Vehicle Description
'50s Eldorados are kind of a big deal in the collector car world,
with many of them now commanding prices deep into 6-figure
territory. That's why this 1957 Cadillac Eldorado convertible is so
appealing: a clean, stylish ragtop with a long-term owner and great
history, all at a price that's a bit more sensible than most.
There is some evidence that this car was once owned by Sir Elton
John, but that's not really the whole picture here. It's been in
the same collector's hands for more than 20 years and it has never
been fully disassembled and restored, so it has that tight,
all-of-a-piece feeling that only good original cars can offer. The
Dakota Red paint comes from the 1957 Cadillac color chart, but it
isn't this car's original color, which was code 90 Olympic White.
Either way, the Eldo is dramatic and definitely commands attention.
The repaint was done more than 20 years ago, so it's not perfect
(which you've already divined from the price) but if you want to
make an entrance, nothing works better than a drop-top Cadillac
with fins. There's some micro-blistering in the paint that's
probably unavoidable after all these years, plus some signs of use,
but it's also obvious that the sheetmetal underneath is in great
condition and there are no nasty surprises in store. And on a '50s
car, chrome and stainless trim is critical, with all the jewelry on
this Caddy being fully intact and looking great, from the "Dagmars"
on the front bumper to the huge wrap-around housings out back.
The red and white leather interior is in great condition, defying
the years and looking just right in the bright red ragtop. Dramatic
two-tone door panels help with the Eldorado's upscale image, and
from behind the wheel, you'll find that this really is a land
yacht, because everything it does is effortless. The dash and
gauges are in very good condition and even the ornate steering
wheel looks good, showing only a few minor cracks that can be
safely ignored. There's plenty of chrome and stainless here, too,
so everything you see or touch looks and feels expensive, from the
instruments to the beautiful door hardware. All the power windows
work properly, the gauges monitor the engine, and the radio powers
up (but doesn't make sound). There's a crisp white power top
overhead and a gigantic trunk lined in black carpet and including a
full-sized spare tire.
Cadillac introduced the modern OHV V8 in 1949, and by 1957, they'd
punched it out to 365 cubic inches and a surprising 325 horsepower
thanks to dual 4-barrel carburetors. Thanks to those dual quads,
this giant ragtop feels a lot faster than you'd expect and looks
awesome under the "batwing" air cleaner that feeds it. The carbs
were recently rebuilt and the car was given a complete tune-up, so
it runs great and pulls the big car around with ease. Gold engine
paint makes it look as expensive as it was when it was new, and
with accessories like power steering and brakes, plus an automatic
transmission, this is a very user-friendly car. The dual exhaust
system rumbles with the kind of quiet confidence you'd expect from
a car like this and the suspension soaks up most of the road
irregularities without complaint. Scarce and expensive "Sabre"
wheels were Eldorado-only and wear wide whites that make it
shine.
a
Maintained and restored as needed, this is an A-list collectable
that's ready to enjoy and has an interesting story to tell as well.
Or restore to concours level and watch the value blow through the
roof. Call today!