Cadillac Eldorado Convertible 1976

The Eldorado model was part of the Cadillac line from 1953 to 2002. The Cadillac Eldorado was the longest running American personal luxury car as it was the only one sold after the 1998 model year. Its main competitors included the Mark Series and the lower-priced Buick Riviera. The name Eldorado was derived from the Spanish words "el dorado", the "gilded one"; the name was given originally to the legendary chief or "cacique" of a S. American Indian tribe. Legend has it that his followers would sprinkle his body with gold dust on ceremonial occasions and he would wash it off again by diving into a lake. The name more frequently refers to a legendary city of fabulous riches, somewhere in S. America, that inspired many European expeditions, including one to the Orinoco by England’s Sir Walter Raleigh. The name was proposed for a special show car built in 1952 to mark Cadillac’s Golden Anniversary; it was the result of an in-house competition won by Mary-Ann Zukosky (married name = Marini), a secretary in the company’s merchandising department. Another source, Palm Springs Life magazine, attributes the name to a resort destination in California’s Coachella Valley that was a favorite of General Motors executives, the Eldorado Country Club. In any case, the name was adopted by the company for a new, limited-edition convertible that was added to the line in 1953. Although cars bearing the name varied considerably in bodystyle and mechanical layout during this long period, the Eldorado models were always near the top of the Cadillac line. Nevertheless, and except for the Eldorado Brougham models of 1957-1960, the most expensive models were always the opulent, long wheel-based "Series 75" sedans and limousines. Read more: Cadillac Eldorado Convertible 1976

Cadillac Ciel Concept 2011

Cadillac designers pulled the wraps off the luxury division’s new Ciel concept car at a sneak preview prior to the official public debut, which will take place in Monterey, Calif. this Sunday, August 21, on the concept lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Without saying "retro," General Motors chief designer Ed Welburn described the Ciel’s “hint of a fin.” The striking show car touches on its heritage while providing a vision of where Cadillac design might be headed in the near future. GM claims the open-top four-seater could be powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the company’s "3.6-liter direct injection V-6 engine, paired with a hybrid system using lithium-ion battery technology." Long the leader of the luxury market, Cadillac sales now lag behind overseas rivals like BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz. But Cadillac has regained ground on competitors in recent years with a renewed focus on distinctive design. Confident there’s an opportunity for growth, GM management has given Caddy the green light to add a variety of new models, including the ELR plug-in hybrid, approved just this week, as well as the small Cadillac ATS and larger XTS. Ciel, French for “sky,” carries a double meaning. There’s the reference to the convertible design, but the name also suggests that the sky’s the limit, as far as GM is concerned, if Caddy can pull off a turnaround. That likely depends on tapping into more than just the U.S. market – though it remains the largest luxury market in the world. The Ciel, whether in convertible or hard top form, would also target China, now the world’s largest automotive market – and a place where increasingly affluent buyers have shown a predilection for large, lavishly equipped cars.