| What's New?
Newest all-new car on road today
... Full-sized scale model of last year's Motorama dream car
. . . Air suspension here at last ... Probability of fuel
injection . . . World's most luxurious interiors ... Driver-operated
controls for door locks and trunk lid ... Standard equipment
includes air-conditioning and Autronic Eye . . . Free perfume,
lipstick, Kleenex, and drinking cups with each car.
Your Choice
The Eldorado Brougham is a styling
concept revolving around the four-door hardtop. No other body
style is being planned, though of course a customer could
make arrangements with Derham to fabricate a town car or perhaps
even a convertible from the basic body structure.
Price has not been set as of
presstime, but rumors have it that the cost wilt substantially
exceed Continental's healthy tag. In any case, up in this
rarefied atmosphere, $ 1000 one way or the other is not much
of a factor. Choosing between the cars is a matter of styling
preference and degree of mechanical advancement. The first
boils down to personal opinion; the second is a foregone conclusion.
Eldorado Brougham Power
It is a tribute to the professional
consciences of Cadillac Chief Engineer Fred Arnold and his
staff that the decision to include fuel injection in Brougham
specifications or leave it off has not been made as of the
date we write. Quite frankly, unless it shows a considerable
margin of performance over the regular dual fourbarrel carburetor
engine, it will not be used. With orders on hand already double
the first year's possible production, sales gimmicks for their
own sakes are not needed.
Regardless of the type induction
system used, the Brougham powerplant will be essentially the
same as the 365-cubic-inch, ohv V8 used in regular Cadillacs.
The alternative to injection will be the twin fourbarrel carburetors
now optional on the Eldorado Seville and Biarritz. Standard
transmission is, of course, the latest silkysmooth Hydra-Matic,
mounted in its usual location directly behind the engine.
Eldorado Brougham on
the Road
No one other than Cadillac test
engineers has driven the chassis equipped with the new air
suspension system, so we cannot comment on the ride. The individual
air cylinders at each wheel, however, can be factory tuned
just like coilspring shock-absorber combinations to give any
kind of a ride. You can be sure, therefore, that Cadillac
engineers aimed for their excellent combination of softness
and roadability.
The central air source comes
from a compressor driven by ' its own electric motor. Levelizing
devices governed -by a central "brain" keep the
car level regardless of load distribution, but are not so
overly active that they affect cornering. The latest type,
air-suspended Greyhound bus is troubled with this problem.
Watch one on a highly crowned road; the wheels will adjust
so that the body stays level. Then when the driver pulls out
to pass, compound lean sets in until 'the system catches up
with the situation.
The unusual 1957 Cadillac X-shaped
chassis was originally developed for the Brougham before being
incorporated in regular production cars, The 126-inch wheelbase
Brougham version is three inches shorter, but tread front
and rear remains the same at 61 inches. It should be a very
stable, compact design.
Inside Your Eldorado
Brougham
The Brougham's interior matches
Europe's most costly custom productions. Upholsteries ranging
from all-leather to sedate and tailored broadcloths can be
had in 40 variations. Mouton (a kind of furry lambskin) rugs
are standard. Completely equipped vanity cases, front and
rear, even contain a complimentary ounce of Arpege Extrait
de Lanvin, a perfume in. the Brougham price class.
Instruments are housed in a panel
designed especially for the Brougham. Extra controls (all
standard equipment) include a warning light for low air pressure
in the suspension system, three knobs in the driver's door
to operate a "memory" seat (see page 40 for Mercury's
version), and buttons to control the electric door locks and
the power-actuated trunk lid. An Autronic Eye mounted under
the mirror is designed to give way under any kind of impact.
Radio with front and rear speakers, an antenna that pops up
and down when the set is turned on and off, and a combined
heater, air-conditioning system are standard equipment. The
heater includes two separate units mounted under the rear
seat.
The Brougham is 3.5 inches lower
than the already low standard Cadillacs, but headroom, both
front and rear, is actually greater. Front seat legroom remains
about the same, but suffers considerably in the rear from
the shortened chassis. However, the rear ' seats are separate
lounge chairs, for two people only. Much of the lost legroom
can be made up by reclining at an angle. Entrance and exit
is greatly facili tated by elimination of the usual seat-back
height door post. This has been reduced to a stub on the Brougham
with the doors locking against each other. The car cannot
be started with either rear door open, and they are electrically
locked whenever the car is in gear.
Why Buy?
Ummh ... why not? |
