RM Auctions is bringing a historic GM Motorama show car, the 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Concept, to their January Scottsdale Arizona Auction on January 19 - 20, 2012.
The Eldorado Brougham was sometimes called Cadillac's answer to the Ford Motor Company's Continental Mark II, but in many ways General Motors' product was more impressive. The Eldorado Brougham was not only more exotic and exclusive than the Mark II, it commanded a price nearly a third more than the Mark II's $10,000 sticker.
Finally readied for production in 1957, the Brougham made the show circuit in 1956, including the traveling GM Motorama tour and the Paris Salon. Known in GM Styling as project XP-48, the four-door hardtop Brougham had a nearly forgotten sibling, the Eldorado Brougham Town Car, which debuted at the New York Motorama held at the Waldorf Astoria.
Constructed of fiberglass, the Town Car was more concept car than prototype. Just 55.5 inches high, it had a half-roof over the passenger compartment, covered in black leather, an open chauffeur's compartment, a different roofline and more understated body-side trim. Inside, the passenger compartment was trimmed in beige leather in a "biscuit and button" motif with gold trim; the chauffeur was surrounded by black Moroccan leather and chrome. The passenger compartment was lavishly equipped with twin compartments furnished with, among other items, a decanter and cups, a vanity case and a tissue dispenser, all in gold plate. The divider bulkhead had a sliding glass window, but for contacting the chauffeur without opening the window, a bulkhead-mounted telephone was provided, also in gold.
You can view all the cars at RM's Arizona auction at www.rmauctions.com.