1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible (more pics below 👇)
One of the signature products of the GM corporate restyle that followed executives getting an early look at Chrysler’s dramatic 1957 lineup, the 1959 Cadillac arrived as the most extreme expression of the decade’s design language.
The tall tailfins at the rear carried twin-bullet taillights, while the front ran a broad chrome grille spanning the full width between the hood and bumper, flanked by quad headlights.
A C-shaped chrome spear traced the body from the front fenders along the sills and back again, and the Biarritz wore a jeweled grille treatment at the rear that set it apart from the standard Series 62 convertible.
The Biarritz sat at the top of the Eldorado lineup with a sticker price of $7,401 (roughly double the cost of a well-equipped Chevrolet and well above the Cadillac standard line). Only 1,320 were built, a figure representing a small fraction of Series 62 convertible production that year.
Power comes from a 390ci overhead-valve V8 producing 345 horsepower at 4,800 rpm, backed by a four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Power steering, power brakes, power windows, and a six-way power seat were all standard on the Biarritz.
The 1960 model would arrive with considerably reduced fins, making the 1959 the high-water mark of the form.
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