1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham
#525
Jim Hailey - Matt Garrett
214-878-3823
You can email me at Cadillacman@mcsmk8.com
1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham #525. 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. It was purchased new by Grace Kelly as a gift for her father. From there it went into one of the largest collections of 57-58 Broughams in the world. It is a recent acquisition by Jim Hailey 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. 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. Instead, cars with high production #s costing 1/8th the price of this car have skyrocketed leaving this car as sort of a straggler in the car hobby. 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 late 50s. Well guess what... The Eldorado Brougham has recently 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. Own the others first so you can actually appreciate these cars.. 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.
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... Not muscle car restoration originality as so many are accustomed to. 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. 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.
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 automatic transmission for 1958. The wheels are actually forged aluminum! Not hub caps as many think. Aluminum was a rare thing to see, especially in wheels in the late 50s. 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. 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. 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. There are more features on an Eldorado Brougham than I can write... 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 kind of trivial compared to what the car really is, the original vanities now carry a price tag as high as many nice automobiles by themselves. Needless to say, but #525 has them all.
As far as #525 is concerned, it is what I would say a 95% original car that is unrestored. Nothing 50 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 a 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. 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. Possibly not as good as a car that has had a 150,000 restoration, but this car is original and that goes a long way vs. one that has had to be re-invented. This car will not need that for the next 50 years.
Much more to come!
Click here for general Eldorado Brougham Information
Click here for an Eldorado Brougham Link
Click images for high resolution photos of each!
The last pictures below are of the Vanity Accessories included with the 58 Brougham. All here and original.
2008 Santa Fe, New Mexico Best Of Show, July 4th Car Show On The Plaza
175 cars competed for the grand prize, '58 Eldorado Brougham beat out a #1 condition Jaguar XK120, a #1 condition Porsche 356 Speedster, and a #1 condition Mercedes 600 Grosser as well as many other notable collector cars.
Jim Hailey pictured with best in class award and best in show.
GM File Photo
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You can email me at Cadillacman@mcsmk8.com