This Week's Klockau Lust Object: Mirage Taupe '73 Eldo
Another Cadillac? Well yes. As I often say, and it was even a tagline for the marque back in the early ‘80s… “Best of all, it’s a Cadillac.” And today’s example is just one example of all the colors you could get back then.
It’s subtle, but I really like it. Though I have only seen a couple in this color, so am guessing it wasn’t particularly popular that year. Actually I’ve seen two: this one, and my friend in Spokane, Washington, Jason Bagge, AKA The Brougham Whisperer, had one this color a few years back.
And this one’s Taupe hue is nicely set off by the optional Cabriolet roof in white, with white Sierra grain optional leather interior.
Don’t you just want to hop in and join Frank Cannon at a supper club in La Jolla for some surf and turf and cocktails?
1973 Fleetwood Eldorados got both new front and rear styling, with a new 5-mph bumper up front and new ‘cathedral’ taillights out back. Sides were smoother with the removal of the faux rear fender air vent seen on 1971-72s.
The coupe started at $7360, but options could bump that substantially higher. The converible, the only full size front wheel drive luxury converible, had an MSRP of $7681; a Cotillion White one with red leather paced the Indy 500 that year.
42,136 coupes and 9,315 convertibles were built for model year 1973. As for todays example, it was listed at a dealer in South Dakota for five bucks short of 22K. But if the mileage is correct, and the condition suggests it is, both your author and his friend Jayson Coombes—a fellow Cadillac fanatic—believe it is likely worth the ask.
As the ad related, “Mr. Earnest Buchanan bought this car new on 6/30/73 from "Ben Feferman Motor Sales" in South Bend, Indiana and it appears it has had 3 other owners up until 2025. Retained with this car are loads of DOCUMENTS (see the pics) hard to believe what has been kept with this car since new, In addition to those are many years of mechanical receipts that document the miles throughout the years verifying it is indeed a real deal, low mile Eldorado. The condition of the car mechanically and physically also verify this minus years of outside abuse causing some moisture bubbles and fading here and there however this is a solid, dry desirable condition Cadillac.”
One thing I found odd was the blanking plate where a clock would normally reside. I checked with Jayson and he confirmed it WAS an option. Yes. Even on an Eldorado. Crazy.
But it looks great and would be a fun cruiser, now that the weather is finally starting to not suck.
Pretend you’re Big Enos, buckle up, and head to The Cellar for some surf and turf!
Tell ‘em Klockau sent ya!
Slaps roof "This baby can fit so many dead mobsters in the trunk!"
Paints labeled as “taupe” were a thing back then. My Dad ordered a 1973 Impala in taupe that we thought looked good on the little paint chip in the brochure.
It turned out that Chevy taupe was a really ugly deep reddish brown. My mother almost would not speak to my Dad after she saw the car. We hated that car, but we absolutely loved the 1977 Caprice that replaced it.
The other problem with that 73 Impala was that it was the first year of the annoying seat belt buzzer and giant red warning light in the dash. The solution back then was to clip the lap belt together and stuff it between the seat back and seat cushion. Problem solved!