Automodello 1968 Cadillac

Automodello 1968 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado

The year was 1968 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched a coordinated series of attacks against Hue, Saigon and various other key targets in South Vietnam. The Tet Offensive, which surprised U.S. and South Korean forces and caused heavy casualties, would eventually be a turning point in the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, as media coverage brought the full horrors of an already unpopular war home to TV screens in 56 million American homes.

While in Memphis to support striking sanitation workers in that city, the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a sermon in which he told listeners: "I’ve seen the Promised Land". I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land." The following evening, Martin Luther King was assassinated while he was standing on the balcony outside his room at a Memphis motel. As news of King’s murder sparked rioting in dozens of cities across the country, an international manhunt for his shooter, James Earl Ray, ended in his capture in London. Ray was convicted, and died in prison in 1998.

On the night of the California primary (which Robert F Kennedy won, putting him in reach of securing the Democratic presidential nomination), as he was leaving the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after addressing a large crowd of supporters is when he was shot by the young Jordanian immigrant Sirhan Sirhan. Born in Jerusalem, Sirhan later said he assassinated Kennedy out of concern for the Palestinian cause, and had felt betrayed by the senator’s support for Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967.

These were just a few of the events that shaped the year 1968. I remember them all; I was a young man getting ready to go off to war. However, I was also a car lover and followed the 'New releases like a kid who couldn't make up his mind as to what Christmas gift to open first on that special day. So another event that shaped the year 1968 was the Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado on showroom floors. The big beautiful Cadillac's were always at the forefront of my wish list, some more than others as they symbolized success at least in the small town which I called home, I was all about success. The beautiful Eldorado was a car that made a statement, a statement that I admired and would strive for over my entire life.

To quote the Cadillac Brochure from 1968 it stated the following: With the Fleetwood Eldorado, Cadillac introduced an entirely new and singularly successful concept in personal cars. Now, for 1968, many refinements in styling and handling-and the brilliant action of the new 472 V8 bring to personal car motoring the most spirited performance and luxury field. Eldorado is still the only car in the world which combines the precision of front wheel drive with the maneuverability of variable ratio power-steering and the balance of automatic level control.

To say the 1968 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado was ahead of its time would be an understatement. I remember sitting in a Topaz Gold Eldorado at Wright Motors Hazleton PA, the same day it was wheeled onto the showroom floor to be showcased, it was a stunning automobile; it was all about luxury, I was impressed. I am trying to remember the window sticker on the one I sat in on that showroom floor but father time has took its toll on the archives of my mind and I don't remember the exact price but for some reason $13,000.00 keeps rolling around in my head. I remember thinking I could buy three of four Chevrolet's for that price but then again they weren't Cadillac's.

Automodello was kind enough to send us their entire line of the 1968 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado for pictures and a review. When I started opening the boxes a ton of memories came flooding back to me as I remembered that day at Wright Cadillac & Oldsmobile, standing on the showroom floor with Jack Wright admiring this beautiful automobile. Wright motors was sold to another old friend and became the Berger dealerships and just recently changed hands again as my friend Earl Berger, who I attended many a GM conference with, has retired too.

Having posted the images on JSS for Automodello I received numerous emails asking me what were my favorite model of the group? Honestly, I fell in love with the white one, but that being said the car I drive now is white, therefore you can say I am partial to white automobiles. I will say this; you won't go wrong with any of these models as they are all beautifully executed and it just comes down to a color preference and how deep is your pocket book. Before I get into pricing let me discuss a little about these models and what makes the Automodello line one you should consider in your collection.

Automodello takes great pride in the products it sends to market and the 1968 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado is no exception; the paint which is the first thing that captures your attention is glass like some of the best paint I have seen in a while, no blemishes of flaws that I could see. The chrome is done exceedingly well but it is delicate so be very careful handling these models and never dust any of your models with a rag as you may damage the chrome. I do like the fact that these models are fastened to their base and Automodello does offer a clear cover for these bases also. The doors, hood and trunk don't open but viewing the model you get the impression that they do; the scribe lines are deep giving the impression that they do open, nicely done.

The interior is just as well done as the exterior with attention to detail throughout the design. As I fondled this model turning it in all directions to view all the detail inside the model I was taken aback to that day in the showroom when I sat behind the wheel of this beautiful automobile remembering all the fine detail of this magnificent automobile. The thing I remember the most was peering out over the hood that seemed like it went on for a mile but knowing what lied underneath that massive hood (472 cu in V-8) had me wanting to feel this car on the road which I never did. Since these automobiles weighted slightly over two ton it needed the above mentioned power plant to power them smoothly down the road, I wouldn't expect much speed out of these automobiles since they weren't designed for that. However reviewing the specs on these cars I have to say they weren't a slouch either; they had some giddy-up and go to them if you needed it.

The bottom line is this: if the Cadillac line falls in your realm of collecting then you need to include the Automodello 1968 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado in your collection. When it comes to "Top-Shelf" replica's these are it; fix, finish and attention to detail are second to none and it shows when sitting out on display.

Automodello offers this model in three lines: Standard which is in Silverpine Green Iridescent and retails for $249.95 and includes shipping. Next up is the Tribute Edition which is a Limited Edition of 68 pieces worldwide and available in San Mateo Red Iridescent or Topaz Gold Firemist both priced at $349.95 and includes free shipping. Finally the Homage Edition also a Limited Edition of only 24 pieces worldwide available in two colors Grecian White or Sable Black and either one retails for $449.95 which includes shipping.

Regardless of what Edition you choose I promise you won't be disappointed with any of them; these are without question top-shelf models you will be proud to have on display.

Mint: Automodello
Year: 1968
Make: Cadillac
Model: Fleetwood Eldorado
LE: Standard Issue, Tribute Edition and Homage Edition
Scale: 1:24
Color: Silverpine Green Iridescent (Standard Issue), San Mateo Red Iridescent, Topaz Gold Firemist (Tribute Edition), Grecian White, Sable Black (Homage Edition)
Issue Price: $249.95 (Standard), $349.95 (Tribute Edition), $449.95 (Homage Edition)
Part #:24C010 (Standard Edition), 24C011, 24C012 (Tribute Edition), 24C013, 24C014 (Homage Edition)