Overview: 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

Long and rightly advertised as the “Standard of the World,” GM’s Cadillac Division finally reached the summit of America’s fine car market during 1947, when it convincingly outsold its old archrival Packard by nearly 11,000 units. Without doubt, Cadillac’s postwar success was based on equal parts of advanced engineering, embodied by Cadillac’s groundbreaking overhead-valve V-8 engine, and the renowned stylistic genius of famed GM design Chief Harley Earl. Debuting for 1948 and inspired by Earl’s appreciation of the sleek and futuristic Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft of WW II fame, Cadillac’s signature tailfins debuted for 1948 and remained a design hallmark of GM’s luxury division for over 15 years.

Best-known for its sleek, cutting-edge styling based on Cadillac's El Dorado Golden Anniversary concept car that wowed the crowds at GM’s Motorama shows during 1952, the Series 62-based Eldorado Convertible reached series-production status in 1953. That year, the Eldorado quickly gained lasting fame for transporting U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower to his inauguration ceremonies. For 1956, the Seville two-door hardtop joined the Eldorado series, while the glamorous convertible was named the Biarritz, after the luxurious French seaside town on the Bay of Biscay. In 1957, the Brougham four-door hardtop appeared but then, as now, the Biarritz remained Cadillac’s undisputed image leader.

With its softer lines and lower overall stance, the redesigned 1957 Eldorado remains a collector favorite today, with its elegant proportions, downward-sloping rear deck, and restrained tailfins. A tuned 365 cubic-inch V-8 with a pair of Carter four-barrel carburetors delivered a stout 325-horsepower output, with GM’s famed Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission standard. Just 1,800 examples of the Eldorado Biarritz were manufactured for 1957, priced from a commanding $7,286 to match its sheer presence. This highly attractive example is distinctively finished in “triple green” and continues to benefit very nicely from an older restoration. Equipped with most of the expected amenities for the Eldorado Biarritz, it will certainly provide an outstanding experience and draw admiration as the top GM model available for 1957 – in the most desirable open-air form to boot!