1979-1985 CADILLAC

ELDORADO CONVERTIBLES

Is your Eldorado an ASC or Hess & Eisenhardt?

There are many differences between the two...

Shown Above, 1985 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible, Modified by ASC

In 1984 and 1985 these were offered by Cadillac and had a VIN designation identifying it as an Eldorado convertible

While some people refer to these as "Factory" convertibles, they were modified by a third party company.

While they look similar, there are many differences.  Some subtle, some not.

Hopefully this page will help you to tell the difference between the two.

Note how the belt line at the top of the door continues in an even plane to the rear of the convertible top rear curtain in the car shown above.

In contrast, the car shown below has a "Z" cut in the beltline and the convertible top line follows the quarter panel angle, not the door beltline.

1980 Eldorado Convertible, Modified by Hess & Eisenhardt

Hess & Eisenhardt offered Eldorado's as convertibles from 1979-1985

Shown Above: 1980 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible Modified by Hess & Eisenhardt

1985 ASC

1980 Hess & Eisenhardt

The differences in the body lines are now very clear, and very different...

Another view of the differences.  Here we can also see the difference in the size of the rear quarter glass.

When ordering a new top, here you can see how different the two cars are...

On the left, rear quarter upholstery from the 1985 ASC car.

On the right, the similar view of the Hess & Eisenhardt upholstery.

Below, the rear interior of a 1985 Eldorado Touring Coupe Convertible by Hess & Eisenhardt.

While ASC manufactured a complete one piece side panel, Hess used some stock components that were cut down, and made their custom pieces out of metal.

Since stock Eldorado's had fixed quarter windows but convertibles needed power windows that go down into the body, Hess & Eisenhardt took the stock switch pod, elongated the round mirror hole and moved the front door switches up into the modified opening, used the existing opening for the rear window switches, and adapted a mirror joystick eschuteon from a Coupe DeVille and drilled a hole in the door panel to drop it in to, as seen on the photo on the right.  ASC either adapted a unit from another car, or had Cadillac supply a part that did not require the additional hole in the door panel as shown on left.

ASC Master Window Control                                             Hess & Eisenhardt Master Window Control

The top latches for the front header are completely different on the two cars.  Hess & Eisenhardt shown below.

Note the latches are on the front header and are chrome.  Also recesses for pulling down the top to latch it.

Sun visors and brackets are also completely different.

Below, 1985 ASC Windshield Header.

Chrome end caps are top hold downs and sun visor brackets.

Both companies added reinforcement to the frames, and the front radiator support area.  There are also braces welded in the trunk areas, and both companies did this differently as well.  Shown below is the interior of a Hess trunk.  They always placed the jack parts in a grey felt bag.  Most cars had a grey custom trunk lining and material thicker and plusher than stock was used,  The also installed a loop in the trunk floor as a hold down for the spare.  In stock Eldorado coupes, the spare was upright behind the rear seat.

I will be adding to this web page as time permits.  All photos used were photos taken of my own personal cars, some which I still own, and some that have found new homes.

Photos and text by Brian Rachlin, cars are all from my personal collection.

If you would like to add information or discuss this page with me, please contact me at 76eldo@comcast.net.