Daily Pick: 1998 Cadillac Eldorado

Applicable to 12 generations For about 50 years, the Cadillac Eldorado coupe has been a hotly contested Personal luxury car When the final generation of the Eldorado debuted in 1992, Cadillac touted the car’s engaging driving experience and said, “It could change the way people think about American cars.”

Today’s pick is a 1998 Cadillac Eldorado, for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Middletown, Delaware. (Click on the link to view the listing)

The listing begins: “The sleek, glossy black paint gleams beautifully against the glossy rims.” The exterior styling is restrained, which is perhaps why this car has aged so gracefully over the decades. Chrome trim and white-rimmed tires convey a sense of elegance, while the quad exhaust outlets and decklid badge highlight the car’s Polestar V8 performance.

The name Eldorado (or El Dorado) means “golden (or gilded)” in Spanish, and its origins in the automotive market can be traced back to 1953, when the car debuted as a limited-production convertible to promote GM’s leadership in design. Targeted at the wealthy and elite, the car had a price tag of $7,750 (equivalent to $91,162 today).

In total, the Eldorado evolved through 12 generations until it was discontinued after 2002. The Eldorado featured today is a 1998 model, from the last iteration. This generation of the car originally arrived in showrooms in 1992, using the GM E platform (11 inches longer and 3 inches wider than the previous generation). Some chassis elements of the car were shared with its platform mates, the Buick Riviera and the Oldsmobile Toronado. Cadillac marketed the Eldorado with the slogan “A new approach creates a dramatic breakthrough.”

With just 14,407 miles on the odometer, this car is probably one of the cleanest cars in its class. “The interior features brand new black leather seats with minimal wear,” the seller says. “The cabin is in great condition, everything is in its place and in working order.” The black-on-black color scheme gives it a nice “executive” feel.

Cadillac is particularly proud of the car’s powertrain: Power comes from a 4.6-liter, 32-valve, dual overhead cam V8 engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The engine is from the so-called “Northstar” series and has been named one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines three years in a row.

If you’re ready for a taste of late 1990s luxury touring, few cars can give you that experience like this one. Asking price: $15,000 or best offer.

To view this list on ClassicCars.com, check it out along with all of our previous features in Pick of the Day.