Disappointed By Cadillac Designer Ron Hill comments on the 1957 Eldorado

[INTMD8]

Speaking for myself - and no disrespect intended to '57 owners or their partisans - I'd take '58 any day over '57 but that's just me. 

I'll take either just the same. We're talking Broughams right? 

[57eldoking]

It has always amazed me how defined by their year , design was  from 56 to 61.Each yearly transition is such a dramatic change from the year prior. There has never been such a dramatic styling period of change.
The 58 year has always bugged me. I want to love them, but to me they are the too much makeup, trashy sister of the sweet demure, wholesome girl next door 57.

Agree 100%!!

[Walter Youshock]

I agree with Eric.  The '57 is a transition design that combines the elegance of the early fin period and re imagined it for the future.

The last Gullwing front bumper, simple egg crate grille, gorgeous front wheel openings and the last front canted fins on the standard line.  Total elegance and restrained class.  When I look at my '57 coupe De ville,  I can't believe it's really a Cadillac.   The lines and interior make it so. 

I like the '57 sixty special,  but love the '58.  But I never liked the '58 front end, Sedan roofs or rear canted fins.  One car perfectly befits '58 and it is the 60 series.  You'll see 3 times more '58 sixty specials despite the fact that there were 12000 made vs. 24000 '57's!

And yes, I do prefer the '60 over the '59. 

I also prefer the '56, '62, '66 and '79 over the other first redesigns.  But the '57 is just wonderful to me. 

Harley Earl was on his way out by 1958.  The original 1958 design was to be ever gorpier than what came out.  The sixty special was supposed to have even more trim than it did.  I think it was Dave Holls who pulled it back.

[Bill Young]

Me personally I Love all the years. I do have favorites but the only year I am not greatly fond of is 1963's.

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Guys,

The ’58 models that made it to market are conservative compared to what actually made it to the full size clay stage.  A few years back, Special Interest Autos had a monthly feature showing  the progression of  the design development process for Big Three models of various years. All of the GM brands were grotesque at some point in the process….Buick possibly the worst. There was so much chrome and so many gee-gaw accents  most could be painted with a pint of paint.

“Mistearl” may have had some influence in early designs of the ‘59s also. The one  I recall clearly was a ¾ rear view of a Buick. It was a six window Electra 225 with production style delta wing fins. In the center of the trunk lid was one large ’57 style Eldorado fin. It  almost looked like some designer was playing a prank. It’s a good thing cooler heads   " toned down” the ’59 styling.

I don’t have an index for SIA, but Hemmings might be able to provide  the information about which issues have which brand and year.

[57eldoking]

I think I have pictures of some of the designs you're mentioning Ralph. Its fascinating stuff for sure!

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Henning,

Thanks. Yes, those are part of the series.

Ralph

[David King (kz78hy)]

Any comment by a studio design engineer of their latest creation compared to a 18 year old predecessor would of course be met with "what was I thinking" in the moment.  Those folks live in the now.  Cars are just like clothing fashion and have 3 year vs. 4 months selling lives, but it takes 3 years to create the car compared to dress which can be as long as a few weeks.  The ability to look into the future and predict is a very hard thing indeed.

With retrospect though, a balanced view is possible and that is the one to read!

David

[bcroe]

IMHO the '57 Eldorado was and is one of the 3 most beautiful American cars of all time, followed by the '56-7 Continental MK II and '53 Buick Skylark.   

I would give "most beautiful" to the 60 Buick, but its just an opinion.  Bruce Roe

[Walter Youshock]

Why did it take 4 years of the original 60 Special design to make the most sought after '41?  They're all beautiful from 1938 on but everybody agrees the '41 has it way above the rest.

The '57 brougham was virtually the same overall size as the '41 60 series.  It was the most beautiful design of the late '50's and helped set the tone for the rest of the line.  All the '57 and '58 cadillacs had a brougham flair.  Only the '57 eldorados shared the rear canted fins, ala 1955 and on.  When all cadillacs got the Eldorado fin in 1958, it took a little bit of distinction away from the Eldorado line.

Face it, for as incredible as the '59 Eldorado is, it was nothing more than some stainless trim and a nicer interior.   So was the '54.  There was no mistaking a '55 through '57 or even a '58 Eldorado for anything but cadillac's best.

[Thule]

what a great thread to stumble on.

i do like the 58 over the 57, for me its the 2x2 headlights that close the deal, but i must admit that i do like most 58 GM cars. for me the 58 chevy's are great looking cars,the best looking 57/8 for me is the 58 6 special

i for most of the time have liked the 60 over the 59, i kinda like things about both, i like the 59 front better, and think the 60 fin flows better with the car, but the 59 fin is iconic though.  but in recent times the cadillacs that i've always liked more and more are the 57/8 eldorado broughams. and the 53 eldorado, for me those cars are just perfect

for me, almost all cadillacs until the 80's are good, i always had a crush on the 70's cars. the "land yachts" i am a little bit younger than most here (30) and when i was growing up some of the massive 70's cadillacs where still around and some of them sunken in to car parks here and there around town, for me the 50's cars have always bin restored show cars, and to expensive for me to own

after i started driving old cadillacs i did noticed that i some ways i also like driving the 70's cars, how you sit in them. and how massive they feel, i have bin really surprised how nice i find it to drive my 73 eldorado,