[ last update: 12.23.2014 ]

The (new) Cadillac Database©

Photo Pages
Cadillac

1958


Return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page
or go back to the Cadillac photo index page to pick another year
or go to the  La Salle photo index page

 

I was spared the time and trouble of preparing and posting digital images of the 1958 models and those of 1960 through 1975, thanks to the excellent work done in this field by a Cadillac admirer in the Netherlands (Holland).  Regrettably, those pages appear to be "lost".

At last I found time to scan my own sales catalogs for the year and so I am including (below)  for your immediate enjoyment, some small, low resolution images.   The bulk of them are artist's renderings, therefore longer and lower than in reality.   To gauge true proportions I have included also some reductions of some factory photos graciously provided to me through the years by the Cadillac Division's Public Relations Department.  Photos of some survivors are here too.

A number of Cadillac commercials [both public and private] have been posted on You Tube, on the Internet.  Unfortunately, I have no control over these postings and cannot, therefore, guarantee that they will be always available there for viewing.   Here's another.

Total production of 1958 models was 121,778 cars, a drop of some 25,000 units over the previous year ..and a far cry from the record sales year 1956 !

Two different sets of ID features were apparent this year: (1) in the regular model range (being the Series 62, Series 60 Special and Series 75,) and (2) the Eldorado models, including the Seville coupe, Biarritz convertible and Brougham sedan.

The easiest way to distinguish a regular 1958 Cadillac (not being an Eldorado) is to look at the front clip and leading edge of the front fenders, with their distinctive, chrome trim piece (below):

 

1958 Cadillac - Easy ID (front)

 


Note chrome bumper inserts; these should be black rubber

58FrtCl3.jpg (14834 bytes)    58GRIL.JPG (6884 bytes)    58frt.jpg (5535 bytes)
1958 front clips

    58IDcone.jpg (20207 bytes)    58IDtrim.jpg (18815 bytes)
Left: Detail of front bumper guard
Right: "C" trim piece on leading edge of front fenders (reversed on LH side!)

    
(Left) Front clip (all except Eldorado Brougham); (right) rear clip of Series 60 Special

 

 

Look also for identifying script or lettering on some models (Coupe de Ville, Sedan de Ville,  FLEETWOOD, ELDORADO, etc.)   Sometimes (after a new paint job, for example), the script or lettering may be missing; in that case look to the car's interior as each model had its own trim options.

The traditional Cadillac tail-fins reached new heights and new lengths this year. The regular line had squarish, rear leaning fins mounted flush with the body sides. The fins on the Eldorado coupe and convertible were rounded at the leading edge and were mounted inboard, which gave them bulbous rear fenders which the public were quick to dub "chipmunk cheeks". The Brougham had body lines all on its own. An entire section of The (new) Cadillac Database© is devoted to them; you may reach the index page of that section by clicking here.

 

1958 Cadillac - Easy ID (rear)

 

58IDrr.jpg (15731 bytes)    TAIL5860.JPG (4345 bytes)
Left and right: all-model tail fins (exc. Eldorados)

58biaID.jpg (18120 bytes)    5758Bgrr.jpg (7522 bytes)
Left:  Eldorado tail fin (exc. Brougham)
Right:  Eldorado Brougham tail fin (1957 and 1958)
[ you can see the influence of the 1955-56 Eldorado design ]

 

 

Additional information and photos of the 1958 models and the related sales literature may be found  in The (New) Cadillac Database© sections entitled "Descriptions and Specifications of Cadillac Cars  1956-1965",  "Cadillac and La Salle Sales Literature 1955-1959" as well as in the appropriate "Dream cars" section.  Further recommended reading includes:

(a)   "Cadillacs of the Fifties" by Roy Schneider, published by Automobile Heritage Publishing Co,  Box 7, Temple City, CA 91780, ISBN #0-917104-01-1, © 1978.

(b) Standard Catalog of Cadillac, 1903-2000 edited by James T. Lenzke, © 2000, published by Krause Publications, Inc., 700 E. State Street, Iola, WI 54990 [ISBN #0-87341-925-1, Library of Congress #91-61301].  An updated version covering Cadillacs through 2005 was edited by John Gunnell that year.

 

The Series 62

 

The Coupe
I have no control over You Tube video clips on the Internet,
so this one may not always be available for viewing here
[ not sure if this is a "Series 62" coupe or a "Coupe de Ville"
wheel discs and interior trim are non-original ]

   
Style 6237X, 18,736 units built; they cost $4784 each


Fabulous-looking survivor

 

The Sedan

    
Style 6239X, 13,539 units built (of these, 204 were exported); these cost $4,784 each

5862sdn2.jpg (17569 bytes)
[ Factory publicity shot ]

    


Above 3 rows: Images from 1958 merchandising brochures; lower image posed before the
Bellevue -Stratford hotel in downtown Philadelphia; behind it, a rare 1957-58 Eldorado Brougham sedan

 

The Sedan
with extended deck

    
Style 6239EX, 20,952 units built; their cost was $5,079 each

58SDN.JPG (12315 bytes)

    

 

The Coupe de Ville

    
Style 6237DX, 18,414 units built; their cost was $5,231 each

    

    
Left: the armrest in the raised position; right,  an images from a merchandising brochure

    
Two images from 1958 merchandising brochures; note tail of rare Eldorado Brougham at left of RH image

     
Two fine survivors

    
Another fine survivor

      

           
... and yet another, in a delightful shade of "pink" (salmon?)


...and here's one in prize-winning red


Another "pink" survivor snapped below the (invisible) Golden Gate bridge
[ Photo: Internet ]

 

 

The Sedan de Ville
I have no control over You Tube video clips on the Internet,
so this one may not always be available for viewing here

    
Style 6239EDX, 23,989 units built; their cost was $5,497 each

    

 

The Convertible

    
Style 6267X, 7,825 units built; their cost was $5,454 each


Image from 1958 merchandising brochure


Left: this illustration is from cover of a factory product brochure

    
These lovely survivor reside in Scandinavia.


... as does this one, that has been  lowered or perhaps has faulty air suspension!

     

 

The Eldorado Seville

     cat58svli.jpg (5084 bytes)
Style 6237SDX, 855 units built; their cost was $7,500 each

 

The Eldorado Biarritz

     cat58biai.jpg (16057 bytes)    
Style 6267SX, 815 units built; their cost was $7,500 each

 

 

The Series Sixty Special

 

   
Factory prototype of Series 60 Special sedan
Photo: Dave Holls collection

5860srrh.jpg (9103 bytes)

5860spho.jpg (9268 bytes)    5860srlh.jpg (9134 bytes)
Style 6039X, 12,900 units built; their cost was $6,232 each
Above two rows:  factory promotional photos


Authentic factory publicity shot use din that year's merchandising brochure


"Replica" publicity shot from the new Millennium


Artist's representation of the
1958 Cadillac Series Sixty Special 

    

    


An excellent survivor

    


... and another

    

         

    
Two interior choices were avalable: cloth and leather (left) or all cloth (center); at far right is a restored car with close but non-original seat and seat back
patterns; the door panels are the correct turquoise and black Calcutta patterned metallic nylon with turquoise metallic leather bolsters and trim

 

         
Above 2 rows: Images from 1958 merchandising brochures


RH side view of stunning survivor

    
Rear RH views of two other stunning survivor

    


This survivor is from Switzerland; you can tell from the red "06" Motorway sticker pasted on the inside of the
windshield that the photo was taken in 2006 (these stickers change color every year and show that you have paid the
annual tax that allows you to operate your vehicle on Switzerland's few Interstates (i.e. the inter-cantonal highway system)

 

 

The Series 75
[ sedan and limousine ]

 

    
Style 7523X, 802 units built; their cost was $8,460 each
Style 7533X, 730 units built; their cost was $8,675 each

5875a.jpg (12897 bytes)    5875b.jpg (13395 bytes)
This beautifully maintained 1958 Series 75 limousine was photographed
at Macungie, PA, in 1982 [Photos: © 1982, Yann Saunders]

5875B2.JPG (9056 bytes)    5875C2.JPG (7341 bytes)
This one was for sale on Internet, in 2004

    

   

            

     58limob.jpg (9216 bytes)     58limoI.jpg (11642 bytes)     58limoJ.jpg (9866 bytes)
This superb survivor is located in Germany; it is believed to have belonged to the Belgian royal family;
under the rear bumper (far right) are what appear to be part of a former communications system

         
Above 2 rows: Two survivors in interesting, 2-tone color schemes

    
...and two more in classic black

    
Also looking good in gray

 

      
    

The new Series 70
[ very limited production - only 304 units ]
( only minor changes from the previous year)

 

New for 1957, the Eldorado Brougham was far and away the most
expensive model in the range. It cost $13,074, compared to $7,586
for the sumptuous Series 75 sedan and limousine

   
Style 7059X, 304 units built; their cost was an astronomical [for the time] $13,074 each !

EB57GMC.JPG (8768 bytes)    BRGINRRX.JPG (6046 bytes)
Left:  in this artists view, the car still has the "custom" wheels it wore at the introductory shows in Paris and New York
Right: the Brougham was delivered with a full complement of so-called vanity item; before delivery to buyers,
these were placed in the glove compartment and in the rear seat armrest (that had a lid)

For more detailed information about Cadillac's
bespoke Eldorado Brougham models, please click here

 

 

Details, Features

 


Image from Cadillac factory taining loop-film

cat58str.jpg (15589 bytes)    cat58hma.jpg (17578 bytes)
Left: Power steering; right: automatic transmision

cat58brk.jpg (13600 bytes)   
Left:  Power brakes; right: "X" frame chassis

58air.jpg (14250 bytes)    
The novel air suspension system introduced as standard equipment on the 1957 Cadillac
Eldorado Brougham was plagued with problems from the start.  Here is a diagram of the
updated and improved (?) layout for 1958.  The cost of servicing the system was
so prohibitive (and so generally ineffectual) that it was abandoned in 1961

 

  

 


A New York showroom around Christmas 1957


After-market Continental kit seems to suit the '58 OK

 

 

Return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page
or go back to the Cadillac photo index page to pick another year
or go to the  La Salle photo index page

 

© 1996, Yann Saunders and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Inc.
[ Background image:  rear ¾ view of 1958 Cadillac Series Sixty Special ]