It’s no surprise that a Cadillac was the ultimate domestically produced status symbol for midcentury America—the dramatic styling, superb power, and enviable build quality made Cadillac’s top offerings the figurehead for “what the successful American drove.” With Bill Mitchell’s 1961 restyling of the Cadillac lineup, the marque’s products were now sleeker, wider, and more refined than previous offerings, which dazzled with extensive chrome and enormous fins. Mitchell’s styling revisions were no more readily apparent than at the top of the marque’s catalog: The Eldorado Biarritz.

Completed on 16 December 1960, this Eldorado Biarritz Convertible is one of just 1,450 examples produced for the model year. Graced with streamlined sides, reduced tailfins, forward-swept bumpers, rear fender skirts, and an elegant, curved windscreen, the car’s styling provides everything desirable about midcentury American design in a package sleeker and somewhat less flamboyant than that of its predecessors.

It is presented wearing its factory-correct Jade Metallic exterior, though the car’s original Jade Florentine upholstery has been replaced by a full retrim in Ivory. The trim tag indicates that it was equipped individually (not a standard options group) from the factory with E-Z eye glass, cabin heater, air conditioning, power locks, and a remote release trunk. A period-style “Guide-matic” device is also mounted on the dashboard. Each Eldorado Biarritz for 1961 came standard with power windows, brakes, and steering, as well as a dash clock, pushbutton radio, and front bench seat.

This Biarritz is powered by the correct 325-horsepower, 390-cubic-inch V-8 engine. Power is routed to the rear wheels via an GM-350 automatic transmission, and down through a set of chrome turbine-style wheels shod in whitewall tires. A high-torque starter has also been fitted, courtesy of CRC Transmission of Thousand Oaks, California. With just under 33,200 actual miles indicated at time of cataloging, this attractive Eldorado Biarritz Convertible coupe is a rarely seen and eminently presentably example. It is now offered from the Pacific Coast Highway Collection accompanied by its original jack, lug wrench and handbook.