Eldorado "Razorback." Now, if Cadillac could just re-introduce a new series "Eldorado," perhaps using the next generation CTS Coupe as a framework to build from? Everywhere I go, there are so many Eldorado loyalists--hopefully, Cadillac product planners will see the light and not let the name or model die for too long.

Thought you guys might like seeing my 1971 Eldorado Convertible (restored). Here are a few pics taken at local Car Shows: