Introduced in 1956, the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz was the convertible counterpart to the Eldorado Seville two-door hardtop. Extravagant in both style and luxury, the Biarritz’s name recalled a French coastal resort town—never mind that this truly massive, unabashedly American luxury convertible would have been a surprising sight anywhere on the Continent.
By the Eldorado’s fifth generation, introduced for 1961, the flamboyant fins of the 1950s had—under the guidance of GM styling head Bill Mitchell—evolved into sleek Jet Age…
Introduced in 1956, the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz was the convertible counterpart to the Eldorado Seville two-door hardtop. Extravagant in both style and luxury, the Biarritz’s name recalled a French coastal resort town—never mind that this truly massive, unabashedly American luxury convertible would have been a surprising sight anywhere on the Continent.
By the Eldorado’s fifth generation, introduced for 1961, the flamboyant fins of the 1950s had—under the guidance of GM styling head Bill Mitchell—evolved into sleek Jet Age blades. Brightwork still abounded, however, with a full-width chrome grille (incorporating quad headlights) dominating the car’s front end; the grille’s horizontal emphasis carries over to the stylish mid-century dashboard. A 325 horsepower, 390 cubic-inch V-8 mated to a four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission provided ample motivation for this long, low, and wide convertible.