1957 Cadillac Series 70 Eldorado Brougham Hardtop Sedan

This 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida where it was estimated to sell between $140,000 - $180,000. The car is powered by a 365 cubic-inch overhead valve eight-cylinder engine with three two-barrel carburetors capable of producing 325 horsepower. There is a four-speed Hydramatic gearbox and servo-assisted four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

There were a total of 905 Eldorado Broughams constructed between 1957 through 1960. The design was inspired by the Eldorado Brougham of 1955 and constructed as an ultra-luxury automobile. When new, the vehicle would set the buyer back $13,000 which was a rather sizable price tag at the time.

There were four doors and a pillar-less stainless steel hard top. The list of standard equipment included air conditioning, E-Z Eye tinted windshield, an automatic headlight dimmer, and multiple power accessories. One of the big features that improved the vehicle's ride was the air ride suspension. This kept the car level regardless of the road conditions or the load being carried in the vehicle. The system was not without its growing pains; it was expensive to produce and maintain. It was discontinued after the 1960 model year.

This example is finished in white with a black, white, and gray interior. The odometer reads just 30,000 miles since new. It was awarded its Junior and Senior Award status by the AACA. The air ride suspension has been removed and replaced with a conventional and period-correct suspension system.

At the auction, bidding reached $125,000 but failed to satisfy the reserve. The car was left unsold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2007