When introduced, seldom had an automobile created the excitement on the American motoring scene as did the fabulous Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. With a shimmering grille, dual winged front fender ornamentation, dramatic rear panel fins and chrome rear lower panels that gracefully sweep into a rounded rear end below the elegant radii of the rear decklid; are all seamlessly blended into the timeless beauty of a favorite 1950s Cadillac. Without question, in period, this was a luxury car to be reckoned with as having no counterpart on the world’s highways.

The glamourous Eldorado and its hardtop sister car, the Eldorado Seville offered, for 1957, even more exciting and modernized styling than the previous year. They were more sleek-lined with an almost three inch lower silhouette without sacrificing the precious interior spaciousness. The distinctive new styling was matched by its ultra-smart interior which combined full luxury with the benefit of maximum durability. Lasting beauty is evident in every detail.

The Eldorado was powered by a 365-cid, 325-hp overhead-valve, V-8 engine equipped with two four-barrel carburetors, topped by the distinguishing “batwing” air cleaner. The Series 62 Eldorado Specials were Cadillac’s top of the line offering with only three body styles available, including the Eldorado Brougham. Other than the extraordinary $13,000 Brougham, the Biarritz Convertible was the most expensive with a $7,300 base price and only 1,800 units were built and sold, with far fewer remaining today.

These superlative cars came with many factory standards that include Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, numerous lighting conveniences, beautiful brightwork trim components, Sabre-Spoke wheels, whitewall tires, remote trunk release, remote driver’s side mirror, radio with front and rear speakers, four cigarette lighters (two front/two back), foglights; power windows, six-way seat, steering and brakes. It is also fit with the optional Autronic-Eye automatic headlight dimmer and the optional (but no extra cost) god-finish radiator grille. The Eldorado is finished in the period correct colors of Copper with matching Copper Metallic interior throughout. As beautiful today as when it was first released, the Eldorado remains in excellent overall condition.

Cadillac’s 1957 Eldorado Biarritz symbolized both personal economic success and the post-war economic upswing of 1950s America. Reaching your destination in a Biarritz showed that you had “arrived,” in more ways than one.