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The Eldorado Story

In 1952 was it 50 years since the first Cadillac was made.
At that time, 1902, was Cadillac a simple car but soon it turned out to be a car that was leading the development. In 1952 was it truly THE American car. To celebrate the golden anniversary were some unique models made. These were simply show cars, never meant to be for sale or put into production.

These extraordinary cars needed names that could compete with their brilliant styling and technique. The name Eldorado was suggested in a competition held in the company. It had its origin in the Spanish word El Dorado. It means “the golden” and is a Spanish tale about a land made of gold somewhere in South America. That sure was a name that suited the best the engineers and stylist of Cadillac could do. The name was used on the 1952 dream car convertible showed to America in GM’s Motorama show. The audience loved it and Cadillac decided to do a limited edition for sale in 1953.

In fact were three GM dream cars for sale in 1953. Buick Skylark, Cadillac Eldorado and Oldsmobile Fiesta. All of them were convertibles and had extreme design solutions and were the best the automobile industry could accomplish at that time. They were expensive and meant to be. You bought these cars to show that you had made it to the top.
The Oldsmobile Fiesta lasted only one year. The Skylark was available also 1954 before it was dropped. But the Cadillac Eldorado of 1953 was the first in a long line of unique and ultraluxury convertibles made as the best GM could offer. All the way to 1966 was limited edition car deliberately high-priced to give their owners the status they were looking for.

1956 to –60 was the two-door hardtop Seville available and –57 to –60 were there even a four-door ultraluxury car named Brougham (these cars are unique and has not really much in common with the other Eldordos).
But the real Eldorado is still the convertible 1953 to –55 simply known as the Eldorado and from –56 to –66 called the Eldorado Biarritz.

1967 was the name continued by a front-wheel drive personal car. That is a totally different car and not the limited edition convertible that represented the best the American car industry could accomplish.
The 1953-66 Cadillac Eldorado was and still is a legend in Automobile history.

This is meant to be a brief summary of the history of Eldorado.
If you want to read more about Cadillac history, check the Links there you find some really good history sites.