Cadillac Eldorado, 1958

Location: Auburn, Indiana

$85,000 - $95,000 USD | Not Sold

• 365-cid, 335-hp V-8 engine
• Four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission
• Body-off restored
• Standard three two-barrel carb setup rebuilt this year
• Black with brushed stainless steel roof
• Two-tone white and black button-tufted interior
• Power windows, steering and brakes
• Air conditioning
• Signal seeking radio
• Air suspension converted to “spring ride”
• Only 304 examples built in 1958
• When-new price ($13,074) ranked near Rolls-Royce’s & Ferrari’s
• Select rare vanity accessories included

In the early 1950s Cadillac began internal development on building a premiere American luxury sedan, the likes of which would compete with high-end European marques. In the April 1955 Motor Trend famed GM designer Harley Earl described the pre-production Eldorado Brougham as, “…created with the intent of capturing the appeal of those who demand the finest product, whether it may be their home, clothing, jewelry, or their car-and specifically things exclusively tailored to their taste.”

The Cadillac Series 70 Eldorado Brougham with bodywork by Fleetwood was introduced in 1957. The car was hand-built featuring design cues from the Park Avenue and Orleans show cars from 1953 to 1954. It was the first GM car to offer quadruple headlights, a design cue that would later find its way to other GM models. The car featured every option available, and with this luxurious model could be viewed as standard equipment. With a price point of over $13,000 the car was priced above a new Ferrari or Rolls-Royce of the time period. In 1957, Cadillac produced 400 examples of the Eldorado Brougham.

For 1958 the Cadillac Series 70 Eldorado Brougham changes were primarily seen on the interior of the car with the door panels now completed in leather as opposed to the metal finish the cars featured in 1957. Notable changes to the exterior of the car included new wheel covers. The car was available in 15 different monotone color combinations in addition to the 44 different trim combinations, making a car unique was quite easy. Nineteen fifty-eight marked the final year of U.S. production of the Eldorado Brougham, due in large part to the bottle neck the hand-built Fleetwood bodies caused within GM. Staring with 1959, body production was done by the esteemed firm, Pininfarina of Turin, Italy. In 1958, Cadillac produced 304 examples of the Eldorado Brougham; a rare example indeed.

It’s reported that Cadillac lost $10,000 on every Eldorado Brougham built in the first production run from 1957 to 1958; to continue on demonstrates Cadillac’s willingness to please their devoted upper echelon customers with a car that was, in every way, the finest and most admired motor car to have ever carried the Cadillac nameplate up to that time. The Eldorado Brougham was truly designed, styled and custom-crafted to create the best in automotive excellence.

This 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham has been body-off restored; its current presentation in Black with a brushed stainless steel roof is reported as its original color. The car is powered by a 365-cid, 335-hp V-8 engine with three two-barrel carburetors that was model-specific and boosted power; this unit could be ordered extra-cost with other Cadillac models. The engine is paired to a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The car’s three carburetors have been rebuilt this year. The engine is reported to be mechanically very strong.

The car rides on dual thin whitewall tires with factory wheel covers. While these cars came standard with an air suspension, they were proven to be problematic. This cars air suspension was converted to a more period standard “spring ride” to assist in trouble-free travel. The engineering team provided the Eldorado with power accessories so numerous that “power everything” wasn’t just a convenient phrase, it was a reality. The trunklid and rear doors not only opened with the push of a button, but they closed with one too, and the doors would lock automatically when the transmission was put in gear. A memory front seat was a first for a production car, as were the forged aluminum wheels. Naturally, there was air conditioning, for its well-heeled passengers.

The interior is reported as original and quite usable. In fact, the owner feels it is in a condition that the new owner may want to leave it in this presentation of factory originality. The Eldorado Brougham is permeated in elegance and style; the interior is completed in white and black button-tufted seating, and it also has a signal seeking radio with front and rear speakers. When both doors are opened, it is noted for having ease of access without a center post; the rear doors are hinged rearward (“suicide”) for an added touch of elegance.

A most special item with this Eldorado Brougham is that it is still accompanied with a selection of the special “vanity accessories” with which these cars were delivered new. These include six stainless steel drink tumblers, the bottoms of which are magnetized so that they can be placed on the dashboard without sliding about, as well as Arpege Extrait de Lanvin perfume, cigarette case, four lighters and a white leather notepad cover. Very few Eldorado Broughams are said to retain these accessories, which were often misplaced over the years and have become difficult to locate.

Included in the sale are a parts book, service manual and a shop manual supplement. Comprehensively respected, the Eldorado Brougham will introduce you in a unique manner that is wrapped in sophistication, beauty and elegance.

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