Hi Wascator,
I own a '79 Eldorado and a '79 Toronado. I've also owned another '79 Toronado and a 1984 Toronado. The only thing which comes to mind which might be considered a plate is possibly the catalytic converter heat shield but that's thin and located more central (wouldn't add much protection). The support for the torsion bars runs across the car in about that area. There is an individual receiving position for both bars but I don't recall any added plates. It runs from frame rail-to-frame rail under the car pretty close to the rear of the front seats. It's a narrow beam; not a plate.

Understood the comment is specific to the 1981 but it seems like a strange place to add something for vibration which was inherent to the 1981. If I recall correctly the 368 was still the gas engine in 1981 and I believe it still had the 3spd TH325 not the TH325-4L. My point being 1981, by memory, doesn't seem to be a particularly unique year and I would think if there was a strange issue it likely would have been an issue with at least 1980 vehicles as well.

Scott

 

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In the book Casino -
THAT should explain it -

 

Right: sometimes authors either don’t understand or have wrong info. I thought it might bring up an interesting technical issue engineers encountered during design. My aunt had one of these back in the day and far as I know it was a good one for her. Personally I like the styling of the Toronado.

 

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Right: sometimes authors either don’t understand or have wrong info
this is what I found -
Another problem with the 1981 model year was an unexplained balancing problem that affected the vehicle's overall handling. GM corrected this by installing a large, heavy metal plate under the driver's seat. This issue with the vehicle was brought to light in the 1995 movie Casino, where Robert DeNiro's character survives a bomb planted under the driver's seat of his Cadillac Eldorado, and the plate is credited with saving his life after the explosion. This was based on an actual incident that happened to Frank Rosenthal, upon whose life story the film was based.

Cadillac Eldorado

www.uniquecarsandparts.com

IF TRUE - that must have been an EXTREMELY HEAVY plate -
to actually have any effect on "handling" -

 

I could’ve sworn the car in the movie was supposed to be an 82’

Also, I don’t think it’s fine to compare a Toronado to an Eldorado. I doubt they’d be built as similar as one may think based on the shape of the vehicles.

Same way a 1st gen Seville was much more robust than a Chevy Nova, and a Cadillac Cimarron was much more of a car than a Chevy Cavalier. Not joking.

 

I could’ve sworn the car in the movie was supposed to be an 82’

Also, I don’t think it’s fine to compare a Toronado to an Eldorado. I doubt they’d be built as similar as one may think based on the shape of the vehicles.

Same way a 1st gen Seville was much more robust than a Chevy Nova, and a Cadillac Cimarron was much more of a car than a Chevy Cavalier. Not joking.

I only said I liked the styling of the Toronado better. That is a matter of personal taste. The Riviera, Toronado, and Eldorado were the same basic car.
Assuming the author had accurate information, the actual Eldorado owned by Sam Rosenthal was an ‘81. The car used in the movie might have been an ‘82.

 

If that’s what the book says, then the movie is a contradiction because in the movie it clearly states that the bomb was placed under the passengers side but the plate was under the drivers side...

 

Its a myth.

 

Here's your myth busters answer,

 

When I was a teenager you could buy dynamite and electrical or fused caps at the local hardware and Southern States stores.

Kinda makes you want to go out and play with some cherry bombs or M80s - 1955 style.

I remember speed runs from MD to NC to stock up on enough explosives to blow Hoover Dam.

 

Real amateur hour, scenes at the 82 bombing show the gas tank and whole back end obliterated. Crew did not check Fisher Body Specs as any ad hoc dealer additions could have been addressed there. Plus FWD no U-joint so more room for blast to spread out. GM Cadillac also had their hand full dealing with V8 6 4 deletes/retrofits n Diesel eww. After seeing the Mythbusters "destroy" the myth, not really, no petrol in the demo, plus explosion did tip up back end so I will say Frank Larry Rosenthal was safe if vehicle was either the Eldo or Toronado.