Cadillac tempered its outlandish fins for 1960, the year that marked the division’s last use of triple two-barrel carburetion as standard Eldorado issue. For the remaining six years of its production life the rear-drive Eldo would have the same engine specs as its less exotic linemates. As mentioned, air suspension was also abandoned after 1960. So was the Eldorado hardtop. With lower sales than the Biarritz for the second year in a row and with two other hardtop coupes in the Cadillac line, the Seville had by now become superfluous. So too had the Brougham, and Cadillac rang down the curtain on its super-luxury flagship after building only 200 of the 1959-60 models.
More exclusive—and more expensive—were the two-door Eldorados: Seville coupe and Biarritz convertible. They came with a 345-horsepower version of the 390-cid V-8 that guzzled gas through three two-barrel carburetors. The Eldorados lost some of their exclusivity in 1959 because they no longer sported unique rear end designs and they switched from the “Sabre Spoke” wheels of ’58 to stamped steel wheels. Nonetheless, Eldorados sported deep-dish wheel covers (sharing them with the Sixty Special) and fender skirts were standard, as they were for all 1959-60 Cadillacs. Air suspension was another standard item (it disappeared after 1960 because of chronic leakage problems). Also included were cruise control, Autronic Eye headlight dimmer, radio and electric antenna, power door locks, fog lamps, and three rows of jewels in the rear.
Distinguishing characteristics of the Seville were a color-keyed roof covering of weather resistant fabric and unique chrome trim that started at the vent window and followed the body contour to the rear bumper, then proceeded down and around, following the rocker panel to the front wheel. The Seville was dropped after 1960, although the name would be reincarnated 15 years later on a smaller Cadillac. The Biarritz sold for the same $7401 list price as the Seville. Its top was hidden by a metal cover when down, giving the car a smooth, uninterrupted profile that flowed from front to rear, ending in a dramatic upsweep of the towering fins.
Standing at the top of Cadillac’s 13-model lineup was the second-generation Eldorado Brougham, which debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in January 1959. This limited-production model sold for a lofty $13,075. It did without the shark fins, twin taillights, and wraparound windshield of lesser ’59 Cadillacs, and none of its exterior panels interchanged with the regular models. In fact, the Brougham wasn’t even made in America. Pinin Farina built the bodies in Turin, Italy, for installation on stock chassis shipped from Detroit. It’s grille differed in that it didn’t incorporate the divider bar, and its fins and taillights predicted the styling of the ’60 Cadillac. Even the windshield and roofline were unique, previewing the look of the ’61 Caddy. Styling was clean, although not as distinctive as that of the earlier Brougham. The Brougham didn’t contain as much gadgetry, either, although the rear quarter windows retracted a bit for easier entry and exit when the rear doors were opened.
Narrow-band whitewalls were found only on the Brougham for 1959 and ’60. In 1960, the Pininfarina (the name was legally changed in 1960) cloisonne emblems moved from the side of the front fenders to the back of the rear fenders, hubcaps were changed to a smaller disc design, and the creaseline rode lower on the body sides (seen again on the ’62 models). The Broughams were easily the rarest of the 1959 and ’60 Cadillacs, with only 99 and 101 built.
ELDORADO/BROUGHAM SUB-SERIES 6400/6900
External variations on the Seville two-door hardtop and Biarritz convertible coupe took the form of bright body sill highlights that extended across the lower edge of fender skirts and Eldorado lettering on the sides of front fenders just behind the headlamps. Standard equipment included:
power brakes
power steering
automatic transmission
dual backup lamps
windshield washers and dual Speed wipers
wheel discs
outside rear view mirror
oil filter
heater
fog lamps
Eldorado engine
remote control trunk lock
radio with antenna and rear speaker
power vent windows
Six-Way power seat
air suspension
electric door locks
license frames
five whitewall tires
A textured vinyl fabric top was offered on the Eldorado Seville and interior trim choice included cloth and leather combinations. The Brougham continued as an Italian-bodied four-door hardtop with special Brougham nameplates above the grille. It did not sport Eldorado front fender letters or body sill highlights, but had a distinctive squared-off roofline with rear ventipanes—a prediction of 1961 styling motifs for the entire Cadallic line. A fin-like crease, or “skeg,” ran from behind the front wheel opening to the rear of the car on the extreme lower body sides and there were special vertical crest medallions on the trailing edge of rear fenders. Cruise Control, a Guide-Matic headlight dimmer, air conditioning and E-Z-Eye glass were regular equipment.
STYLE
Model Number
Style Number
Body Type
Seating
Factory Price
Shipping Weight
Production Total
60-64H
6437H
Seville Hardtop Coupe
6
7401
4855
1,075
60-64E
6467E
Biarritz Convertible
6
7401
5060
1,285
60-69P
6929P
Brougham
6
13075
–
101
ELDORADO/BROUGHAM SUB-SERIES 6400/6900 ENGINE
Type
V-8 Overhead valves
Block
Cast iron block
Displacement
390 cubic inches
Bore and stroke
4.00 x 3.875 inches
Compression ratio
10.5:1
Brake horsepower
345 @ 4800 rpm
Bearings
Five main bearings
Valve Lifters
Hydraulic valve lifters
Carburetion
Three (3) Rochester two-barrel Model 7015901
CHASSIS
Wheelbase
130″
Overall Length
225″
Tires
8.00 x 15
Dual exhausts
standard
Rear axle ratios
2.94:1 standard; 3.21:1 optional or mandatory with air conditioning
POWERTRAIN OPTIONS
The 345 horsepower Eldorado V-8 with three two-barrel carburetors was $134.40 extra installed in any other Cadillac model.
CONVENIENCE OPTIONS
Air suspension
$215
Autronic Eye
$46
Cruise Control
$97
Door guards on two-door
$4
Door guards on four-door
$7
Electric door locks on two-door
$46
Electric door locks on four-door
$70
E-Z-Eye glass
$52
Fog lamps
$43
License plate frame
$6
Six-Way power seat
$85-113 depending on style number
Power window regulators
$118
Power vent windows
$73
Radio with rear speaker
$165
Radio with rear speaker and remote control
$247
Remote control trunk lock
$59
White sidewall tires, size 8.20 x 15 four-ply
$57 exchange
White sidewall tires size 8.20 x 15 six-ply
$64
Anti-freeze -20° F.
$8
Anti-freeze -40° F.
$9
Accessory Group “A” included whitewalls, heater, radio and E-Z-Eye glass for $402 extra and air suspension, cruise control and Eldorado engine at regular prices
Accessory Group “B” included air conditioner
Whitewalls, heater, radio and E-Z-Eye glass at $876 extra and Six-Way power seat, power vent windows and power windows at regular prices
Gas and oil delivery charge was $7 and district warehousing and handling charges averaged $15
HISTORICAL NOTES
Car Life magazine selected the 1960 Cadillac as its “Best buy in the luxury field.”
This was the last year for air suspension and for wraparound windshields, except on the Series 75 Fleetwood models.
According to contemporary road tests gas economy ratings for 1960 Cadillacs were approximately 14 miles per U.S. gallon (16.8 l/100km) at a steady 60 miles per hour (96 kph).
POWERTRAIN OPTIONS