1970 Cadillac Eldorado Custom Steering Wheel: A Bold Retro Design Idea for Modern Car Interiors

A 1970 Cadillac Eldorado customized by George Barris is set to hit the auction block. The pimp-style customization includes a striking steering wheel featuring an enormous Cadillac crest at its center. When new, this car cost basketball star Charlie Scott the equivalent of $110,000 in today’s dollars.

Modern car interiors often lack distinctiveness, with many brands—especially Chinese manufacturers—defaulting to minimalist designs dominated by a single tablet-style touchscreen. This trend, pioneered by Tesla years ago, has left many showrooms looking eerily similar. Could a vintage, retro-inspired design offer a solution? Perhaps a modified Cadillac from the 1970s holds the key to differentiating luxury car interiors today.

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The 1970 Cadillac Eldorado: A Custom Classic

The 1970 Cadillac Eldorado in question looks nothing like the production models rolling off GM’s assembly lines that year. It was customized by George Barris in the pimp style, a design originally developed by Les Dunham. The modifications include:

• Superfly headlights
• Decorative landau roof irons
• Claw-style fake spinners for the 15-inch wheels
• A Cadillac Goddess-style hood ornament

Barris named the car the del Cavallero. Its original owner, basketball star Charlie Scott, purchased it for $13,000 when new—a price equivalent to roughly $110,000 today. For context, that amount could have bought two brand-new Corvettes with money left over.

The Steering Wheel: A Bold Statement

While the exterior of the del Cavallero is eye-catching, it’s the interior—and specifically the steering wheel—that truly stands out. The wheel features an oversized, ornate Cadillac crest that dominates the space within the rim. The design is extravagant and over-the-top, but it raises an interesting question: Could a similar approach work in modern cars?

In the 1990s, this idea wouldn’t have been feasible due to large, obstructive airbags and the need for clear visibility of the gauge cluster. However, with today’s compact airbags and advanced head-up display technology, such a bold design might just be practical. Super fly, indeed.

Could Bold Steering Wheels Revitalize Modern Car Interiors?

The concept isn’t limited to Cadillacs. Automakers from Volkswagen to Porsche, Ford, Chevrolet, and beyond could adopt similar designs to reinforce branding and stand out in a crowded market. While it may seem avant-garde, BMW has already pushed boundaries with its four-spoke steering wheel in models like the iX3, i3, and facelifted 7-Series. Perhaps the industry is ready for more radical ideas.

Until automakers take the leap, enthusiasts may need to settle for owning a car like the del Cavallero. The customized 1970 Cadillac Eldorado is available at auction on Bring a Trailer.