It was 1957. Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House. Sputnik was in space. Elvis Presley was on the Ed Sullivan Show for what would be the third and last time. He would also own a new Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, the car that marked the reachable pinnacle of automobile ownership for many Americans. At over $7,000, it was achievable for the man or woman of great personal success—someone who, like Presley, had climbed their way up and desired to reward themselves with the best that money could buy. It spoke to that success with vast quantities of chrome, impressive highway-devouring performance, and styling that only Harley Earl’s studio could have dreamt up.

The 1957 Cadillacs featured a redesigned chassis with a new, tubular X-frame which allowed for more structural rigidity and lower body lines which helped to create the low, sleek look that these models have become famous for. Eldorados earned a complete restyling, with inboard, sharply pointed rear fins for 1957, and styling was inspired by the Eldorado Brougham and Park Avenue show cars. The Biarritz designation was used for the second year, to differentiate it from the companion hardtop Eldorado Seville, which was added to the lineup in 1956.

The Eldorado was powered by a 365-cid, 325-hp overhead-valve, V-8 engine equipped with two four-barrel carburetors. The Series 62 Eldorado Specials were Cadillac’s top of the line offering with only three body styles available. The Biarritz Convertible was the most expensive with a $7,300 base price and only 1,800 units were built and sold.

This example benefits from a thorough and fresh restoration. These magnificent cars came with many factory standards that include Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, numerous lighting conveniences, beautiful brightwork trim components, remote trunk release; power windows, six-way seat, steering and brakes. It is fit with the optional Autronic Eye, chrome wire wheels and whitewall tires and is finished in the period correct colors of Elysian Green with complementing green leather interior and today remains in excellent overall condition.