Everyone loves a Cadillac convertible, right? It’s the All-American dream boat, or certainly used to be. So today’s question is which one (post war) would most fulfill your personal dream? Me? I’ve got a real soft spot for the rounded and smooth ’55, with its short front overhang, and big, round butt. But its polar opposite, the light, edgy and flighty ’61 also beckons me to fly away in it. Hmm; decisions, decisions…
My favorite is the ’64. I don’t care for the skegs on the 61-62 models.
I like the 1964 a lot too, there is something realy classy about the open wheels. and all the extra wood on the door panels. Not to mention the nicer leather interior. I always liked the 64 styling in general on Cadillacs, 63 too.
I prefer the ’62 Eldorado Biarritz. I like the taillights better on the ’62 than the ’61
Between the two, I’d pick the ’61. It has a much more graceful look to it.
It strikes me as ironic that by the early ’50s, the jet age was in full swing, so why the P-38/Constellation fins? The ’60s models had fins best compared (if comparable at all) to rakish MiG vertical stabilizers. Russian military aircraft of that period had a bit of Flash Gordon which gave them a suitably sinister, Ming the Merciless look.
I’ll take one of each and let you know in ten years. 🙂
The 57-60 is probably my low point, but virtually any of the rest (up through 68, at least) would find a nice spot in my garage if it were to follow me home.
I’ll take the ’61, always one of my favorite Cadillac years.
I’d go with a 1960 convertible. I love the fins on a ’59 but they draw your eye too much with the top down, and I’m not a big fan of the skegs added in ’61.
Ditto. The tail bulbs are, uh, excessive on the 1959s. But the 1960 model is the perfect balance of grace and exuberance.
I’d go with a ’56.
I <3 skegs. 61 or 62, in light blue, pale yellow, or rose, please.
’53 eldo and the ’59s, they’re just too iconic !
While they’re not the finest, the phrase “Cadillac convertible” brings to mind the big, beastly Eldorados from ’71-78. Maybe it’s just because I’m a child of the 70s.
Sometimes an era ends with a whimper, and sometimes it ends in the blinding flash of a super nova. When that big, flatulent explosion bursts, you may tell yourself you can avert your eyes, but you know you can’t. The final batch of big Eldos were like that.
Admit it, you have a picture of one in your mind’s eye now, don’t you? Maybe it has steer horns on the hood. Maybe it has shag carpeting on the dash. Maybe Boss Hogg is behind the wheel. But now that you see it, you can’t get that image out of your head, can you?
1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible:
The 1971-78 Cadillac Eldorado does represent a sort of Roman Empire at its peak of decadence and depravity, Broughamigulla if you will. The convertibles and Biarritzes especially, Wood paneled and leather covered throne room with an 8 track player, if they could have had a servo that could dispense grapes into your mouth, they would have fitted it.
This may be the best description of these cars, ever.
I agree.
I’ll go with anything 1949-1958. That’s when they were really special, and a cut above pretty much everything else available in the US. Starting with ’59 we’re talking gaudier, flashier, and less class. And the ’58 was starting to push the line a little.
I’d take any of them gladly, but a 55 would be my Top Pick, Followed by a 52 and a 63.
’76 BiCentennial Eldo droptop, the supposed ‘Last American Convertible’.
When ragtops returned in the 80’s, some tried to sue GM. “Hey, you said Last ones!”
1976 Cadillac Eldorado Bicentennial Edition convertible:
The interior, with the exclusive red piping on the leather seats:
May we price one for you today?
That was back when mainframes, & their line printers, roamed the Earth, & no one worried their heads about sissy things like lowercase or which TrueType™ font to use:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IBM_line_printer_1403.JPG
Yet IBM still sells its System Z mainframes, supposed to be well suited for 24/7 transaction processing. I’m a programmer, but I’ve never used an IBM bigger than a 5150 (aka PC) in my life.
Thats a nice and loaded one, Fuel Injection even.
Hard to chose between the 1949-53, the 1953 Eldorado convertible, the 1959 from the movie Pink Cadillac, the 1965-67 (I like how the stacked headlights fit for Cadillac) or the 1954 from the movie Coupe de Ville (even if it was a Series 62).
Are you kidding? It’s the Space Age ’59 all the way! The Pinnacle. Fly me to the Moon!
’76 Eldorado in Greenbrier Firemist please. Top/interior can be green or white.
I think he means this:
ShamWOW, that’s the one. Thanks!
Wow, tough one. I always had a thing for the 65-66s, but over time, I think I’ve come to favor the 63-64’s, with a nod toward the 64 Eldo without the side skirts, For the 63-66’s, I prefer the Eldorados over the DeVilles, with their extra trim and plusher furnishings. I love the styling of the 67-68’s too, with that canted nose, stacked lights, and swept back lines. If not for the inferior interiors, these might be my favorite.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate the cars of the 40s and 50s more, but as always, I really think the cars you love most are those that were new, or near new, when you first discoverd that you were into cars.
I’ll take a ’61-’64. All the class with none of the bloat.
56 caddy, my grandmother had a sedan of that vintage. Spent many wonderful comfortable hours in the back area. Loved those wool seats.
I prefer the ’61’s styling. But if I were buying, I’d take the ’55. I just think it’s a better overall collector car.
I think I’d like a ’61 or ’62 Biarritz, either hunter green with white leather and green dash/carpet, or aqua/aqua. A ’54-’55 in Florentine Red would be lovely too.
Let’s face it: I’d love ANY Caddy convertible!
A ’62 Eldo, Cadillac’s best effort ever. I wouldn’t turn down a ’70 DeVille, though.
I’ll take a 57 Eldorado Barritz. I was drawn to the unique rear end as child and I still love it. It and the Seville coupes were and are stunners.
My choice also. Very rare and just stunning!
Pre 59 when Cadillac meant something other than bling on a Chev
I like both but I’d take the ’61 because I bet it handles somewhat better. The last ’55 I drove sat like an SUV and was totally disconnected from the road.
And then there is me…
While I think they are both stunning cars, my personal favorite would be….
The 1985 Eldorado.
When these were down to around 5,000$ US. I was so tempted on these in LA.
The test drive always revealed a sluggish car with a nervous owner when i tried to floor it… Might it blow a 4.1 rod?
That was it for me. i Passed, but regret it when i see one out and about.
I agree–Cadillac degadence and style in a much more manervable package.
I would have guessed that would be your favorite! It indeed is a lovely machine and would probably be my #2 choice.
Oh a 59 All the way. a 60 is Classier, as is a 63 Still more so…But also give Me The Glitz of a 73 in Cerise. Ive Always thought I could live with a 70 Deville Convert. As long as it runs I’m safe in that baby.
My first choice has always been the 53 Eldorado but I also love the 61.
1959 Eldorado. It was large, flashy and pretentious and stood out. To own a Caddy in those days was to have arrived. Not like those gussied up Buick and Oldsmobile and Cavalier Caddy’s of the 1980’s that you took a look at and wondered why spend the extra dough on the caddy when you can get the lesser Buick/Olds versions which were nice cars.
However special mention should go to the Allante because it really was an attractive car and if I could get one for a cheap price I would drive it(that or a Reatta)
Such a hard question, with no wrong answer. For me, I think I would want a ’60-62, or a ’65 or ’66. But then again, a ’49-56 would be wonderful. I’ll never be able to pick a final answer!
The ’61 is more my speed stylistically (I fear no skegs — except maybe in parking lots), but a ’64 with Turbo Hydramatic might be preferable mechanically.
Mr. Bennett nailed my pic, too: 1985 El Dorado convertible. The only Caddy that almost ever made any sense to me.
Of the earlier land yachts – Nope. Just give me a Chevy and call it done.
An old family friend had a 1970 converible in red that I always wished that I could have. In fact, last week I was playing the Deluxe Edition of From Elvis In Memphis in my CD played & I swear I felt like I was driving a ’70 Caddy convertible instead of my 2005 Focus!
I’ll take the 1954-56 models – they are nicely “squared up” from the somewhat roly-poly 1950-53 models, and avoid the decadence of the 1959-60 models. They were also clearly a step up from anything else on the market at that time.
If I needed to drive the car on a regular basis, I’d take one of the 1969-70 models. The exterior styling manages to be and imposing and graceful, hiding the considerable size very well. The standard front disc brakes, variable-ratio power steering and refined, bulletproof drivetrain compensate for the lapses in interior quality.
Well, first let me add a photo here, and let a 1941 Caddy convertible speak for itself.
Although they are very different cars, I like the 1956 and 1957 Cadillac convertibles too, preferably in red or black with a red and white interior.
…and I’ve always had a soft spot for the 1965 and 1966 cars, and the convertibles are no exception. Well, provided I can’t find a nice 300L convertible….
My vote is for the 61 or 62. I had a baby blue 66 convertible. A nice car, but I didn’t really like the stacked headlights. A 69 would be my next choice.
As a kid I never liked the 59-60 Cadillacs and fell in love with the 61 when I saw it at my first auto show in the fall of 60. The 62 would be my preference because I like cornering lights and that was their first year on the Caddy; the styling refinements also were quite well done.
My uncle had a ’62 convertible in white with black leather bucket seats. What a sweet ride . He would let us take it on vacation on occasion. So cool. Legend has it that on one certain summer evening in the early 60’s Uncle came out of a local supper club/watering hole only to find a notable GB Packer heavily engaged with a young lady in his backseat . Seems the player had a similar car and got them mixed up. You can draw your own conclusion as to who the player was.
Actually, the two-tone Rolls in the background of the ’55 picture is pretty attractive, too…
I’ll take the ’55, no real competition from Lincoln or Imperial back then, In ’61 it would have been a Continental for sure.
Have long been a fan of the tail fins of the late fifties to early sixties. Especially the Mopars, but also most all the others. So, definitely the sharp 1961 Caddy.