A true mid-century Cadillac icon has surfaced on eBay, and this one is the kind of discovery that tends to get Barn Finds readers leaning in. The car in question is a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, one of just 1,800 built, and according to the seller, it left the factory as a triple Elysian Green example equipped with air conditioning. For anyone familiar with Cadillac’s legendary color palettes and option lists, that combination alone makes this project something special.
The seller is upfront about its condition: this Biarritz is a full restoration project. It’s been parked since at least 2007, when the current owner purchased it with plans to bring it back to life. Those plans never moved forward, and the car has remained untouched, but they note that they believe all parts are present, including the components unique to the Eldorado. That’s no small detail—Eldorado-only pieces can be notoriously difficult and expensive to chase down after the fact.
The listing mentions that the original dual-quad Eldorado intake is included, and the engine block number reportedly matches the tag on the door jamb. Additional rare items such as the Batwing air cleaner, three-piece fiberglass parade boot, and six Sabre wheels are also part of the sale. The car includes factory air conditioning, power steering, power windows, power seats, automatic headlamp switching, and auxiliary heating, according to the seller.
The body is described as “decent, but not perfect,” which is more encouraging than not for a convertible of this era. The car comes with a clean title, and the seller states they have numerous photos of the parts and are available for inspections in Huntington Beach, California.
While it will unquestionably require a significant restoration effort, the foundation appears intact, and the presence of the correct Eldorado-specific components gives this car a major head start. Restored Biarritz models have long been considered blue-chip collectibles, and examples with rare colors and factory A/C are especially sought after.
For someone who wants one of the most glamorous American convertibles of the 1950s—and isn’t scared of a long but rewarding project—this ’57 Eldorado offers a rare opportunity. The seller makes it clear they won’t be the one to complete it, and now it’s looking for the next caretaker to carry the torch.
Would you take on the challenge of restoring a triple-green Eldorado Biarritz, or is this one better suited for a specialist to tackle?
Classic beauty.
the difference of “see’n the dream” and “be’n the dream”.
I always felt the rear end looked like a super sized Corvette with those tacky fins tacked on. IMO a mint 57 Eldorado is an El DO Oh NO. THIS one is FUBAR.
Not your run of the mill barn find. This is definitely a blue chip car. It would almost be fun to do a mechanical restoration and drive it around as a beater. My thoughts are as everyone usually traded after a few years in the 50s and 60s despite getting long in the tooth this car commanded a respect when it was just a used car. Certainly when GM was on top of the world. Funny what 25 years did to the company!
Ok, I gotta ask.In the ebay adin the 22nd picture down there is a piece out of the dash showing the numbers 10 and 11. Is that an early attempt at a digital clock? I can’t figure out what else it could be. Thanks
I think those were called, “drum clocks.”
Thank you. Very interesting for it’s day
big money car done and i would do it in the same colors
Even if you do the work yourself, you are going to need deep pockets. The rear bumpers and license frame are cast aluminum, and so are the saber wheels. Very expensive to chrome. The dash and trim had a heavy grained leather I think they called it elephant hide. Seats had a special leather too. I helped a buddy of mine restore a total basket case about 30 years ago. The floors and trunk were completely gone. He made a rotisserie in his pole barn and pieced it back together. It cost a ton of money 30 years ago for chrome and leather.
Please fix your glitchy site. 😡
Would be interesting to know who the original owner was. Those cars weren’t cheap, and being in the southern California area it might have belonged to someone with an impressive resume or Hollywood connection.
Just curious. Does anyone have an idea of what its worth in its present state?
sitting at 21,400 right
now
I have no clue of what its worth now but I would guess a hundred grand might be an opener, If you want this car you are probably end up close a million dollars to buy and restore?
Remember seeing one of these with two 4 BBL carbs.
The write-up mentions that it comes with the original dual carb intake.
I think is car was on Perry Mason ????
This is one of my all-time favorite cars. Like it better than the ’58’s which added quad headlights. I’ve always fantasized about shaving off the rear fins.
Elvis one of the first buyers of the ’57 Biarritz.
Long before we surrendered pride, engineering and manufacturing.
Very correct, you couldn,t think of spending the money to design and build this. even if GM wanted I don,t think they would be able to find the talent to design and build something like this.
I always wonder how any one with any kind of car since could let a great car like this end up in this condition this did happen over nite it’s been years of abuse very sad
25 years ago I was able to secure one of these, in black, to drive in a music video for a British Band whose name escapes me now. Talk about your chick magnets. It drew a crowd everywhere I stopped. Women seemed to find it irresistible. Performance wise it was pretty typical of 1950s V8 powered sleds. The carburetors made a lovely roar but acceleration wasn’t as impressive. The brakes seemed better than average for the era and the cornering was surprisingly nimble. I put it to the test on Vermont Street between 20th and 22nd Streets, truly the crookedest street in San Francisco, when we hung the camera off the front to get a point of view shot of the 7 tight curves. Evidently the band never amounted to anything. I never saw the any of the footage let alone a finished music video. For all I know they never finished it.
Isn’t Lombard Street the crookedest street in San Francisco?
Lombard has 8 curves in one block. Vermont has 7 between 20th and 22nd streets but Vermont is steeper and narrower and gives a much more crooked impression.