The Eldorado Brougham is sometimes called Cadillac’s answer to Ford Motor Company’s Continental Mark II; though, in reality, General Motors was doing Ford one better. The Brougham was not only more exotic and exclusive than the Mark II, but it also commanded a price nearly a third higher than the Mark’s $10,000 sticker.

The concept had its origins in the Motorama show cars of the 1950s, particularly the 1953 Orleans and the 1954 Park Avenue. The Orleans predicted the four-door hardtop style that would blossom in the General Motors line from 1955–1956, and the Park Avenue contributed its brushed stainless steel roof. Public reaction was enthusiastic, so GM announced plans for production beginning in 1956.

The brief was ambitious. In addition to the innovative styling, engineers were given the green light to explore advanced technologies. Ideas ranged from oil-filled disc brakes to fuel injection and to a rear-mounted transaxle. In the end, the car used dual quad carburetors, conventional brakes, and a front-mounted Hydra-Matic, but it also used items new to the market, such as a memory power seat, air suspension, and cast aluminum wheels with steel rims. No fewer than 163 electric motors, relays, switches, solenoids, and light bulbs found their way into the Eldorado Brougham.

Finally ready for production in 1957, the Brougham had made it to the show circuit in 1956, including the Motorama tour and the Paris Salon. Known in GM Styling as project XP-48, it fit into a new “Series 70” in the Cadillac catalogue, with body style 7059X.

The Brougham returned for 1958 with few changes. The dual quads were changed to triple Rochester two-barrels, gaining 30 brake horsepower in the process, and there were new leather door panels. Fortunately, it avoided the stylistic excesses lavished on the rest of the GM line. The most obvious exterior change comprised new hub caps on the aluminum-center wheels.

This Eldorado Brougham was restored in the late 1990s. The original air suspension has been changed to coil springs, for reliability and drivability. The rest of the original equipment, such as the triple Rochester carburetors, automatic memory seat, cruise control, electric antenna, and polarized sun visors, remain intact. The seats, white leather with black buttoned insets, are in excellent condition, as is the instrument panel. Body contours and panel fit are very good. The paint and brightwork show no flaws. The engine compartment is clean and detailed appropriately to Cadillac’s factory quality.

This car, from the early part of 1958 production, is one of 304 built that year. For 1959, the Eldorado Brougham was retreated to a standard chassis and drivetrain and fitted with an Italian-built body that very much resembled the rest of the Cadillac line. Just 200 were built through 1960. Thus, the car being offered is one of the last “true” Eldorado Broughams, well restored and with the suspension upgraded for reliability.