In the 1950s, the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham represented the absolute pinnacle of American luxury. It was designed to offer the very best that Cadillac had to offer at the time. Its price was $13,974, roughly double the price of the Eldorado Biarritz model.
The Eldorado Brougham featured a number of elements that were extremely unusual in cars of that era. It had power windows and seats, air conditioning, a memory seat, automatic door locking, and even power-operated doors and trunk.
Other notable features included a roof made of brushed stainless steel, a four-door design without B-pillars, and rear doors that opened against the direction of travel. Cadillac also equipped the interior with a luxury kit featuring cosmetic accessories, glasses, a mirror, and even perfume.
At first glance, it catches the eye:
- with the massive body typical of American cars of the 1950s
- a four-door body without B-pillars
- a roof made of polished stainless steel
- with distinctive rear wings
- a host of chrome accents
- a luxurious interior with plenty of period furnishings
The Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was also extremely rare. It was produced for only two years, and just 704 units were built. Cadillac reportedly lost approximately $10,000 on every car it produced, which helped seal the decision to discontinue production.
It is precisely the combination of extreme luxury, extravagant design, and very low production numbers that makes the Eldorado Brougham one of the most iconic American classics of the 1950s.
