Eldorado—in proper Spanish, El Dorado—means
"The Gilded One." In the lore of the ancients it was a legendary golden kingdom, a
place of fabulous riches located—or so it was believed—high in the
snow-capped mountains of what is now Colombia. Over the years, "Eldorado" thus came
to represent the best of everything: opulence, wealth, the good life. So it was also
a completely logical choice as the name for a stunning new convertible that arrived
as Cadillac's style leader and its ultimate prestige car for 1953.
Cadillac had startled the automotive world back in 1930 with America's first
sixteen-cylinder motorcar. The V-16 line never made a nickel in its 11 years of
production. Chances are it wasn't intended to. It was an image-builder. And with the
help of these magnificent machines, Cadillac was indeed able to elbow its way past
Packard to become the country's most prestigious luxury make.
The original Eldorado can be viewed in the same light, though the image it projected
was vastly different. Instead of staid, classic dignity, it had flair, e´lan,
panache. But like the Sixteen, it cost the world: $7750, fully 87 percent more than
the standard Series 62 convertible. Also like its distinguished Thirties forebear, it
was scarce: only 532 were built in that inaugural model year.
Many of us first saw the Eldorado on television. The date was January 20, 1953, and
Dwight D. Eisenhower, easily the most popular hero of World War II, was being driven
down Pennsylvania Avenue to his first inauguration as President of the United States
Setting a jaunty tone for the new administration, our soon-to-be-anointed leader was
shown in the back seat of the exotic new Cadillac we'd been reading about. (And how
strange to recall a time not all that long ago when our President could greet a crowd
from an open car without the need for a bulletproof barrier.) Of course, in the minds
of committed car buffs the Chief Executive had been upstaged: we couldn't take our
eyes off that gorgeous Eldorado, the most glamorous machine yet seen from postwar
Detroit.
The first production Eldorado was inspired by a 1952 show car based on the normal
Series 62 convertible as modified under the aegis of General Motors design chief
Harley Earl. Along with the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, it was the first of GM's
Motorama dream machines to be offered for public sale.
Among its features were the
new "Panoramic" wraparound windshields harbinger of things to come—plus a
stylishly notched beltline and a flush-fitting metal cover to conceal the folded
cloth top. Standing some three inches lower than its Series 62 cousin, the Eldorado
had a longer, slinkier appearance, though its overall length was the same. Its
interior, was upholstered in the finest leather, and a sparkling set of chromed wire
wheels added a final touch of elegance. Standard equipment included radio, heater,
white-sidewall tires, power steering and, of course, Hydra-Matic transmission. If
there were any doubts that Cadillac reigned supreme in the prestige class, the
Eldorado forever laid them to rest.
Standard equipment included Hydra-Matic drive, wraparound windshield, special
cut-down doors, rich leather-and-cloth upholstery, wire wheels, white sidewall tires,
fog lamps, vanity and side mirrors, metal tonneau cover and signal-seeking radio. The
convertible is a certified Milestone Car. The futuristic Cadillac LeMans show car
convertible was displayed in 1953 and heavily influenced the styling of the 1954
Eldorado.
| Model Number | Body Style | Doors | Model | Seating | FactoryPrice | Shipping Weight | Production Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53-62 | 6267S | 2-door | Sport Convertible Coupe | 5 | 7750 | 4799 | 532 |
NOTE: Hydraulic window lifts were standard equipment
| Type | V-8 Overhead valves. |
| Block | Cast iron block. |
| Displacement | 331 cubic inches. |
| Bore and stroke | 3-15/16 x 3-5/8 inches. |
| Compression ratio | 8.25:1. |
| Brake horsepower | 210 at 4150 rpm |
| Bearings | Five main bearings |
| Valve Lifters | Hydraulic valve lifters. |
Carburetors:
| |
| Note: After the Hydra-Matic plant fire approximately 19,000 Cadillacs were sold with Buick Dynaflow transmission attachments. This was referred to as the "Twin Turbine" drive. | |
| Wheelbase | 126 inches |
| Overall length | 220.8 inches |
| Tires | 8.00 x 15 |
| Dual exhaust system | standard. |
| Rear axle ratios | 3.07:1 |
| None available. |
| Heating and ventilation system | $199 |
| Power steering | $177 |
| Tinted E-Z-Eye glass | $46 |
| Autronic Eye Automatic headlamp beam control | $53 |
| Air conditioning | $620 |
| Other standard G.M. accessories. | |
Standard equipment on the Style Number 6267S Eldorado sport convertible included:
The Style Number 6267S Eldorado sport convertible is a certified Milestone Car. The futuristic Cadillac LeMans
show car convertible was displayed this year and would heavily influence styling of the 1954 Eldorado. It has a
special 270 horsepower V-8 with dual four-barrel carburetion and a fiberglas body, V-8 with dual four-barrel
carburetion and a fiberglas body. Also, 28000 Cadillacs were built with Buick Dynaflow transmission after GM's
Hydramatic plant burned to the ground.
28000 Cadillacs were built with Buick Dynaflow transmission after GM's Hydramatic plant burned to the ground.
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