Rare 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz To Cross Auction Block
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Introduced as a 1952 concept car, the Cadillac Eldorado marked the brand’s 50th anniversary. The Eldorado moniker was the result of a contest within the company to name the new model, and is a contraction of the Spanish name for the mythical Colombian city of gold, El Dorado.
The 1953 Cadillac Eldorado was a limited-production, flagship convertible with unique bodywork, a lowered beltline, wraparound windshield, bumper bullets, and a full complement of exclusive accessories including available air conditioning, signal-seeking AM radio, and power windows. The new Eldorado could be had in Azure Blue, Alpine White, Aztec Red, or Artisan Ochre. The sticker price was nearly twice that of the standard Series 62 convertible.
For the 1954 model year, the unique Cadillac Eldorado bodywork was jettisoned in favor of using the standard sheetmetal of other Cadillac models. Although this took away some of the exclusivity of Eldorado ownership, it allowed Cadillac to drop the price, yielding far more orders. The 1954 Eldorado was distinguished by model-specific trim. Well-equipped from the factory, the Eldorado could be loaded with power steering, power brakes, power windows, electric front seat, power convertible top, E-Z Eye Glass Headlight Dimmer, a Hydramatic automatic transmission, chrome wire wheels, and wide whitewall tires.
After a full redesign for the 1957 model year, the 1958 Cadillac Eldorado adopted the quad-headlight design of its GM full-size brethren. The new hood prominently featured the requisite Cadillac golden V and crest. The three-piece front bumper sported rubber-capped “Dagmar” bullets with driving lights beneath. The Eldorado Biarritz continued the unique swept rear bodywork of the previous year, but added vertical bright trim just forward of the rear wheel opening. Chrome trim extended from the rear wheel well to the rear bumper. The Eldorado Biarritz rolls on wide whitewall tires wrapped around Sabre spoked wheels. This would be the final model-year Eldorado with Harley Earl’s indomitable influence.
Our feature 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz is one of only 815 built in 1958. It is finished in Lake Placid Blue with a blue leather interior and a darker blue Haartz-cloth style soft top. A body-color-painted parade boot to cover the soft top when it’s down is included in the sale. It is said this Eldorado Biarritz was the subject of a comprehensive restoration some time ago, and it appears to be holding up well.
Inside the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz is awash in complementary Blue Metallic leather. The wide bench seats show very little sign of use, another indication of careful use since the restoration was completed. In front of the driver is a large two-spoke steering wheel with chrome inner horn ring. The steering wheel framed a broad horizontal speedometer. Flanking the speedo to the left are gauges for temperature and fuel level, and to the right resides a large oval clock. In front of the passenger is the signal-seeking am radio to the left, with a dash-wide decorative panel stretching to the door panel. The back seat looks both big and comfortable. Plush blue carpet covers the floors.
Under the hood of the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz is the 365 cubic-inch V8 fed by triple two-barrel Rochester carbs. The 365 produces 335 horsepower, and is backed by the aforementioned Hydramatic automatic transmission.
This rare 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz will cross the Mecum Actions block at their Chicago event happening October 13th through the 15.
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WOW WOW WOW that is for me a true Cadillac, not what they do today, a beautiful beauty
No cookie cutter Caddy here. This is when a Caddy was a Caddy. Beautiful car in a nice color.
Nice interior color too. And today unfortunately, Mary loves black.
the buttons of radio … all two at left side only was impressive still to me. Do not like wood inside car, and for me this interior for driver is perfect… chrome and blue … do not like the european middle console lay out, so this entire seat is a still dream for future, however the now designers
What a beautiful work of art!
Beautiful and unique!!!
it is so 100 % middle reached the circle, we after 64 years are still impressed and look admiring. Take any car from factory today, after 1 month you do not remember how it was. I call talent those guys had in chosen forms … those guys, eyes, hands and feelings we do not have in any industry anymore, whatever which … this is one reason, me as old school, after 10 years only at home, stay home
In the day when cars where unique and the Lions were celebrating their last championship!
Beautiful example of the most tastefully styled of all model year 1958 GM cars – the Biarritz and its hardtop coupe companion Seville.
As the article says, the ’54 Eldorado body work was standard Cadillac. Not said was that the Eldorados for ’55 and ’56 did have their own rear quarter panel body work which closely resembled what the standard 1958 Cadillacs featured.
most tastefully styled of all model year 1958 GM cars
True, but that isn’t saying much. Harley Earl should have retired a year or two sooner.
Now, now. True that 1958 was not a stellar year for GM styling, with few exceptions – the Pontiac Bonneville and Chevy Impala 2-door hardtops were pretty good IMO.
I think Virgil Exner over at Chrysler caught the GM design department by surprise with his strikingly low and flat roofed 1957s. GM’s ’58 designs were pretty much set by then, and about the only thing GM could do to buy time until the 1959 model year came up was to slather their ’58 bodies with all kinds of chrome.
Ralph, you need to understand something. The designer’s didn’t have the final word. That came from the Division General Manager. For example, the 58 Buick Limited. The massive amount of side chrome came when they were looking at three different trim designs and the GM of Buick wanted all three combined .
ACZ: Hank the Duce at Ford had the final say so on car designs. Hank fired Bunkie Knudsen for giving the say so go ahead on models to production, not getting Hank’s prior walk-around approval one year among other things like Bunkie’s clashes with Ioccoca and other higher level managers.
The egos in the automaking business are extreme and toxic.
David, this conversation is not about Ford. Everyone knows that both Henry’s 1and 2 were control freaks. Get back on topic, please.
Back when Cadillac was a mark of luxury before they thought they had to compete with the European taxicab… Mercedes’.
A beautiful car and GM’s 50th anniversary. The only thing that might be just a little bit better was the Eldorado Brougham.
Designed and built when GM was king of the Hill in the Sloan era. Before GM began to rot and rust from internal politics, infighting, complacency, myopia, and the Japanese industrial focus. It was the golden era of automaking. Before cookie cutter cars and government interventions and restrictions. An era of car guys with a passion for the total unit. Not a passion for loading a vehicle with computers and vast electronic circuitry and features. When seating was bench type, deep and comfortable. When interior cabin space was ergonomically designed for small, medium and large humans. Not a bucket seat cockpit with a large ice chest between the two front seats, with no wiggle room. Is this for the skinny jean crowd with a smart phone appendage? Savor these vintage, classic cars.
yeah, it was another Era… do not recognize world anymore, people loved the work and the passion in doing art, today is ” a must to do something, most in third bad contracts ” Technology Paradox
Distinct styling and luxury will return to Cadillac with the Celestiq.
Celestiq is far downhill compared…
Defiance:
I hope and pray to God you are right. I hate to see great Cadillac go the way of great Pontiac and great Oldsmobile. Sloan and Durant would totally spin their suits off in their graves, if they haven’t already.
Real men don’t drive electric cars……
Real men don’t drive electric cars……and the 57-58 Biarritz were the most beautiful convertibles of the era…
My former “wife” Coupe de Ville” 56 convertible same exact blue color with a white top was just as beautiful to me. This 58 is simply a jewel – the tail fin is stunning and classy! I better stop, she might get jealous…
1958: when Cadillac was in its golden years. This Caddy, pictured, IS beautiful!!! Caddy now is merely a ghost, if at all, of its former glory. Sad. 👎 ♐
Caddy and Buick now are Walking Deads … whole GM mean probably
time when cars were built grew up doing body work and most could be fixed even if inch totaled them cars today junk all aare scrap after a fender bende soupe cans recycled
Try writing something that makes sense.
Is the 1958 still available?