1956 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

This 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible is a gorgeous, luxurious, and correctly restored 50s cruiser that is ready to be your next luxury cruiser! In the middle of 1953, Cadillac introduced the Eldorado Convertible as its addition to General Motors' Motorama convertible display that also included the Buick Skylark and Oldsmobile Fiesta. Interestingly, and contrary to common practice with regards to most show cars, the Eldorado was actually placed into production on the heels of the Motorama display and was available for purchase in 1953. Initially produced in very limited quantities, the first Eldorados were touted as being the absolute best and most luxurious Cadillac had to offer. Over the next few years, the Eldorado cemented itself atop Cadillac's model hierarchy and was considered by many as the ultimate status symbol among high society. The 1956 model year was an incredible, record-setting year for Cadillac with the GM marque selling over 150,000 units for the first time in its storied history. The reasons behind Cadillac's massive year of sales in '56 is twofold. First of all, Cadillac was the undisputed leader in its high-end luxury market with its primary competitors at the time, Packard, Imperial, and Lincoln, all struggling. Both Lincoln and Imperial just weren't garnering the same attention as Cadillac, and Packard was in dire financial straits and on its last legs as a company. Second, Cadillac's product offerings were bounds and leaps above the competition from the impeccable styling to the technological advancements often included by Cadillac as standard equipment. Although the 1956 Cadillacs were, for the most part, left unchanged from a design perspective from the previous year, the modest design improvements that were updated in '56 allowed the 1956 Cadillac to remain unmistakably iconic. 1956 was also notable for its top-of-the-line Eldorado product line as its was the first time since the Eldorado's introduction that Cadillac offered the Eldorado in both closed and open car configurations, known as the Eldorado Seville and Eldorado Biarritz respectively. Described by Cadillac as having an even more impressive [look of] strength, dignity and grace, the refined front ends of the 1956 Cadillacs are exactly that. With flatter hoods and front fenders, along with an impressive amount of chrome and a new-look grille design featured an updated fine crosshatched texture along with a new, unmistakable Cadillac script insignia, the nose of the 1956 Cadillac is one of the most beautiful American-made cars of all time. Further elevating the already incredibly elegant design of the 1956 Cadillac, the 1956 Eldorado models received special pointed rear fender fins that were larger than Cadillac's more entry-level models, that along with special Eldorado twin hood ornaments, differentiated Eldorado above all other Cadillacs. The Eldorado's interior was also even more plush and more fully featured than the lower level Cadillacs, but perhaps the biggest upgrade was found under the hood with the more potent dual quad 305 horsepower engine that was standard Eldorado equipment and only available as an upgrade in Cadillac's Series 75 limousine line. In total, a mere 2,150 Eldorado Biarritz Convertibles were produced in 1956, which makes this particular example quite a rare car. Powering this 1956 Eldorado Convertible is a Numbers Matching 365 cubic inch V8 topped by dual 4 barrel carburetors that are mounted underneath the iconic Batwing air cleaner assembly; together they were said to have generated a whopping 305 horsepower when new. The dual quad 365 V8 is mated to a Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission that makes this '56 Cadillac an easy convertible for anybody to drive. Exhaust exits the 305hp Cadillac power plant via a dual exhaust setup that generates a terrific throaty sound and makes for the perfect soundtrack during summer cruising. Being that this convertible is a Cadillac, it unsurprisingl