1999 Cadillac Eldorado Show Car, EldoRODo, Found on Bring a Trailer
It hardly seems like 1999 was ancient history, but it’s long enough ago for things to get murky. If it’s a question of something built in the days before everything was uploaded to the internet, digging up missing details can be tricky, even on something that was in the public eye at the time. Which is why you might not remember this heavily customized Cadillac Eldorado currently up for sale on Bring a Trailer] (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.)
This creamsicle orange Caddy was commissioned by General Motors as a one-off for the show circuit. It wasn’t hinting at potential future styling trends but rather was intended as a celebration of traditional lowrider and custom-car Southern California car culture.
Built by California Street Rods of Huntington Beach, this Eldorado is pretty much factory in terms of its powertrain, with a 4.6-liter Northstar V-8 that produces 300 horsepower and a four-speed automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels. However, no exterior panel has been left untouched in a comprehensive customization.
The roof was chopped, the windshield and rear window were raked further for a sleeker look, and all the trim was shaved off. Overall, the car is four inches lower than a stock Eldorado Touring Coupe. The extended rear wheel skirts are so aggressive that they nearly cover the custom 18-inch wheels.
Overall it’s a surprisingly effective execution of an older custom look to a relatively modern Cadillac. Shown at both the Los Angeles auto show and in Detroit, this custom Caddy was intended to show that Cadillac as a brand that hadn’t lost its cool.
The car was previously owned by Tyler Hoovie of the Hoovies Garage YouTube channel. Getting it road registered might be a bit tricky, as GM auctioned it off on a junk title during the company’s bankruptcy, as a way to avoid future liability. However, it certainly would be the star of many a car show even if you had to trailer it there. At the time, Cadillac said, “It effectively captures the spirit of the classic hot rod while blending it with contemporary luxury and performance.” Today, it’s also pure Y2K nostalgia.
