The Cadillac Eldorado was first introduced for the 1952 model year, as a celebration of the Cadillac’s fiftieth anniversary. The name Eldorado was a contraction of El Dorado, the mythical lost city of gold in South America.
The Cadillac Eldorado was completely redesigned for the 1957 model year, with a stance that was much lower than the previous year. The front end had a three-piece bumper and the tail now came with a downswept rear fender line, featuring polished stainless steel lower rear quarters that ran from just behind the rear wheel openings, wrapping around to meet the rear bumpers, a design cue first featured on the Cadillac Interceptor prototype. The top of the rear fenders sported pointed, in-board fins. Exhaust exited through the rear bumper.
Cadillac Eldorado power came from a 365 cubic-inch V8 topped with dual four-barrel carbs, producing 325 horsepower, as compared to the 300-horsepower, single-carb V8s propelling the “lower” Caddy trims.
A Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible would set you back about $7,300. Only 1,800 were built in 1957, guaranteeing exclusivity. The Eldorado Biarritz is reputed to have had more pieces of chrome than any other GM car, before or since.
Our feature Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz has undergone a frame-off, cost-no-object restoration to concours standards. It has its matching-numbers 365 cubic-inch dual quad engine, automatic transmission, and is one of fifty built with air conditioning. All of the chrome has been triple plated, the Dakota Red paint has been refinished to exacting standards, and the stainless trim has been polished to a gleaming fault. Chrome Cadillac Sabre wheels are wrapped in period-correct Firestone wide white bias-ply rubber. As part of the optional Gold Package, the grille and emblems are gold anodized.
Inside the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, the seats have been recovered in sumptuous red and white leather. When the white convertible top is lowered, it can be covered with the painted fiberglass parade boot. This Eldorado Biarritz is equipped with power brakes, power steering, power windows, power seats, power convertible top, power trunk release, and the famous Autronic Eye that dims your headlights when it detects an oncoming car.
Beneath the hood of the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, in the spotless engine bay, resides the 325-horsepower 365 cubic-inch V8. All finishes and components are correct. The engine bay of this Caddy may just be better than when it was on the showroom floor.
This brilliant Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz will be crossing the auction block at the Mecum Auctions Dallas, Texas event September 8th-11th.
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Comments
I would love to own this car!
I would doubt this car set the record for chrome trim. That record easily belongs to the 1958 Buicks, and Oldsmobiles.
1953 was the model year for the first Eldorado.
Beautiful, When Cadillac was Cadillac and “The Standard of the World”. Those days are long gone, what a shame.
Easy to be the best in the world when you have no competition and all your competitors have been destroyed during WW2. With brand new plants and bustling economies, that all changed starting in the 60’s.
Tesla currently has a valuation which is 6 times the current value of Ford and GM combined. Some Chinese startups are now worth more than GM. What do you think will happen when these companies are fully engaged in the world market? It will be like the Taliban taking over Afghanistan. 😂🤣. Backward looking Americans resist change while others embrace it. MAGA is a pure fantasy and a rallying cry for crétins.
Uh the 1930s coach Cadillacs competed well against Pullman Benz before WW2, Caddy started to lose points not too long after this car was made and totally lost it during the Energy Crisis. Tesla car division didn’t make a dollar until this year. Just some I Phone, Sillycone Valley nerds fantasy of what car companies should be.
Nice !!! Now this is a REAL Cadillac !!!
What a jewel, just breathless!
Sad how Cadillac has sunk ( Thanks to decades of frivolous and clueless missmanagement) to Cadillacs being prissed up Chevys other than CT4 and5 that will soon be gone.. Great waist of history, creativity and heritage caused by disappointing, soulless and obtuse corporate masterminds….
“…The Eldorado Biarritz is reputed to have had more pieces of chrome than any other GM car, before or since.”
Obviously NOT TRUE.
Well it’s not the most chrome laden GM car ever, but I’d have to say that it definitely has to be, if not the best, certainly one of the finest automobiles GM has ever made where chrome was used tastefully as an accent to the overall design. It’s really a beautiful and very special automobile.
If Cadillac chooses to do such a car like this again, obviously it could derived from the CELESTIQ but not priced like a super ultra luxury sedan/coupe but could cost a little north in $100K starting price in low volume. Styling will have to knock it out of the ballpark and shock the world with the want factor in order to make such business case.