Bob Hope’s Legendary Eldorado The legendary Eldorado featured in this issue was owned by none other than equally legendary Bob Hope, the comedic icon whose career spanned nearly 80 years across radio, television, and feature films, and who famously brought joy to American troops during World War II by visiting them over the Christmas holidays.
These features included 45 interior trim and colour options, and 15 exterior colours, along with a brushed stainless-steel roof. The glove box and rear seat compartments contained a ladies’ compact, magnetized drinking cups, cigarette case, lipstick holder, mirror, notepad, and an atomizer of Arpege perfume. It also boasted a 365 cubic inch engine with three two-barrel carburetors and an astounding 335 horsepower. Other notable features included a four-speed automatic transmission, full-flow oil filter, air ride suspension, auto-leveling, anti-dive braking, auto headlight dimming, and an auto-start feature. The car had an electric fuel pump, memory power seats, suicide doors, power trunk opener and closer, a full gauge package, and warning lights for each feature. Steve Plunkett, the current owner of this car, shared his insights. The purpose of the quad headlights was to double visibility, first introduced on the 1955 Eldorado Brougham concept car. This car was also the first to offer standard air conditioning using only fresh air rather than recirculating inside air. Steve acquired this car 20 years ago. Bob Hope did not customize this car, but it has been restored to the factory’s original specifications. Steve’s favourite feature is the memory power seats. GM sold the car below its production cost due to the 1958 recession, but it was a technological success with advanced features that were ahead of its time. For 15 years, Steve Plunkett turned his love of cars into the Fleetwood Country Cruize-In, an event that supported local charities and raised over $1.7 million. “Taking a passion that I love and creating an event that benefits so many people has been a blessing,” says Steve. The event attracted thousands of people and cars from across North America. When not at home on his estate on the outskirts of Byron, Steve tours invitational car events and shows across North America, showcasing his classic cars.
Bob Hope owned this classic Cadillac from 1958 to 1984. For a time, the car was displayed on a turntable in an office building lobby in San Diego. The Eldorado is one of the most celebrated names in American automobiles, cherished by Elvis and frequently featured in Martin Scorsese films. Known for its stunning design, the Eldorado has several little-known facts that highlight its prominence. The 1957 Eldorado Brougham was one of the most famous production vehicles globally. This hand-built car featured every luxury of the late 1950s, including air conditioning, self-levelling suspension, a stainless-steel roof, and lamb’s wool carpeting. At over $13,000 at the time, equivalent to more than $110,000 today, it cost more than a Rolls-Royce. The Eldorado was the first American car with quad headlamps. Before the late 1950s, American cars were limited to two sealed- beam headlamps. By 1958, 5.5-inch quad headlights became popular, but the 1957 Eldorado Brougham pioneered this feature. Designed for GM’s travelling Motorama show in 1955, the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was a dream car, hand-assembled on a separate production line at Clark Avenue in Detroit. The 1957 and 1958 models were nearly identical, with 400 produced in 1957 and 304 in 1958. Due to the 1958 recession and the $13,070 price tag, production was low, costing GM $23,000 per unit. GM was unmatched in technology and innovation for the time, and the Eldorado Brougham showcased numerous advanced features.
KKD Villager September 2024
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