Need Help with my newly acquired 57 Biarritz

[57Heaven]

Lifelong dream came true today when I picked up a 57 Biarritz. Joined the club and forum and now the fun begins researching my car. Hopefully the experts can help me. New to the Cadillac world so excited to have the wealth of knowlege here.  Curious about my car.

Sorry for all the initial questions and thank you in advance for the responses !!!

Trim Tag info ( will try to decipher from my limited research) Pic attached
57 6267SX  ( designates 1957 Eldorado Biarritz ?)
FW 1027  (Does this mean 1027 out of the 1800 produced?)
Trim  10  ( does this mean white and black leather?)
Paint  90  (does this mean Olympic White)
F7 out to the side   (no idea )
Top 1  ( white top ?)
ACC  E  A  ( "E" is tinted glass I think,  but what does the "A" stand for ?  is that Group A ??)

Car is currently dusty rose with copper interior (*very strange combo ?)
Car has AC on it,  appears to be factory based on the dash controls and vents in upper dash but Trim plate does not have a "K" anywhere which I read is the code for factory AC.  Any idea how this car could have AC without the "K" designation?  Pic attached.  Also, does anyone know how many of the 1800 actually came with factory AC ?
Car has dual carbs / Batwing which is awesome.  Does anyone know how many cars came equipped with the dual quad set up ( I haven't been able to put on a rack to verify engine codes, I guess I look for a "Q" designation ?  is that correct and where do I look for that? ( Pic attached)

VIN number on engine plate matches VIN tag on drivers door jam  VIN  5762054767  (is there anything we can tell from the VIN) ?

thank you so much in advance for responding.  I'm excited to learn about my 57.

57Heaven  Sidney Hobbs

[Scot Minesinger]

Welcome, and what an awesome car to start out with.  I only know the answer to a few questions:

1.  The additional carburetor with "bat wing" was standard on all Eldorados.
2.  It is not uncommon for desirable accessories to be added to valuable cars.  It is not unusual for factory a/c to be added to 57 Cadillac Eldorados and Series 62 Convertibles.  Guess the reasoning is people would rather have a/c on a car (especially if it was an option) than a 100% original as it left the factory no a/c.  57 was the first year you could get a/c in a Cadillac Convertible, as the evap and blower moved out of the trunk (where it was from 53-56) and into the dash - and it was separate from heater.  Heck, I added tilt wheel, twilight sentinel, and electric trunk release Cadillac factory options to my 1970 Cadillac DeVille Convertible.

If the car had factory a/c it would have a return fuel line, different generator, and a lower rear differential besides the obvious compressor, ducts, condenser and etc.  You can check the rear differential and see if it is the lower ratio, and that would likely confirm it is either a well done or factory a/c car.  The tag also should be correct too and the easiest way.

Here is advice:  Buy the shop manual, it will be your best investment on this car.  Not "Chilton's" or a derivative, buy the factory shop manual on eBay or other source.

[Eldovert]

The 56 Biarritz could be ordered with air ... only a few were built.
Cheers,Pat MacPhail

[Roger Zimmermann]

1.  The additional carburetor with "bat wing" was standard on all Eldorados.

Scott, I believe that the dual carb set-up was an option on Eldorado models, with the exception of the Brougham, on which it was standard.

[Quentin Hall]

Well done. The 57 Biarritz was and is my favourite Cadillac. I had one for 18 years, sold it, regretted it and so bought another to restore.... You are correct with your codes. The F7 is not known by me. It was established that numbers on the tag related to the day of the month on 53 Cadillacs, but I  am  not certain to their relevance on 57s or with the A code designation. Q

[chris cunliffe]

If you click on the link below it will take you to the GM.heritage center website.Click on Cadillac in vehicle information kits then click 57 Eldorado Brougham ,This will open all the information on the full range of 57 Cadillacs,lots of very interesting reading.
http://gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits.html

If you can get access to the back of the engine on the drivers side the engine unit number is stamped on the bellhousing section under the cylinder head.There were 4 options available for 62 series.
                                              76x##### single carb no a/c
                                              76k##### single carb with a/c
                                              76Q##### dual carbs no a/c
                                              76QK##### dual carbs with a/c

Also the vin number on the engine should match the number on the chassis found on the top rail on passenger side just behind the suspension wishbone(might be a bit awkward to see with a/c fitted)

My own Seville only has a Q code engine but has full a/c even down to the spacer on the top of the front coil spring to compensate for the weight of the a/c unit.

[57Heaven]

thank you guys for all the advice.  Will look in the suggested places tomorrow and hopefully find some numbers.  really appreciate the response and the reference links provided too.   Drove it today.  Wow what a car. small exhaust leak,  replacing the gasket tomorrow, pretty straigtforward I hope.

[Walter Youshock]

It's a rarity exclusive to the '57 Eldorados but the "Q" engine WAS AN OPTION on the '57 Eldos and NOT available as an option on the other models.  If you can snap a picture of your cowl data plate on the cowl by the brake booster, we can decipher it.

Chances are your car was Copper metallic.  The Eldorado series had an exclusive color palate usually consisting highly metallic colors--a blue (Bahama); a green (Elysian); a pink (Copper); and a silver (Starlight), as well as the regular color complement of the year.

[57Heaven]

thanks Walter.  I am trying to attach a picture but can't seem to get it to go through.  I had read that the Dual Cars were an option and glad to hear you confirmed it.  I originally thought the car was copper also, because the interior is copper and it's very nicely done.  However, the trim tag reads  Trim:  10   and Paint 90  ,  which i thought is Olympic White with White/Black interior.  HOpefully the pic of the trim tag will attach.  Still trying to find the numbers on the bellhousing so i can see if it truly is a "Q" engine and hopefully verify that it is a factory air car which it appears to be.  thanks again