The 1958 Cadillac model interior was offered in either a Cape Buffalo grain leather or a combination including leather and crest cloth made from nylon faced material with lurex metallic thread. For the model year in 1958, Cadillac also offered the consumer the "Autronic-Eye". This safety feature was an automatic headlight beam control that could electronically dim your headlights as other vehicles approached or at the time when you would enter a brightly lighted area. The lights would then automatically return to high beam after cars passed and the road ahead was clear. A foot switch was also provided for the driver to dim the headlights when it was necessary.
Among the twelve models included in the popular ’62 series was the new extended deck sedan. The model was a companion car to the ’62 sedan with more trunk room and an additional 8.5” in overall length. Like many other closed models, with the exception of the eight-passenger limousines, this new model was a hardtop.
For 1958, the Eldorado Biarritz convertible and Eldorado Seville Coupe retained their own distinctive styling both inside and out. Another exclusive design for 1958 was the Eldorado Brougham. The model was dramatically beautiful with its brushed stainless steel roof and air suspension. Among its many features included a special engine and many other revolutionary and engineering developments that were created to be the finest model design of all time. In the later years, the models became rare resulting in collectable items for many automobile historians.
The custom crafted interiors of the Eldorado Brougham were exclusively fashioned in the world's finest leather and fabrics. In total, there were a total of forty-four selections of trim and colors offered to the buying public. The carpeting offered was either nylon Karakul or genuine mouton. The rear arm rest on the Eldorado Brougham models were fitted with a vanity mirror and perfume atomizer containing Arpege Extrait de Lanvin.
The 1958 Cadillac model designs were no doubt exceptionally different than any other GM models that year. Although the 1958 recession resulted in poor sales, the Cadillac line included many important mechanical changes and extensive styling that created a moving forward moment. Mr. James M. Roche, General Manager of Cadillac and Vice President of General Motors said, “From every standpoint-styling, engineering, performance, and comfort for the 1958 Cadillac line will continue to uphold its reputation as the standard of the world in American motoring”.
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A special thanks to Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher, for donating the story to the MotorCities Story of the Week program. Photographs courtesy of Bob Tate’s Personal Collection. (Bibliography: Hendry D. Maurice. Cadillac Standard of the world . Princeton Publishing Inc. 1979.
Please do not republish the story and/or photographs without permission of MotorCities National Heritage Area. For further information contact Robert Tate at btate@motorcities.org. If you have a story that you would like to donate to be featured as a MotorCities Story of the Week, email Lisa Ambriez at lambriez@motorcities.org.