Need some parts for my 1958 Eldorado Biarritz

[Bill Caddyshack]

Just beginning my first vintage car restoration, 1958 Eldorado Biarritz. Most of it is there and in fairly good driver condition. I'd like to make it into a quality driver.

Need a few parts, all "driver quality."

1. the windshield mount (arm) and rear view mirror.
2. Inside door handles and escutcheons
3. New steering wheel - present wheel badly cracked, metal in fair to good condition. Might rebuild it. Red and White.
4. Bumper jack head made for Biarritz. Would like the whole jack
5. Door sills
6. Gear shift and turn signal knobs - white or red
7 Gold Eldorado Hubcaps for gold sabre wheels

My list will grow as I dig deeper.


Your recommendations on where to get a convertible top, pump, cylinders, hoses, all rubber. 

However the one thing that I need more than anything else is your help. Hope this will be fun for all of us.

[Quentin Hall]

G'day Bill,
             I went to a show once in my old black 57 Biarritz and some loser came up to me and complained that I was a fool to have bought a 57 Biarritz when I should have bought a 58 Biarritz and then pointed out a small dent on my hood that I was already well aware of. I was so peeved that I asked him to bring "his" perfect 58 Biarritz and park it beside my lowly 57. Of course I never saw him again.
              But just be aware to get your story straight as to why you bought a 58. and not a 59 61 41 or Honda Civic. haha
            1. the windshield mount (arm) and rear view mirror. Possibly McVeys for stalk and mirror or ebay.

2. Inside door handles and escutcheons . . . ebay is best bet .Not repoped. 57 handles are same but 58 winders on their own.

3. New steering wheel - present wheel badly cracked, metal in fair to good condition. Might rebuild it. Red and White. You can two pak it for about $500 or get it recast for about $1200
4. Bumper jack head made for Biarritz. Would like the whole jack. Yeah let me know if you find a 57 one. ebay but rare as.

5. Door sills These are available from a few vendors repop. Try Fusick Automotive $350 odd a pair

6. Gear shift and turn signal knobs - white or red McVeys supply in white so you need to paint.

7 Gold Eldorado Hubcaps for gold sabre wheels . Gold sabres are 56. but try ebay and buy ones and twos . Hard to find in Gold. You should have chrome sabres on a 58 and these centres are repoped on ebay again.
       Top and rams is a no brainer . . . Hydroelectric in Punta Gorda Florida. They also sell Steele rubber.
        Hope that helps a little. Q

[Bill Caddyshack]

QT,

Thanks for the reply. Why did I get a 58 Biarritz? Found one at a good price. Like the 58 and 57 both with a slight lean to the 58, more chrome, four headlights, fewer made. The 58 Biarritz, IMHO is the last of the great Biarritz. Custom sheet metal, 815 made. I also like the 59 and 60.

Checked with McVey, no inside mirrors, turn knob avail, but gear shift on backorder.

Running search on eBay. for mirror /stalk, nothing so far. The handles seem available, but will other years fit? Have no inside crank handles, all power.

Will try rebuild kit on steering wheel.

Yeah, gold wheels wrong color. May can find someone to trade for silver chrome, but mine are in pretty good shape. Can live with the difference. Maybe should wait on medallions. I have some that are ok, but not great condition.

Will keep an eye out for a 57 bumper jack for you.

Will try your other dealers, thanks!

[Quentin Hall]

G'day Bill,
           Why do I like 57s ? I started with a 57 Biarritz to me it looked like the most Motorama styled production car and then I got sidetracked and did a few trades and swaps to get where I am today . Went 59 Biarritz cos they were the "penultimate". 59s are wild but 60s are more refined.  Sold the 57 and 59 and the 60 then I got a 53 Eldo project  which is the "ultimate" and then I got another 53 Eldo project and then something  was missing . . .
      It was a 57 Biarritz, still my favourite all time Caddy. So I swapped a couple of 59s and got back a nice 57 Biarritz project. (still a lot of work to do) I like the simplicity of the 57 if you'd call it that, compared to the 58.
     For the 57 Eldo rear end, Ron Hill was trying to make a break from the chrome barges that had gone before and got a bit  European exotic on the rear end. The inhouse Cadillac designers suposedly didn't like the 57 Biarritz reasoning that it was a retrograde step back to the rounded forms of the late 40s and  Dave Holls came in and squared the 58 up and gave it back that Boulevard Bling.  58 Biarritzs are rare in Oz.  I know of only 3. But there are up to a dozen 57 Biarritzs.
      I have the 57 parked between my two 53 Eldos and the 57 really does make the 53s look like old drays.
      By the way is that a small dent on your hood?. haha.
      Regards. Q

[Bill Caddyshack]

the '57 does have a purity and simplicity. A bridge between the "bubble tops" of the early to mid fifties eldos. Both are great cars in my in my opinion.

Would really like to see some pictures of your two '53 eldos and your '57! Are these online someplace?

I got a small precision mini lathe. Am making the turn indicator and shift knob from old marine ivory, have some pieces left over from some other projects. Should be fairly simple to make these and the metal tips styled like the other knobs on the radio, etc.

The original door handles and escutcheons are on the way.

Have some rusty back seat floor pans. Cutting these out with my plasma cutter and going for new steel. Can weld these in place with my Miller Passport mig. I like the Passport because it can run on 120v for the lighter work and 220v (just by changing the plug) for up to 180amp.

Thanks for the tip on Hydro-Electric. Had not heard of them before. Looks like they have a very good range of products. Since my '58 Biarritz is red with red/white interior, have been trying to decide convertible top color. Maybe tan.

Did replace the out-of-date bias ply tires with DiamondBack Radials. 3" WW.

Right now having the front suspension rebuilt. Brakes and drums are about new all around as are the wheel cylinders and rubber brake lines.

Inner Tubing has some good pre-bent metal lines. Mine are original and a bit bent by time and careless previous owners.

Transmission shifts great! Only a slight leak from the tail-piece. May do a little sealing if/when I have time, but the leak is so minor that it is a low priority. Have heard that the only transmissions that don't leak are empty of fluid!

The wiring is basically good. Some questions with the taillights. No shorts, but some broken wires somewhere. Trunk lock pull-down motor needs rebuilding, as does the power seat motor, have a local buddy who will do this for me.

As I get deeper into this restoration, will have some questions and really appreciate your kind assistance.

While I have the interior out, will go over the rest of the wiring and be sure it is in good condition. Last step will be a new paint job.