1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham

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1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham!

1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham #525. One of the most significant examples in captivity. For most, this car needs no introduction. For those that do not know, the Eldorado Brougham was an extremely limited production car costing $14,000 in 1957. The top Rolls was 9K, so you see that this was a car only a few could afford making it the most expensive car in the world at the time. The first owners of these cars would be a who's who list of the era with most being owned by someone quite famous or infamous. This car is no different. From the prominent well known Hollywood first owner, it went into one of the largest collections of 57-58 Broughams in the world in the 80s. It was acquired in 2007 for the GM-Classics car collection. A total of 904 Eldorado Broughams were built for the years 1957-1960, but 57-58s are the ones that currently command the top dollar although the latter should be rising stars in the near future (hint to the wise). 57-58 pretty much look exactly the same but have a few small differences. There were a total of (400) 1957 Eldorado Broughams and (304) 1958 Eldorado Broughams.

To me, the Eldorado Brougham represents something truly remarkable, and that is the maturity of the car collection hobby. It has always been said by many, that out of all the GM cars from the 50s, 60s, this car should be the one that collectors should have flocked to first since it was the absolute pinnacle car from the late 50s with a mega high price tag and a super low production and probably the single most complex car ever built up until more recent years. Instead, cars with high production #s costing 1/8th the price of this car skyrocketed leaving this car as sort of a straggler in the car hobby for a while. Cars labeled as "muscle" cars (many with far less muscle than this car) went through the roof and the Eldorado Brougham just sat back idle waiting to see all of that illogical drama played out. 57 Chevy's with uncountable production numbers and near free original price tags were always more desired than these cars for the longest time. It is truly amazing that most of the collectors totally overlooked what was the holy grail of all cars in the 50s. Well guess what... The Eldorado Brougham has become sort of a supernova in the car collection world. It rightfully deserved it in the beginning, but it kind of has waited for its day until all the collectors were experienced enough to recognize and appreciate what this car is comprised of. These are not a car you can restore easy.. It is simply one of the most complex cars ever built. Own the others first so you can actually appreciate these cars. Restore the others first and become and expert... you are going to need that experience to think about restoring one of these. Its an ongoing assignment of your car collection education.. me too! Going in just a few short years from a 40K car to some hitting near 300K, the Eldorado Brougham is now a star piece for any collection. Wish I was smart enough too many years ago, but this car has been in the collection for quite some time now.

The nice thing about the Eldorado Brougham is the fact that the top surviving cars are pretty darn nice and original. The owners of these cars were affluent enough to keep them safe for 50+ years now leaving a few handfuls of really original time pieces that boast true originality... If you owned one of these, you probably had a mansion and a facility to store the car... vs the trailer and a dirt road many muscle cars had. Now when these cars survived like this one... this is not muscle car restoration originality as so many are accustomed to for what that's worth. Its the real deal, no cover-ups, no band aids under the forensics. Another interesting fact of how substantial these cars were is it actually cost Cadillac an estimated $25,000.00 to produce these cars they sold for a whopping 14,000.00, of which was still the most expensive car in the world throughout the 50s. Imagine that. Losing 11K per car... That is like giving every buyer of an Eldorado Brougham (5 1/2) 57 chevy's on top of the car. Sounds like the few buyers of these cars actually got more than their money's worth. Seems like the mega rich got the good deals even back in 1957. I personally would never want to restore one of these.. Its just too complex. Buying a really good one is the only way to go.

Powered by a 365 CID Cadillac OHV motor, these cars carried some high power ratings for the day. The car has a tri carb system (58) and dual quads (57), 10:1 compression and generates 335HP and 405Ft Lbs of torque coupled to a 4 speed hydramatic automatic transmission for 1958. The wheels are actually forged aluminum! Not hub caps as many think like the 59/60. Aluminum was a rare thing to see, especially in wheels in the late 50s, and was HARD to cast. The obvious and famous Stainless Steel roof was put on the 57-58 Eldorado. This is a one piece Stainless roof. Very expensive to do. I dont know how they did it actually. The Eldorado Brougham was also one of the first cars to have an all transistor radio. High Tech at the time. The car rode on Air. A total 4 corner complex self leveling air ride system. This one is all on air... original.... and works as new. Not a spring in band aid car.. Be careful of an Eldorado Brougham on springs.. these cars were not built for that and takes intrusive modifications that cannot be undone like a 59-60 Eldo can. It is one complex system to understand even when you have one sitting in front of you working perfect. This is an electronic air suspension, not a belt drive pump. And to run that took the biggest generator ever put on a car in the day. This one is totally original. Another interesting feature is the automatic starter system. Many of us have just recently seen these on late model cars like high end Benz, Cadillac, etc but in 1957 the Eldorado Brougham boasted this too. How about power memory seats! Got it. That is one complicated system in 1957-58. How about the trunk... We all have pressed a button on a Cadillac and the trunk opens. How about pressing another button and having it gracefully close. Well its got that too. Look below, I have a video of its operation . There are more features on an Eldorado Brougham than I can write... From auto turn off interior lamps, to auto locking doors and more.... Its got it all. There were no options on an Eldorado Brougham... They all came with everything. There are a few links on this page that will allow you too see a typed list of options on the Eldorado Brougham.

Another little fact is the Eldorado Brougham came equipped with a plethora of "vanities"; Comb and Mirror, Lipstick Holder, Compact and Powder Puff, Coin Holder, Compartment for loose Cigarettes, Stand-up Type Mirror - Retractable, Six Drinking Cups in Plastic Container, Cigarette Package Holder, Tissue Dispenser, Bottle with Plunger Type Atomizer Containing Perfume, Mirror Assembly, Memo Book and Pencil. Although these things are really trivial compared to what the car really is, and in my opinion way overemphasized, the original vanities now carry a price tag as high as many nice automobiles by themselves. Give me the car and put the vanities in a box, but needless to say, #525 has them all, and these are the ones that came with the car new... not put together after the fact. Exceptional in every way and noted below.

As far as #525 is concerned, it is what I would say a 95% original car that is unrestored. Nothing 60 years old can be 100% with any integrity. However, the interior is 100% original. That is pretty much a virtual impossibility for most, but it is. That is a clear indication of the car's condition and the life that it has led. Due to that, the interior does have very light patina to it, but its really impressive none the less. The paint was redone some years ago and is as quality of paint job as one could have done to a car so rare. Screaming #1 paint. Many of the features of the car have required maintenance over the years like the Air Ride, etc but mechanically the car is 100% original other than the maintenance required to keep the car as you see it. Yes again, this is a full functioning original air system, not a cut up spring car. It has always been just that, original and working. And that goes for the AC system too. It blows as cold as it did in 1958. As a whole, this is going to be one of the most original Eldorado Broughams you will ever see and the most original I have seen looking at all the rest for sale or not for sale. . The other thing that is impressive beyond belief on this car is the undercarriage. Like new, all the chalk marks and stencils still there like they were 1-2 years old. This car also drives as new. I t is an anomaly in itself and a testament to its privileged and proper life. The hyramatic transmission is perfect, it works in all its 4 gears very well, the 365 CID Cadillac 6 BBL Tri Carb motor is powerful, idles smooth, and on demand, opens all 3 carbs up to set you back in the seat like it was a 409 Chevrolet or a later 60s muscle car. This is not a dummied up 6 BBL like some people do that cannot manage they carbs. Its strong. Being that its a hydromantic with a 330HP/400 Torque motor in front of it, I would say it even moves out better than most of those too. Its the old adage, no one thinks a cadillac is fact until you find that rare owner who will run your hot rod down and remind you why cadillac is cadillac. Under hood... It's a show piece too. The finest under hood Eldorado Brougham in the world is my claim to this car.. Period..... The air cleaner and valve covers and a few other items are chromed not to mention the detail level is #1 show car. Under hood is just like the GM Motorama car of the era. Nothing under this hood has been doctored up, nothing painted over... What paint you see on the engine is as the car was made... Some parts chrome of course, but motor has never been out. As you see it dates to the 60s. Was it a motorama car?? No, but I can assure you its more original than those restored ones!

Above cloudy sunset photo, below full day. Hard to see how nice the body and paint is for being some 30 years old. Its incredible.

This is an original interior. Seats have been comprehensively re-died in the 80s and Mutton carpet is OEM new then too. Nothing else touched.

No frame painting, no under body coating. Exhaust later of course, but what you see is day one as the car has survived.

Tires are Diamond Back, correct size, correct stripe. The Eldorado Brougham was the first cars that had "low profile" tires. Another fact often no known on these.

Yes, this has Mutton carpet. And it is pronounced Mutton... Not Moo- tahn... Not sure where than came from.. care do do some mutton bustin? Yee-haa.

Exhaust has been bypassed from bumper in order to save it years ago. It uses OEM era dual Eldorado resonators

Original Tire from 50s.. And it happens to be a Vogue???? Tire dilemma. This is unobtainium... so it stays as spare.

Full correct exhaust system, front section noted original in other photos, rear section bypasses bumper exits to save car.

Every piece of chrome on this car, in, out, under hood is absolutely phenomenal.

The pictures below are of the Vanity Accessories included with the 58 Brougham. All here and original.