Archive for category History
Michael Paul Smith’s models
Posted by Lars Schenk in History on February 13th, 2010
Step back in time and enjoy this great work:
Cadillac History of Innovation
Posted by Lars Schenk in History on October 6th, 2005
In The Beginning:
1903 The first Cadillac automobile was completed on October 17, 1902. Costing $750 and powered by a 10-hp, single-cylinder engine it started a motoring sensation.
1910 Cadillac introduced closed bodywork – called the limousine – as a standard catalog offering.
1912 Cadillac was the first company to adopt a sophisticated Delco electrical system to handle self-starting and wins the Deware Trophy again.
1915 Cadillac enveiled the first mass-produced V8 engine.
The Multi-Cylinder Era:
1930 Cadillac introduced the world’s first V16 engine for passenger-car use. This engine featured a overhead valves with hydraulic lash adjusters, dual exhaust, and a stylishly finished exterior design. It delivered 160 hp from 452 cu (7,4l).
1938 Cadillac relocated the gearshift to the steering column to facilitate comfortable three-abreast seating in the front seat. Cadillac also offered the first sunroofs available in America.
1941 Cadillac introduced a fully automatic transmission consisting of a fluid coupling, four forward speeds, and a hydraulic “brain”.
The Fifties and Sixties
1948 Cadillac’s designer, Harley Earl, changes the profile of automobiles with the styling introduction of the tailfin.
1949 Cadillac initiated the ’50s-era horsepower war with the introduction of a modern overhead-valve V8 rated at 160 hp.
1954 Cadillac is the first car manufacturer to provide power steering as standard on its entire line of automobiles.
1959 Low-pressure freon-filled shock absorbers improved Cadillac’s ride quality.
1960 Self adjusting brakes were adopted.
1964 Cadillac provides its customers with the auto industry’s first themostatically regulated heating, ventilating and air conditioning system. Front seat belts became standard Cadillac equipment.
1958 Eldorado Biarritz Database
Posted by Lars Schenk in History on July 11th, 2005
| Body | VIN | Paint | Trim | Top | Current Owner, other details | Pictures |
| ? | 58e015377 | Oympic White (90+) or Alpine White(12) |
White/Black | ? | 78275 mile june 2005, ebay 4558692486, location Carmichael, California USA, no air, no a/c |  |
| ? | ? | 90+ or 12 | White/Black | ? | found 4sale in may 2005 at hemmings at $39,900. Sold to Randloph Hane, California USA who will keep her at least until his doughters can use her as a wedding car. His dauthers are not even teens… |  |
| 174 | 58E009858 | dakota red (50) | white/vermillion (18) | white (1) | Restored in 1996 started in USA and finished in swiss with no expense spared. Owner Heinz Simonet, Lucerne, Swiss bought her in 2003. This bia was original painted desert bronze (98) with copper metallic interior (15) and copper top (8). With a/c. |  |
| 432 | ? | black (10) | vermillon (19) | back (2) | Dirk van Dorst (Belgium) found this one in 2003 and made a frame off resto. His pictures say it all. This bia was original painted white (12). With a/c and airride. |  |
| ? | ? | Gleneagles Green Metallic (96+) | ? | Gleneagles Green (6) | Gert (Belgium) bought this one ??? from palm springs. Is was in pristine original condition. With a/c and airride. |  |
| ? | 58E072141 | 90+ or 12 | Red | 1 | Was 4sale at a Corvette dealer at US$ 35,900 in 2003. Mike Kennedy from 1958 CAO reported this car to be a cosmetic restoration. New owner unknown. no a/c, no airride. |   |
| ? | ? | 98+ | 15 | 2 | Sahlen Brothers, Sweden |  |
| ? | ? | red (50) | vermillion (19) | red (?) | Sweden, unknown owner. The red top was not a color choise in 1958. |  |
| ? | ? | 90+ or 12 | ? | 2 | Found for sale several years ago. USA. Unknown owner, unknown sales price. Gold sabre wheels. |  |
| ? | ? | 10? now 40? | ? | 2 | Found on internet (for sale?) several years ago. USA. Unknown owner. Dirk von Dorst belives this one was painted black in 1958 and owner is CML member. Today the color is belived to be Calcutta Cream (40). No a/c and no airride. |  |
| ? | ? | 10? | ? | ? | Found for sale at swedish sites. Unknown owner. Location seems to be Sweden now. Paint is a very dark blue. |  |
| ? | ? | 50? | ? | 1 | Found on internet. Just one pic available |  |
| ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | will be filled in a the future – hopefully. Your help is required to make this list complete. Read more and find out how you can support us. | n/a |
Color codes:
10 Black
12 Alpine White
14 Cheviot Gray Metallic
16 Prestwick Gray Metallic
18 Camelot Gray Metallic
20 Daphne Blue
24 Somerset Blue Metallic
26 Cobalt Blue Metallic
28 Turquoise
29 Peacock Metallic
30 Acadian Green
32 Versailles Green Metallic
36 Regent Green Metallic
40 Calkutta Cream
42 Alamo Beige Metallic
44 Buckskin
48 Tahitian Coral Metallic
49 Meridian Taupe Metallic
50 Dakota Red
90+ Oympic White
92+ Rajah Silver Metallic
94+ Argyle Blue Metallic
96+ Gleneagles Green Metallic
98+ Desert Bronze Metallic
+ Indicates Used on Eldorado, Seville, and Biarritz models only.
Biarritz interior codes (all leather):
10 white/black
11 black
12 silver metallic
13 biscay blue metallic
15 copper metallic
17 green metallic
18 white/vermillion (red)
19 vermillion (red)
Eldorado top color codes:
1 White
2 Black
6 Gleneagles Green
7 Argyle Blue
8 Copper
1958 Eldorado Biarritz – Listing of Known Survivors
Posted by Lars Schenk in History on June 28th, 2005
The idea was to start a list of all known 1958 Biaritz – like you know it from the 1953 Eldorado database from Yann Saunders and Matt Larson. There’s also a 57/58 Brougham database available. But as far as I know there is nothing about the 58 Eldorado Biarritz.
We have a couple of pictures of 58 Biarritz in the picture gallery. Most of them are without VID /Body# and color/trimcodes yet. But it’s a start.
I you like that idea, I would be very happy about your support.
You are welcome to send an email to info@lars-schenk.de if you own or know about a 1958 Biarritz.
I would try to make a complete list with:
Body#, VIN#, Paint, Trim, Top and Current Owner, other details.
I will welcome also pictures and detailed infos about the cars.
If someone will give permission to me, I’ll upload pictures and infos to this site.
Anonymous infos are also welcome: There is no need to publish the owners name or contact info.
Thanks for your support. Special Thanks to Dirk van Dorst, Dave Becker and many other for their support.
View the 1958 Eldorado Biarritz Database – List of known survivors (under construction)
View the 1958 Eldorado Biarritz Showcase – Picture Gallery
Please link to this article with this URL:
http://www.classic-cadillac.com/1958-biarritz-database
1959/1960 Cadillac “Motorama” Car
Posted by Lars Schenk in History on September 13th, 2004
In the late 1950’s chrome and fins were definitely in style…the more chrome….the larger the fins…the more the American car consumer liked the styling, which was reflected in record breaking sales at dealerships throughout America.
In 1959 at Cadillac, the stylists had their way with the largest fins ever put on an car produced to that time…but the greatest proponent of giant Fins, Harley Early, had retired. He also was credited with the creation of the Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac LaSalle among other GM styling triumphs.
When Earl retired from GM in 1959, he left behind him a design legacy using classic chrome, two tone paint, tail fins, hardtops and wrap around windshields. Earl founded the GM Design and Styling Department in 1927 and by the time he retired in 1958, it had grown from a staff of 50 to 1,100.
The new regime at Cadillac had come up with a new look for the upcoming 1960 Cadillac which among other changes, featured a much smaller tail fin.
On January 13th, 1959 Cadillac produced a Series 62 convertible, VIN #59F0042438. This was to become a very special car…with a hint of things to come next year from cadillac.
Instead of a 1959 production series 62 convertible body, a 1960 series 62 body was slightly modified to fit on to the 1959 Cadillac chassis, engine, transmission.
The 1959 current interior was also utilized but with one significant exception…to give the car a hint of what might be instore for future cadillac owners, a black & white Emerson television was installed in the dash and the standard Cadillac radio was moved to the far right side of the dash and installed….also, a smaller Cadillac glove box was custom made and fitted into the dash.
I have been restoring this incredible piece of cadiillac history and should have it completely ready for public viewing in just a few months.
It will be offered to the public for sale at NO RESERVE at the upcoming Barrett/Jackson auction in Scottsdale,Arizona in mid January…2005.
Any questions can be directed to luvdg@aol.com
Pictures of the “motorama” car can be found here.
Note by Publisher:
Thanks to Yann Saunders (aka MrCadillac) from the Cadillac Database this car was identified as a hoax (false Motorama car).
Recent Comments