Exterior Color: Red
Interior Color: Red/white
Transmission: Auto
Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale January 16th – 20th, 2013 at Russo and Steele's 13th Annual Scottsdale Arizona Auction. Please contact us for more information. Presented is a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado convertible that is powered by 210bhp, 331 cu. in. overhead-valve V8 engine with a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, independent coil spring front suspension, live rear axle, and four-wheel power-assisted drum brakes. Cadillac was rapidly replacing Packard as a leader in the fine car segment, becoming the preferred choice of a new generation of affluent consumers and style-minded auto enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the stylistic influences of Harley Earl and his Art & Colour Department contributed to an already formidable reputation enjoyed by Cadillac industry-wide. Earl’s tailfins and extravagant chrome trim simultaneously evoked a feeling of spaceflight and automotive progress. 1953 was especially significant for Cadillac, as it marked the introduction of the Eldorado, an elegant, trendsetting convertible inspired by the futuristic automobiles on display at the GM Motorama. The limited-production Eldorado body shared little with the standard 1953 Cadillac convertible coupe. In fact, the front and rear fenders, trunk lid and floor pan are the only common elements, while the hood, cowl, doors, and body shell were fabricated by the craftsmen at Fisher/Fleetwood. The long and low appearance of the Eldorado is no mere illusion. It actually rode one inch lower and stood three inches shorter than the standard convertible. Fitted with a unique wraparound windshield, a custom interior and daring beltline dip, the new Eldorado carried a staggering price tag of $7,750, the highest in Cadillac’s history and five times that of a contemporary Chevrolet. By comparison, a standard Series 62 Convertible Couple could be had for about $4,144. However, the extensive hand labor and limited production volume meant that Cadillac very likely lost money on every Eldorado produced during that first model year. Economics aside, Cadillac management recognized the Eldorado as a “halo car” that increased the prestige of the entire model range, and gained valuable publicity for the division. A 1953 sales brochure issued by Cadillac declared the Eldorado as having been “dramatically styled by Fleetwood to capture the heart of all America.” This was no overstatement. The Eldorado, while exclusive in its distribution, was representative of a nation with a thriving economy and forward-thinking automotive tastes. The 1953 Eldorado was immediately immortalized as the car that carried President Dwight D. Eisenhower during his inauguration parade, leading a motorcade of new 1953 Cadillacs of various body styles. For the 532 fortunate buyers of the original Eldorado, the staggering purchase price brought with it virtually every imaginable option and extra in Cadillac’s luxury arsenal and the exclusivity of owning a car that comprised less than one-half percent of Cadillac’s total production numbers for 1953. The Eldorado was powered by Cadillac’s 331 cubic inch overhead-valve V8 engine, and was offered only one way – fully loaded. In fact, the electrical system was upgraded to twelve volts in order to supply power for the multitude of accessories that included power steering, power windows, power seat, heater, signal-seeking pre-selector radio, windshield washer, and power top. In today’s collector car market, the Eldorado’s exclusivity is only enhanced by its relationship with the 1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta and Buick Skylark, of which the Eldorado was by far the most expensive. Together, ownership of all three cars constitutes a collector’s “Grand Slam” and a rare achievement of considerable historical significance. Handsomely finished, and highlighting a beautiful restoration, this Eldorado is an outstanding example of a certified Milestone Car and one of Cadillac’s most desirable classic automobiles.
Interior Color: Red/white
Transmission: Auto
Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale January 16th – 20th, 2013 at Russo and Steele's 13th Annual Scottsdale Arizona Auction. Please contact us for more information. Presented is a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado convertible that is powered by 210bhp, 331 cu. in. overhead-valve V8 engine with a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, independent coil spring front suspension, live rear axle, and four-wheel power-assisted drum brakes. Cadillac was rapidly replacing Packard as a leader in the fine car segment, becoming the preferred choice of a new generation of affluent consumers and style-minded auto enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the stylistic influences of Harley Earl and his Art & Colour Department contributed to an already formidable reputation enjoyed by Cadillac industry-wide. Earl’s tailfins and extravagant chrome trim simultaneously evoked a feeling of spaceflight and automotive progress. 1953 was especially significant for Cadillac, as it marked the introduction of the Eldorado, an elegant, trendsetting convertible inspired by the futuristic automobiles on display at the GM Motorama. The limited-production Eldorado body shared little with the standard 1953 Cadillac convertible coupe. In fact, the front and rear fenders, trunk lid and floor pan are the only common elements, while the hood, cowl, doors, and body shell were fabricated by the craftsmen at Fisher/Fleetwood. The long and low appearance of the Eldorado is no mere illusion. It actually rode one inch lower and stood three inches shorter than the standard convertible. Fitted with a unique wraparound windshield, a custom interior and daring beltline dip, the new Eldorado carried a staggering price tag of $7,750, the highest in Cadillac’s history and five times that of a contemporary Chevrolet. By comparison, a standard Series 62 Convertible Couple could be had for about $4,144. However, the extensive hand labor and limited production volume meant that Cadillac very likely lost money on every Eldorado produced during that first model year. Economics aside, Cadillac management recognized the Eldorado as a “halo car” that increased the prestige of the entire model range, and gained valuable publicity for the division. A 1953 sales brochure issued by Cadillac declared the Eldorado as having been “dramatically styled by Fleetwood to capture the heart of all America.” This was no overstatement. The Eldorado, while exclusive in its distribution, was representative of a nation with a thriving economy and forward-thinking automotive tastes. The 1953 Eldorado was immediately immortalized as the car that carried President Dwight D. Eisenhower during his inauguration parade, leading a motorcade of new 1953 Cadillacs of various body styles. For the 532 fortunate buyers of the original Eldorado, the staggering purchase price brought with it virtually every imaginable option and extra in Cadillac’s luxury arsenal and the exclusivity of owning a car that comprised less than one-half percent of Cadillac’s total production numbers for 1953. The Eldorado was powered by Cadillac’s 331 cubic inch overhead-valve V8 engine, and was offered only one way – fully loaded. In fact, the electrical system was upgraded to twelve volts in order to supply power for the multitude of accessories that included power steering, power windows, power seat, heater, signal-seeking pre-selector radio, windshield washer, and power top. In today’s collector car market, the Eldorado’s exclusivity is only enhanced by its relationship with the 1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta and Buick Skylark, of which the Eldorado was by far the most expensive. Together, ownership of all three cars constitutes a collector’s “Grand Slam” and a rare achievement of considerable historical significance. Handsomely finished, and highlighting a beautiful restoration, this Eldorado is an outstanding example of a certified Milestone Car and one of Cadillac’s most desirable classic automobiles.