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Stealth -> 1957 Eldorado Brougham (4/9/2007 6:16:11 PM)
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in looking for the 8.2L, i ran into this bit of Americana history ...
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1957 -
1957 saw the Eldorado (both the Biarritz convertible and the Seville hardtop) once again present an innovative rear-end design, a low, downswept fenderline capped by a pointed, in-board fin. The rear fenders were commonly referred to as "chipmunk cheeks". This concept was used for two years, but did not spawn any imitators.
1957 was chiefly notable, though, for the introduction of one of GM's most memorable designs, the Eldorado Brougham.
This four-door hardtop with rear-opening rear doors was an ultra-luxury car that cost an astonishing $13,000+, more than the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud of the same year.
It featured a stainless steel roof, air suspension, the first dual headlights, the first memory power seats, and every possible kind of appearance and convenience feature that GM's most inventive minds could devise.
This design ran for two years and of course sold in very small quantities (704 units in total) owing to the price. It has been estimated that GM lost $10,000 on every one, but these virtually hand-assembled cars are today among the rarest and most collectible of all postwar American models.
The Brougham was the car that sank Packard, a long time rival of Cadillac, and one of the few other Depression surviors. Before 1929 America had scores of hand made luxury cars. After WWII, only Cadillac (GM), Lincoln (Ford), Chrysler and Packard remained. Packard declined postwar and finally conglomerated with Auburn, Studebaker, and Cord. None survived into 1960.
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