Cadillac Eldorado 5th Gen

The 5th generation Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz debuted for 1961 with stunning new styling from Bill Mitchell's design team. It featured clean sides and unique lower tail fins, known as skegs, that gave it a distinct, forward-looking appearance. As Cadillac's flagship personal luxury car, it was only available as a convertible and came loaded with standard equipment that was optional on lesser models. Production was limited, with just 1,450 built for 1961 and another 1,450 for 1962.

Collectors prize these cars for their unique styling, rarity, and status as the ultimate Cadillac of their era. Though technically the 5th generation only lasted 2 years, collectors often group it with the similar 1963-1966 Eldorado convertibles which continued the model's top-of-the-line positioning before the switch to a front-wheel drive coupe in 1967. The market shows a very wide value spread, reflecting the difference between neglected project cars and perfectly restored examples.

The average sale price of nearly $50,000 indicates a healthy market for drivable, well-maintained cars. The top of the market, exceeding $120,000, is reserved for professionally restored, numbers-matching cars that perform well at major concours events. Lower-priced examples under $20,000 are typically major projects requiring extensive work.

Prices range from $3,000 for project cars to $123,000 for pristine, restored examples.