Pininfarina-built 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham
“Battleship Brougham” or anything with the prefix “S.S.” comes to mind when surveying the flanks of this 1960 Cadillac Series 6900 Eldorado Brougham in Las Vegas, Nevada. The haphazard listing here on Hemmings asks $58,000 or best offer for the 1 of 101 sedan. Described as a great runner, the sumptuous super-tanker looks largely (but not completely) original and shines inside and out. Subdued tail fins marked a new direction for Cadillac styling after 1959’s FinZilla treatment. Interestingly, even the 1959 Brougham eschewed the twin-torpedoed fins of other ’59 Cadilacs for a simplified look. Thanks to reader Larry D. for serving us this tasty Italian-American masterpiece.
For the record, Pinin Farina is not a new sort of mushy breakfast cereal. Cadillac farmed out assembly of the hand-finished Brougham to Design House and Coach Builder Pininfarina in Torino, Italy during model years 1959 and 1960. Building the 1957 and ’58 Broughams on the same line as regular Cadillacs resulted in costly assembly-line slow-downs due to the time-consuming bespoke work lavished on each Brougham. Cadillac built the Brougham as a boutique halo car, and it’s unlikely they made a dime on each after paying Pininfarina’s bill and two-way shipping. Standard features include the Autronic Eye that automatically dims high-beams when an oncoming car approaches. Thanks to NotoriousLuxury for some details.
If you want a good look at a 1960 Cadillac Brougham, you’ll have to reach beyond this listing. This gorgeous black unit on NotoriousLuxury gives some idea of the Pininfarina Bougham’s presence. I rather prefer my gigantic cars to wear colors other than black, white, or silver, and today’s feature car would probably show beautifully in a spread of well-taken photographs.
Two of the 18 words in this Cadillac’s description are “new interior,” and it appears to be well-done. Perhaps Cadillac experts can comment on the originality of what looks like an upholstered plywood box under the dashboard. What would you stash in the under-dash hidey-hole?
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Comments
Interesting article as this is the first I heard of Cadillac using Pinninfarina back in 59 and 60. They tried again with the Allante in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Another money looser for the company. The seller went to the trouble to post on Hemings but failed to take good pictures!
Welcome to the new world of selling cars with your phone. At least they didn’t take pics at night with a flash.
Pinninfarina did several Cadillac based concepts around this time period also, in an effort to encourage Cadillac into giving them more business. One of which ( Cadillac Jacqueline) shared some styling influence with some Peugeots of the era
A good read on the brougham of that era for those like me that were a bit uneducated.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/notoriousluxury.com/2017/02/22/the-elite-1960-cadillac-series-6900-eldorado-brougham/amp/
By the way that is is a great example
Actually, the fins on the `59 version of this `60 Brougham were those used on production 1960 model Cadillacs–just a year early is all. The `59 fins were never used on these. The taillamps were incorporated into the stock `59 rear bumper.
This is beautiful, and appears well kept. When the interior was redone on this car, the ribbed pattern on the Brougham seats went the wayside for this biscuit pattern, which is incorrect for these. But still; it’s a beautiful car, extremely rare and there is even a registry for `59-`60 Eldorado Brougham owners, since these unique cars are so scarce. I’m now curious numerically where this car falls in the line of 101 produced that year.
Hi Will Fox and thanks for your comments. The Hemmings listing indicates this is “#79 of 100,” and my research agrees with your total of 101. Happy motoring!
You can also see the windshield on this was used on the 1961 models.
The Seller needs to get educated. The price started out at $89,000.00 when first advertised in Hemmings, which is getting annoying with its redesign of its
website, the pictures are terrible, and the car is magnificent. Barn Finders is much better at portraying the cars, the writers are much better, and the people
who comment are smart and knowledgable. Go to Vegas and put your hands on the car. If it is as good as it looks buy it and drive it. The Seller has other Cadillacs for sale. Many are junk cars.
Back in 1985 I was at a Cadillac car show with a friend.
There was a 1960 Brougham there and we spoke to the owner.
His name was David Fogg and he told us this story.
He found this car in Beverly Hills. When he found it the car was green on green.
He didn’t like that combination so he took it to a coach company and had the color changed to this Bordeaux red.
They did it right when they did the work.
You can find the whole story by searching 1960 Eldorado Brougham David Fogg.
This is his car #79.
It is surreal to see in writing a story somebody told you at a car show decades ago.
I saw that car many years ago in a museum in San Diego. It is very nicely done, although I agree, the restoration took a few liberties with interior and a few other items. Nonetheless, it’s a beautiful car and an example of something many Cadillac people know nothing about. Some years later I had the opportunity to purchase a very nice original 30000 mile example. It will remain in my collection until my estate sells it. Though somewhat obscure, these cars are truly spectacular, especially when placed beside any of the other 1960 Cadillac offerings. As indicated in the write-up, it is like a custom-built car. To the Unknowing, it looks like another 1960 Cadillac. Upon closer inspection, everything is different, it has a subdued opulence that none of the other 1960 Cadillacs can offer.
I particulary like the hat boxes on the rear shelf.
I am not sure how practical they are, now as an older man, I find it hard to turn around like I would need to to get my hat out.
Miguel,
While I do agree that the roof line of the 61 was styled after the Italian Brougham design, it is significantly different. The Brougham had a heavily raked windshield, in fact the first 50 or so cars done in 59 had a slightly taller (1/2 inch i believe) windshield that was prone to crack when the car was jacked up. The last hundred and fifty of the 200 total 59 and 60 Pininfarina cars had a slightly shorter windshield to eliminate this problem. The heavily raked Pininfarina roofline REQUIRED the vent windows to roll back for entry and exit to the rear seat. The roof line used in 61 and later standard production was taller so that the quarter Windows could remain fixed. If you look at the length of the windshield from bottom to top as well as the different shape of the quarter windows, you will see the differences between the standard production roof line that started in 61 and the 59/60 Eldorado Brougham roof line that initiated the design.
John, I didn’t say it was exact, but you can see the influence in the ’61 model.
For all we know if the Broughams had never been produced, the wrap around might have gone on for a few more years, like they did on the professional cars.
Why would anyone pay for this? Chat is amongst 10 or so players. You pay to give them ads. And STILL they show crazy, silly cars everyone sees, can buy locally..amazing. jeep up the good scam.
Holy crap! Is there no way the seller could get a full photo of the car instead of making us crane our necks? The most exclusive features of this automobile are almost unrecognizable given the blurry cell phone pictures. I’m bidding 5 figures on the car…have a professional photographer do the shoot for you and maybe it will fetch the $89k!
I would add curb indicators.
amazing, a 20 ft long car? And the style, detail etc. More reasons for auto museums.
Saw that open below the dash Todd. Wondered the same.
Gunna hit the link button now’n C what somebody shared~
The open compartment under the dash and the different pattern on the seating surfaces are some of the artistic license taken when this car was restored. Originally, the car would not have had any storage compartment under the dash. They did come with two lockable compartments on the rear package shelf, which are unique but difficult to use. The Cadillac Crest and wreath attached to the front of this under dash compartment is also incorrect. Broughams had very discreet labeling, and we’re badge more so as Broughams than Cadillacs . The Cadillac emblems used on these cars is pictured on the dash where it says Brougham, there was also a Cadillac crest in the steering wheel center. Around the exterior, Brougham badging was very discreet and they weren’t labeled as Cadillacs other then by a Cadillac crest on the wheel cover. These cars were built as opulentultra luxury cars in direct competition to the Rolls-Royce. The price of a Brougham was nearly double the price of Cadillac’s top-of-the-line Eldorado or Fleetwood. Excessive, or in-your-face badging was not deemed necessary.
What beautiful sled with a fantastic choice of colors. Very cool.