1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

390ci OHV V-8 Engine
Single 4-Barrel Carburetor
345bhp at 4,800rpm
4-Speed Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission
Independent Front Suspension, Live Rear Axle
4-wheel drum 'Power Brakes'

*One of the most prestigious models in the American automotive History
*Older restoration
*Highly sought-after model
*Desirable bucket seats

THE 59' ELDORADO BIARRITZ

The unchallenged icon of its era, the 1959 Cadillac is testament to the mantra of the 1950s: more is better, too much is not enough. The story of the revamped General Motors lineup is well known. A sneak peak at Chrysler's radical 1957 line convinced GM bosses that their planned '59 cars would be left in the dust, so a crash program was instituted for a corporate-wide revamp. All five car lines got new bodies, Cadillac's, with fins more than four feet tall, being the most dramatic.

Under the skin, however, changes were much more modest. Cadillac's overhead valve V8, very much the industry trendsetter at its 1949 introduction, had matured very well. A displacement increase to 390 cubic inches and 10.5 to 1 compression resulted in 325 bhp. With three carburetors, the Eldorado engine made 20 more and could be had in other models as an option. As befit a luxury car, Hydra-Matic transmission, power steering and power brakes were standard; for convertibles power windows and two-way power seat were included as well. Air suspension, the great hope of 1958, was on the wane and few cars were so equipped.

By the time 1959 was over, however, that unbridled optimism was waning, so for 1960 Cadillac's tall tailfins were trimmed to vestigial little blades. Model year sales for 1959 and 1960 held steady around 142,000, a big increase from the recession year of 1958, but nothing like the levels that the late sixties would bring. But like the 1957 Chevy, whose greater fame came once it entered the collector realm, the 1959 Cadillac is today the much-preferred model.

Within the 1959 Cadillac population, convertibles are the most sought after of course and the Biarritz is at the top of that tree.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Nicely garaged under a cover in the recent years, the car shows nicely while revealing slight fading signs of its past restoration. Mr. Williams' tastes were essentially directed towards 1957 and 1959 iconic American cars; among those, this one was evidently the one he was the proudest of. As Eugene said himself 'This is the best '59 I have ever owned' - and from what his family says, he had a lot.

Painted in Ebony Black with Ivory Top, the interior is made of White Cardiff and Florentine Grain Leather with Med Gray carpet. The car features an E-Z Eye Glass, heater, air conditioner and highly desirable bucket seats, on top of the factory accessories. While the car has visibly been restored in the past, few original stickers remain such as the Jack Instructions on the trunk boot or the Cadillac Certification Card in the engine bay.

Often considered as the Pinnacle of American motoring, the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz has always been highly sought-after by Collectors and American car aficionados. While it is believed the number of extant examples is growing fewer, Bonhams is delighted and honored to offer one of those that has not seen the public market for a few years now. To be kept in the current condition or restored to higher standards, the car will surely please its new possessor. Recommissioning is recommended for further road use.