54 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible 331CI V8 Hydramatic Automatic Black/Red

The 1953 Cadillac Eldorado stood at the pinnacle of the automotive culture. It was named in honor of the mythical City of Gold. was an Autorama hit. but GM struggled with making it profitable. In 1954. the design was revised. and the Eldorado used the Series 60 convertible as its foundation. By no means does this mean that the cars were not exceptional—GM went to great lengths to differentiate the Eldorado from the rest of the lineup. and there’s no question that cars like this stunning black on red Eldorado were truly the extraordinary. With a list price of $5. 38. 00 when new and just 2. 50 produced. these cars were the “Standard of the World”. It had some very unique features as standard. some not even offered as options on competitor’s cars. The radio had a travel tuner. neat name that would stop whenever it intercepted a radio signal. The Autronic-Eye system was an automatic headlight dimmer and those brilliant Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels adorned each of the car’s corners.

Beautifully refinished to a high standard in the last decade. this big. black Eldo is a masterpiece. The paint is now a two stage base coat clear coat and exhibits a deep and lustrous finish. The Eldorado was most notably differentiated from its lesser siblings by the anodized aluminum trim along the lower quarters. which is virtually impossible to replace and restoration can cost thousands. The rest of the trim on this car remains in outstanding condition. from the big grille and pointed “Dagmars” up front. to the rear bumper with built-in exhaust ports. And yes. the gold-plated Cadillac emblem on the hood is correct. adding a little upscale flash to further differentiate the Eldorado from the base convertible coupe.

There are few more striking color combinations than a black car with a red leather interior. and this Eldorado is no exception. The restored interior is in outstanding condition. The power front bench has a split back for easy access to the spacious rear seat. and the chrome trim surrounding the seat backs is a flashy touch. The wrap-around dash is pure 1950s cool. with a beautiful mixture of leather. aluminum. and polished stainless that really gives the car a very upscale feeling. Power windows were also standard equipment on the Eldorado. and they all work properly. The original AM radio however picks and chooses when to plays and the clock hand’s rest at Midnight. This is an early Eldorado. identifiable by its small vent wings that were used on the first group of cars produced. The two-tone steering wheel is excellent. the door panels are very good. and overhead. the black power convertible top folds easily into the top well. Even the trunk’s interior is in show condition.

Powering the 1954 Eldorado is a completely rebuilt 331 cubic inch V8. which makes a very respectable 210 horsepower. Widely regarded as the hottest engine on the road before the advent of the small block Chevy. the one in this big cruiser starts easily. idles beautifully. and moves the big car with surprising gusto. Power steering was still a recent innovation in 1954. but without it. this car couldn’t exist. and it provides fingertip control from the helm. The transmission was rebuilt along with the engine and is the rugged Hydramatic automatic that slices through the gears precisely. giving the impression of high-quality machinery at work. The sensation is different from today’s isolated luxury cars. and Cadillac suspected that its buyers liked the feeling of quality it provided. The suspension is typical. with A-arms up front and a rigid axle in back. and hydraulic drum brakes all around. Gorgeous chrome wire wheels were standard equipment on the Eldorado. and it wears 15-inch Firestone Deluxe Champion Whitewall Tires. The rubber is just 3 years old and only has perhaps a thousand miles of travel distance on them.

Looking at the market for these big Eldorado’s. this one appears to be a strong bargain. given the restoration costs and it’s brilliant condition. With its striking color combination and well-sorted in every way. it will be welcome at virtually every show. And you can enjoy the experience of piloting what was. at the time. regarded as the finest car in the world.

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Also published at eBay.com

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