1964 Cadillac Series 62 Eldorado Biarritz

The Cadillac models received styling updates for 1964, with the Series 62 receiving a V-shaped, bi-angular grille and new, fine-blade-designed tailfins. The Eldorado, Series 62 DeVille, and Sixty Special sedans received a Turbo-Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, and the Fleetwood 75 was given revised rear sheet metal with angular taillamps. A larger V8 engine joined the list, with the previous 390 CID enlarged to 429 cubic inches. Horsepower rose from 325 bhp from the 390 CID to 340 bhp at 4,600 RPM for the 429 CID. It had hydraulic valve lifters, a Carter four-barrel carburetor, 10.5:1 compression, and five main bearings.

All 1964 Cadillacs rested on a 129.5-inch wheelbase except for the Series 75 which used a 149.8-inch platform. It measured 243.8 inches in length while the other models measured 223.5 inches. The Series 62 was offered as a coupe and sedan, priced at $5,050 and $5,240 respectively. Combined sales of the Series 62 reached just over 35,000 units. The Series 62 DeVille Series added approximately $400 to the base price, with body styles including a hardtop coupe, sedan, and convertible.

The DeVille series was the most popular Cadillac series of 1964, with combined sales of nearly 110,400 units. The four-window sedan was the most popular, with 39,674 examples sold, followed by 38,195 of the hardtop coupe, and 14,627 of the six-window sedan. The convertible, priced at $5,600, accounted for 17,900 examples sold.

The Series Sixty Special Fleetwood was offered solely as a four-door hardtop sedan and was priced at $6,400 with 14,550 examples sold. The Fleetwood 75 was the most exclusive and expensive Cadillac for 1964, with prices beginning in the high-$9,000. 808 examples of the 9-passenger limousine were built, 617 of the sedan, and 2,527 of the commercial chassis.

The Biarritz
Aside from the Series 75, the Series 62 Eldorado Biarritz Sport Convertible was Cadillac's most exclusive, prestigious, opulent, and expensive model. Priced at $6,630, it was over $1,000 more expensive than Cadillac's DeVille Convertible for which it shared its same chassis and engine. It was distinctively styled and trimmed, setting it apart, with unique identification, the Fleetwood crest on the rear fender, exposed rear wheels, and chrome sill moldings.

Cadillac introduced the Eldorado Special in 1953 at the GM Motorama, along with the Buick Skylark and the Oldsmobile Fiesta. These were limited-production convertibles with a steep price that guaranteed their exclusivity. It Eldorado Special came with nearly every amenity listed on Cadillac's options list, including the largest engine, and unique styling. In 1956, the Eldorado gained a Hardtop Coupe SeVille body style and the convertible became known as the Biarritz. Both continued to wear exclusive styling with dramatic tailfins, delicate 'bumperettes', and a wide selection of luxurious leather trim combinations.

In 1957, the Series 62 received a new tubular X-frame chassis, lost its side rails, gained greater rigidity, lowered the body, and increased the length and wheelbase. They became even longer and wider in 1959, and lower to the ground. The hallmark tailfins reached new heights, their tips 45 inches above ground level. Since 1955, the Eldorado had had its own distinctive fins, but anything larger than the standard 1959 fin would have been unpractical. Instead, a unique trim scheme was adopted, less extravagant and thus more refined than the basic Series 62. A broad molding at the rocker panel left the body sides plain and distinguished, while a jeweled grille motif was adopted at the rear. It remained a very well-equipped car, with just four options available including the optional Autronic-Eye automatic headlight-dimming device and air conditioning.

The 1960 Cadillac was a dramatic forwarding of contemporary motorcar design, ushering in new refinement, dignity, and craftsmanship. While the 1959 models had been extravagant, the 1960 models were refined, with the shrinking of the Harley Earl designed tailfins, reducing the amount of chrome trim, and creating a more sophisticated statement. The full complement of power accessories was retained and is most impressive.

The fourth generation of Series 62 styling was introduced in 1961 and would continue through 1964. The wheelbase measured 129.5 inches, the troublesome air suspension was replaced with rubberized springs, and all models were powered by a 390 cubic-inch V8 with 325 horsepower. Base-model Series 6200 cars featured power steering, power brakes, and automatic transmission as standard, while the DeVille 6300 Sub-Series offered power windows and seats in addition. Now part of the DeVille range, the Eldorado Biarritz Convertible added power vent windows, whitewall tires, and a remote control trunk lock to the mix. Priced at $6,477, the Biarritz Convertible was one of the most expensive cars of its day and sold in commensurately low numbers, only 1,450 being made out of a total Cadillac production of 138,379 units in the 1961 model year.

The 1962 Cadillac Series 62 were very similar to the previous year, with highlights that included still-lower fins, front-fender cornering lights as a new option, a somewhat more refined grille, and backup/turn/stop lights combined behind a single white lens. The four-window sedans were given more orthodox rooflines but still included a pair of short-deck variants, which were now named Series 62 DeVille Park Avenue and Town Sedan. Complaints had been levied against the ever-growing Cadillac of the late 1950s, with owners having trouble fitting in space-constrained New York City parking garages. At roughly a foot shorter in overall length than the standard Cadillac, the Park Avenue was designed to resolve this issue. Safety improved with a new braking system with dual master cylinders and separate front and rear hydraulic lines, a portent of the future. 1962 was the final year for the wraparound windshield, and the Biarritz received more distinctive styling than the 1961 version, thanks to its thin upper bodyside moldings. Production was limited to 1,450 units, exactly the same as the year before, while the division's overall production rose substantially.

The 1963 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Sport Convertible was priced at $6,600, approximately $2,000 more than the previous year and $1,000 more than the 1963 Series 62 Convertible. Despite the increase in price, production rose to 1,825. The price of the 1964 Eldorado Biarritz convertible rose only slightly, to $6,630, and production was nearly the same, adding an additional 45 units for a total of 1,870.

In 1965, the Eldorado became part of the Fleetwood series with its longer and lower slab-sided silhouette accented by vertically stacked headlight and tail-lamp assemblies. The Biarritz nomenclature was dropped, marking the first time since 1956 that the Biarritz name was not used on a Cadillac convertible. The Biarritz nameplate, however, was revised in 1976 as a trim option for the Eldorado coupe.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021