Cadillac Eldorado Brougham
Reviewed by Unique Cars and Parts
Our Rating: 4
Introduction
The Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was seen as the most prestigious Cadillac produced since the V16 in 1940. It started life in 1954 at the Motorama as a Park Avenue, a four door sedan, which looked like, but wasn't, a hardtop.
It was a minor success but in May 1954 the GM design supremo, Harley Earl, began designing the Eldorado, a production version of the Park Avenue. 1955 produced the
prototype Eldorado Brougham.
It was curvy with pillarless doors and knife-edged fins with a 90 degree wraparound on the front screen. Its roof was built from stainless steel and with its narrow white sidewalls and twin headlights it was seen as an industry first.
Its air suspended chassis sat on an X-frame. Its 6.3 litre V8 engine was standard, as was GM's Hydramatic
transmission. It had
power steering,
brakes and windows and loads of electric-operated devices - automatic headlamp dipper, cruise control, radio, aerial, door locks, clock and automatic boot opener.
It also housed polarised sun visors, magnetised drink tumblers, tissue dispenser, special lipstick and cologne, ladies powder puff and compact with matching notebook and comb and an Arpegé atomiser.
Purchasers could select 44 different trim combinations and between karakul and sheepskin carpets. The life of the Brougham was a mere two years as it was sold for a fraction of its building cost.
