The 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz was Cadillac’s top-line convertible: a 225-inch-long luxury car with a 390-cubic-inch V8, 345 horsepower and a striking jet-age design. It cost $7,401 new. Cadillac describes its high price as a reason sales were low, but the available manufacturer and museum records cited here do not establish an exact production total.
What was the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz?
The Biarritz was the convertible in Cadillac’s 1959 Eldorado range, paired with the Eldorado Seville hardtop. Cadillac literature catalogs the Biarritz as a convertible and the Seville as a coupe. The distinction is primarily body style: the Biarritz offered open-air driving, while the Seville had a fixed roof.
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General Motors’ heritage history calls the Biarritz a quintessential “big fin” convertible, with chrome and leather among its defining luxury details. The Henry Ford identifies its museum example as designed by Charles M. Jordan and built by Cadillac in Detroit.
What engine did the 1959 Eldorado Biarritz have?
The Henry Ford’s formal collection record lists a 390-cubic-inch overhead-valve V8 producing 345 horsepower at 4,800 rpm, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. The same record gives the car’s weight as 5,060 pounds.
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- 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible - 22414C/4D Model Vehicle
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How long is a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible?
General Motors’ 1959 general-specifications sheet lists the Biarritz and Seville at a 130-inch wheelbase, 225 inches overall length and 80.3 inches overall width. It specifies 8.20 x 15 tires and notes a 54.4-inch height for the Biarritz.
The Henry Ford’s catalog gives a width of 81 inches and presents the height as 54.4 inches in one field and 54.5 inches in another. For factory dimensions, GM’s specification sheet is the clearer source; museum catalog measurements are not identical.
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- Scale: 1/18 — a large, display-friendly size with detailed realism Construction: Die-cast metal body with plastic and rubber details for an authentic look Exterior & Interior Detailing: Chrome-style bumpers, side trim, front grille, lights, and detailed dashboard/interior Functionality: Rolling wheels, realistic convertible top, and detailed seats Collector-Ready: Ideal for display on shelves, desks, or in automotive collections Recommended Age: 14+ due to small parts and delicate details
How much did a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz cost?
The original price was $7,401, according to both GM Heritage and The Henry Ford’s collection record. GM says the high price contributed to low sales. That is a period price, not a present-day valuation.
Why is the 1959 Biarritz design so distinctive?
Its tall, swept-back tailfins and elaborate chrome make the car an especially recognizable expression of late-1950s American luxury. The Henry Ford connects the styling directly to aviation: Cadillac designers drew on jet aircraft for the fins and front parking lights, which the museum says resemble B-52 bomber air intakes.
Rank #3
- Recommended for Collectors Age 14+, For display only, not for play
- 1/64 Diecast replica by Greenlight Collectibles
- Diecast Metal Replica with Rubber Tires & some plastic components
- Part of the Showroom Floor Series 6
- Approximate dimensions of vehicle: 3.5in L x 1in H x 1.25in W
The styling was accompanied by period technology. GM Heritage notes that gas-filled shock absorbers and cruise control appeared on a production Cadillac for the first time in 1959.
How many 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertibles were made?
An authoritative production total is not established by the GM and museum materials cited here. GM Heritage describes the car as extremely collectible and says its high price kept sales low, but those descriptions do not provide a count. Avoid treating an unsourced figure as a verified factory total.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can owners find 1959 Biarritz manuals and restoration information?
The Cadillac literature archive catalogs both a 1959 owner’s manual and a booklet about convertible-top operation. For a physical copy, confirm that the listing is the correct 1959 edition and that its contents cover the Biarritz before buying.
Caddy Daddy Presents documents a restoration project for the exact model, including work involving wiring, air-ride leveling, tail lights, hot-bypass valves and seat components. It can be a starting point for model-specific research; its project pages do not independently confirm that every part mentioned fits a particular car or is currently available.
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Quick Recap
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