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Rare and Spotless: 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

By the late 1950s, Cadillac was possibly getting close to the peak of its powers. Many people aspired to own a Caddy, and their extrovert styling meant having one parked in your driveway told the world that you were a success and weren’t afraid for them to know. If you craved luxury combined with a wind-in-the-hair motoring experience in 1958, you could have been one of the 815 buyers to opt for the Eldorado Biarritz. The previous owner of this Biarritz treated it to a high-quality refurbishment around eight years ago, and it still presents superbly. It appears to need little beyond a new home, so the owner has listed it for sale here on eBay. The Caddy is located in Houston, Texas, and the bidding has sailed past the reserve to sit at $55,655.

I have referred to the previous owner’s work on this Biarritz as a refurbishment rather than a restoration for several reasons. A restoration signifies a faithful return of a vehicle or item to its original specifications or appearance. Refurbishment is more accurate if that item has received changes or upgrades. The seller indicates that the car rolled off the line, resplendent in Argyl Blue. The car underwent a color change to its current Desert Bronze as part of the refurbishment eight years ago. Its exterior presentation is difficult to fault. The paint shines beautifully, and the color is consistent across the vehicle. The panels are laser straight, although the seller indicates a misalignment on the driver’s door latch. This seems a minor fault, and I can’t understand why they wouldn’t rectify it before placing the car on the market. There is no evidence of rust in the supplied photos, and the seller doesn’t mention problems in the listing. The white Vicodec soft-top looks flawless and hides below a hard-shell parade boot when not in use. The Eldorado is an extrovert, with bold styling, huge fins, and acres of chrome trim. The chrome, trim, and tinted glass appear spotless, while the wheels are wrapped in whitewall tires.

The interior trim is the second aspect of the previous owner’s build that causes me to refer to it as a refurbishment rather than a restoration. The original owner ordered the car with its interior trimmed in Silver, but it now sports stunning Vermillion Buffalo leather. As with the exterior, there is little to fault inside this classic. The upholstered surfaces show no wear or physical damage, which is also true for the matching carpet. There are no cracks on the wheel, the dash is spotless, and the lashings of bright trim sparkle richly. The original owner also elected to equip this classic with some desirable optional equipment. It features air conditioning, power windows, a power front seat, factory AM radio, and the ultra-cool Autronic eye.

Biarritz buyers in 1958 received a single drivetrain configuration, but that doesn’t mean they felt shortchanged by the company. Lifting the hood reveals the 365ci Tri-Power V8 that produces 335hp. Those ponies feed to the rear wheels via a four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission. At 5,070lbs, the Biarritz is a heavy beast. That makes its ability to romp through the ¼ mile in 17.8 seconds before winding its way to 124mph look pretty impressive. The seller doesn’t indicate whether the Caddy is numbers-matching, nor how well it runs or drives. They claim a genuine odometer reading of 93,500 miles, and while it appears they hold no verifying evidence, the claim seems plausible. The engine bay presents superbly, and if that theme continues to the drivetrain’s health, this should be a turnkey classic.

Some classic cars are subtle and restrained, while others have a genuine sense of presence. This 1958 Eldorado Biarritz falls into the latter category and is guaranteed to turn heads. Its presentation is difficult to fault, and it is ready to provide enjoyment for a new owner. Few experiences are more pleasurable than climbing aboard a classic convertible on a sunny day for a spot of relaxed touring. Doing so in a vehicle offering genuine luxury heightens that experience. That is what this Biarritz offers, making it no surprise that it has attracted twenty-two bids. With the reserve met, a new home beckons this classic, but could it be yours?

Comments

  1. Avatar alphasud Member

    What a beautiful car. Absolute best of the best in 58. Automakers around the world used Cadillac as their benchmark.

    Like 9
  2. bobhess bobhess Member

    Had a blue with white top dropped off at the shop by a local judge wanting a paint job and interior clean. At 18 plus feet long and 5,000 lbs it took up a lot of space in a shop normally full of sports cars. I’m 5’6″ and can lay front to back in the trunk without bending my knees. Huge and good looking!

    Like 12
    • Avatar Gregory_ashton

      That’s what the tru ks were for! Stowin’ and hauling bodies!🙂

      Like 8
  3. Avatar leiniedude Member

    Just a guess, Vermillion Buffalo leather is a step above soft Corinthian leather ?

    Like 9
  4. Avatar Larry

    I used to have one of these cars. It was black with a white top and black and white interior. It was in excellent condition

    Like 4
  5. Avatar RoughDiamond

    I’m still scratching my head why anyone would photograph such an elegant automobile in such a horrible setting.

    Like 17
    • Avatar normadesmond

      Just what I thought.

      Like 2
    • Avatar Joe

      I believe a body may have been dumped before the photo shoot.

      Like 5
  6. Avatar normadesmond

    And the listing has vanished.

    Like 5
    • Avatar JW454

      Yeah…. something kinda smells like dead fish with this one. It seems to me this car should be in the neighborhood of 100K or better.

      Like 7
  7. Avatar MC 1960
  8. Avatar Bob Mck

    Something is very wrong here. This car has a value in excess of 100K. The reserve was under 55K. I bet this is a scam. I hope the buyer didn’t provide a big deposit. Since the ad vanished, so did the money. SAD!

    Like 3
  9. Avatar Bob Novello

    Was this the guy that listed the super bee, and the 64 grand prix? All of these listing should have been more money! Just sayin!

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Emel

    I think the last time i saw one of these beauties was up at the Apalachin meeting at Joe the Barber’s house.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar Lowell B Peterson

    $200k for a restored one? Or more. Is that forest in Houston? Selling for a ….friend?

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Alexander

    BIG red flag:

    Search the eBay “Completed Listings,” and what appears to be the same car “sold” in Houston in March for $35,000……………….

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/284735235596

    Like 1

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