In an industrious postwar era shaped in no small part by its machines, the confidence and extravagance of 1950s America were seldom more perfectly expressed than in the Cadillac Eldorado.
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For 1957, the Eldorado Biarritz featured sculpted rear quarters and sharply pointed fins, giving the convertible tremendous presence. Beneath the hood, a dual-quad carbureted 365 cid V-8 produced 325 hp, channeled through a HydraMatic automatic transmission.
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Finished in Starlight Silver Metallic over black-and-white leather and a black top, this Biarritz was frame-off, rotisserie restored by Okoboji Classic Cars in Iowa, a process that reportedly took approximately 3,400 hours and two years. The restoration is extensively chronicled in an accompanying photographic album – and the result was rewarded with First in Class and Best of Show honors at the 2017 Des Moines Concours d’Elegance.
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The Cadillac features the distinctive Autronic Eye automatic headlight dimmer, and a RetroSound head unit maintains a period look while adding the ability to connect to a mobile device. The Eldorado is accompanied by an owner’s manual, shop manual and factory brochure, and represents a particularly compelling example of this iconic model.
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