CADILLAC SERIES 62 ELDORADO BIARRITZ REVIEW

Good enough for Elvis 'The King' Presley, good enough for us mere mortals... 

In the twenty years after the War Cadillac reached the height of prestige, and while the White House might have chosen this marque over Lincoln, successful businessmen and Hollywood stars favoured Cadillac - the ownership of a convertible model particularly showing that they had really made it.

No single automotive design singularly characterizes the industry's late 1950s flamboyance than the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado, which incorporated totally new styling, large tail fins, twin rocket-ship tail lamps, and new jewel-like grille patterns. General Motors' chief stylist Harley Earl had introduced distinctive fins on the 1948 Cadillacs - reaching their zenith in 1959.

Engine stroke was increased to 3 7/8" resulting in the V8 overhead valve engine capacity increase to 390 cubic inches, while standard features included automatic transmission, power brakes, power steering, windshield washers, two-speed wipers, wheel discs, outside rear view mirror, and 'vanity mirror and oil filter'! Built on the 130" or 10' 6" chassis, the car occupied 18ft 9" of styling extravagance, accommodating six passengers on wide bench seats, the coachwork sparkling with chrome.

CADILLAC MODEL A 6 1/2 HP REVIEW

Founded by Henry Leland and Robert Faulconer, the Cadillac Automobile Company, of Detroit completed its first car in October 1902 and the firms superior manufacturing technology - precision gear cutting was Leland and Faulconers first speciality - soon established it as the foremost builder of quality cars in the USA.

In 1901, Olds Motor Works had contracted for the supply of Leland-built engines and, when unforeseen circumstances frustrated the plan, Leland and Faulconer formed their own company using funds supplied by two of Henry Fords ex-backers, taking its name from the great French explorer who had founded Detriot in 1701.

An exemplary performer by the standards of the day, the Cadillacs 98cu in (1.6-litre) single-cylinder engine - known as Little Hercules - was mounted horizontally on the left beneath the front seat and drove via a conventional two-speeds-plus-reverse planetary transmission and centre chain drive to the rear axle. The Model A was available with either two- or four-seat coachwork and has a maximum speed of around 30-35mph.