This Caddy was made to parade.
David Miller’s 1976 Cadillac El Dorado is making its parade debut on the Fourth of July, bearing Danville Mayor Karen Stepper down the route in style. It’s only fitting for a car conceived in patriotism and celebrating its 30th anniversary.
“In 1976 Cadillac designed its last 200 El Dorado convertibles special edition to commemorate the Bicentennial,” said Miller. “There were only 200 of these cars ever made and only 50 are in existence today.”
Miller’s El Dorado was No. 64 off the line and its license plate proclaims this. Special features include red and blue accent stripes on the hood; white leather seat with red piping and matching red carpeting and instrument panel; and a white top and wheel covers. A panel plaque proclaims the vehicle one of the final 200 U.S. production convertibles to roll off the assembly line in Detroit. A fiberglass parade boot fits over the top of the back seat.
The special edition originally sold for $11,000, while the other El Dorados went for $9,000-$10,000, said Miller.
Miller was thrilled last fall to hear about the El Dorado languishing in a garage/barn at an Arabian horse ranch on Camino Tassajara. The former owner, Benjamin Culet, died five years ago, and although his widow, Marian Culet, kept the car well maintained, she felt bad it no longer belonged to an enthusiast.
“I thought the smart thing to do is sell it while it is in really, really good condition,” recalled Culet last week. “I wanted someone to buy it who would love it.”
She remembered her husband flew to Michigan, bought the convertible with 22 miles on it from the test driving, and drove the car home to Danville.
“He kept it in tiptop shape,” she said. “Every once in awhile he would have it serviced and drive it around and make sure it was OK.”
She said other buyers had offered to buy the car after he passed away but were more interested in reselling it for a profit. When Miller contacted her, she knew it was love. “I just knew by talking to him he was going to take good care of the car,” she said.
“People travel all over the country to look at hobby cars, but this car was two miles from my house,” marveled Miller. “I couldn’t believe what I was looking at.” Miller is in good company with the special edition El Dorado – other owners include Wayne Newton and Burt Reynolds.
Miller said he has long been a car enthusiast; he also owns a 1964 Impala Supersport. He moved here from New Jersey in 1988 and even met his wife, Valery Nelson, at a car show.
Miller’s El Dorado had 1,500 miles when he bought it in November and he has added another 1,000.
“A few people give me a thumbs-up when they see me driving it,” he said. “When I say it’s a ‘Bicentennial,’ they just flip out.”
He also likes that it’s a symbol of a gentler time. “It reflects you back to the period of drive-in theaters and malt shops,” he said.
At the parade Tuesday, look for Mayor Stepper comfortably perched on the parade boot of the Bicentennial El Dorado – and be sure to give a thumbs-up to the man behind the wheel.
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