1957 Cadillac Series 62

Cadillac continued to set the standard for luxury and style with the limited-edition 1953 Eldorado first seen at that year's GM Motorama held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Their image and reputation were given a boost in January of 1953 when it had a starring role in President Dwight D. Eisenhower's first inaugural parade which was seen by millions on national broadcasts. The Eldorado embodied the main Cadillac styling elements introduced by Harley Earl in the first wave of postwar Cadillacs in 1948. It had egg-crate grilles, notched beltlines, and tail fins. In the front was a wraparound windshield which Earl had first employed on the experimental Buick Le Sabre and XP-300.

Cadillac built the Eldorado convertibles in limited numbers in 1954 and 1955, adding the Seville hardtop of the lineup in 1956. By 1957, the Eldorado had evolved into one of the most rakish-looking automobiles on the road. The ninth-best-selling marque in America for 1957 was the redesigned Cadillacs. Cadillac's Eldorado Brougham was priced at $13,074 making it the most expensive car built in America by a margin of several thousand dollars.

Styling
The 1957 Eldorados became even more distinctive compared to the Series 62 or DeVille series, especially with rear-end styling. All 1957 Cadillacs enjoyed new front bumper and grille styling with the Biarritz and its Seville hardtop companion, both featuring anodized gold egg-crate grilles, deep chrome-laden brows over the headlights with a pair of chromed wind-splits atop the fenders.

The dramatic and attractive styling bestowed upon the 1957 Cadillacs replaced the squared-off rear quarters with small fins, sloping trunk lids, and lavish use of chrome trim. The Series 62 models wore vertical bright metal moldings positioned just ahead of the rear wheel openings, accented by seven horizontal windsplits. The crest medallion was placed on the forward-angled rear fins, and on the front of the hood, above the V-shaped accent piece. Creases ran along the center of the body, from the rear taillights extending forward, ending before reaching the door on coupes (and mid-way through the rear door on four-door body styles). From the front, a similar but smaller crease extended from the front headlight to the middle of the front door. A small trim piece traversed the lower bodyside front to rear, including up and over the fender wells.

The Sedan and Coupe DeVilles were identified by nameplates on the front fenders.

The interiors were comfortable and plush, with leather and fabric-trimmed seating and thick carpets underfoot. The generous interiors received nearly every conceivable comfort and convenience feature with power-assisted everything.

Eldorado Special
The Eldorado Specials added even more amenities, styling features, and exclusivity - at a price. They could be identified by their model name listed above a V-shaped tear deck ornament and on the front fenders. The rear deck and fender contour were rounded, the wheel housing was trimmed with stainless steel panels, and they had a unique three-section front bumper that swept around the sides of the lower panels. The 'stabilizer' fins further distinguished the Eldorado, flaring rearward in dramatic fashion. Directly below the fins were the round tail lights, and set side-by-side in the bumpers was the exhaust outlet on the outside and a back-up light to the inside. Tapered lines blended into the smoothed and rounded quarter panels and rear deck.

Seville hardtops had a silhouette that was three inches lower than the previous year while preserving the same amount of passenger space with similar styling applied to the convertible Biarritz.

Mechanical Specification
The 1957 Series 62 was given a tubular X-frame which added greater structural rigidity and lowered lower body lines without sacrificing interior volume. There were dual rear lights and tail fins which were larger than before. General Motors' chief stylist Harley Earl had introduced tail fins on the 1948 Cadillacs, and the device would reach its zenith in 1959 before fading away.

The Series 62 had a 129.5-inch wheelbase, the sedans had a length of 215.9 inches, and the coupes and convertibles had a 220.9-inch length. The standard engine, except for the Eldorado, was a 365 cubic-inch, OHV V8 with 300 horsepower at 4,800 RPM and 400 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 RPM. It had five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, dual exhaust, a four-barrel carburetor (either a Rochester or Carter unit), and 10.0:1 compression. The 365 cubic-inch overhead valve V8 engine with 325 horsepower was standard on the Eldorado Brougham and optional on the Eldorado Seville and the Biarritz. It had a cast iron block, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and a compression ratio of 10.0:1. The bore measured 4 inches, and the stroke at 3.6 inches.

The transmission was a four-speed GM Hyra-Matic automatic, and stopping power was courtesy of power-assisted drum brakes. 1957 was the first year factory air conditioning could be ordered on a Cadillac convertible.

Series 62 Bodystyle, Pricing, and Production
The 1957 Cadillac Series 62 included a wide range of 2- and 4-door sedans and convertibles. Those seeking more could purchase the Series 62 Eldorado Specials which included a Hardtop Coupe SeVille, a 4-door Sedan DeVille, and the Biarritz Convertible. The Sedan DeVille was larger than the standard models and the Eldorado Coupe Seville and Biarritz convertible were even larger.

The hardtop sedan was priced at $4,715 and a total of 32,342 examples were built (plus an additional 384 were 'Export Sedans'). The two-door hardtop coupe was priced at $4,600 and 25,120 were built. The Coupe DeVille was also a two-door body style with a base price of $5,050 (23,813 built) and the four-door DeVille hardtop listed at $5,190 (23,808 built). The convertible coupe was the most expensive at $5,225, and 9,000 were built.

Eldorado Special Bodystyles, Pricing, and Production
Both the hardtop coupe Seville and Biarritz Convertible had a base price of nearly $7,300. Production figures were similar, with the hardtop coupe Seville finding 2,100 willing (capable) buyers and the Biarritz Convertible having 1,800 sales. Four examples were built as four-door Sedan SeVilles.

Comparatively, the Biarritz convertible listed for about $2,000 more than a Series 62 convertible. The 'S' in the Eldorado Biarritz Model 6267SX code indicated special styling, while the 'X' was GM code for a body style equipped with power windows.

The list of standard Eldorado equipment included a power six-way front seat, a left-hand remote outside mirror, a radio, and power steering, brakes, and windows. Air conditioning, E-Z Eye tinted glass, and an automatic headlamp dimmer were among the few extra-cost options.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2019