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What is a Biarritz?

Started by Tpicks55, May 11, 2017, 05:24:31 PM

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Tpicks55

I was recently asked if my car was a Biarritz.  Its a 75 Eldorado convertible.  Title doesn't state anything but cadillac eldorado convertible.  Can anyone explain what is or makes it a Biarritz?   Thanks Tony
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From wikipedia

Eldorado Biarritz
Unlike the Cadillac Sixty Special and De Ville, Eldorado did not have a unique luxury package to provide it with a title change (such as the "d'Elegance" package). This was rectified in mid-year 1976 with the Biarritz package. A unique trim feature of Biarritz, a name that had not been used since the 1964 model year (although the Eldorado was Fleetwood bodied from the 1963 model year on, the Fleetwood designation was only applied to all Eldorados produced from the 1965 through 1972 model years) was a brushed stainless steel roof covering the front passenger compartment for model years 1979â€"1985. This was a styling cue reminiscent of the 1957/58 Eldorado Brougham. The rear half of the roof was covered with a heavily padded landau vinyl top accented with large "opera" lights. The interior featured "pillowed"-style, "tufted" velour or leather seating, with contrasting piping, along with an array of other options available.

The 1978 Biarritz option packages consisted of the Eldorado Custom Biarritz ($1,865.00); w/Astroroof ($2,946.00); w/Sunroof ($2,746.00) and Eldorado Custom Biarritz Classic ($2,466.00); w/Astroroof ($3,547.00); w/Sunroof ($3,347.00).

For the 1978 Eldorado model year only, 2,000 Eldorado Custom Biarritz Classics were produced in Two-Tone Arizona Beige/Demitasse Brown consisting of 1,499 with no Astroroofs or no Sunroofs; 475 with Astroroofs; 25 with Sunroofs and one (1) was produced with a Power Sliding T-Top.[45] Only nine of the latter are known to have been retrofitted by the American Sunroof Company under the direction of General Motors' Cadillac Motor Division.[citation needed]

The Biarritz option stayed with the Eldorado through the 1991 model year. Some of the original styling cues vanished after the 1985 model year, such as the brushed stainless steel roofing and the interior seating designs, but the Biarritz remained unique just the same.
I got myself a Cadillac but I can't afford the gasoline (AC/DC Down Payment Blues)

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1962 Coupe Deville

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

#2
From 1953 - 1955 Eldorado was convertible only. The Eldorado was the premium convertible; standard convertible was a Series 62.

In 1956 the Eldorado was broken into 2 models - the Eldorado Seville (two door hardtop) and the Eldorado Biarritz (convertible). These two models ran until 1960.

The Eldorado Seville was was dropped in 1961 leaving the Eldorado Biarritz as the only model in  the Eldorado line - and only offered as a convertible.

In 1964, the Eldorado Biarritz was renamed Fleetwood Eldorado (again only offered in convertible body style only) until 1966, the last RWD Eldorado convertible.

"Biarritz" name was later revived to designate an decor upgrade to the FWD Eldorado model beginning in 1976 and lasted until 1991.
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

30326

#3
Quote from: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on May 11, 2017, 05:41:50 PM

In 1964, the Eldorado Biarritz was renamed Fleetwood Eldorado (again only offered in convertible body style only) until 1966, the last RWD Eldorado convertible.


Well Eric. This below is a copy straight from my original 1964 Shop Manual.

In 1966 Shop Manual its written Fleetwood Eldorado Convertible, style 68467 starting with VIN E610001.

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

#4
Quote from: CLC 30326 on May 11, 2017, 06:16:36 PM
Well Eric. This below is a copy straight from my original 1964 Shop Manual.

In 1966 Shop Manual its written Fleetwood Eldorado Convertible, style 68467 starting with VIN E610001.

It is incorrect.

In 1964 the Eldorado Convertible was repositioned as a sister car to the Series 60 Special in the Fleetwood line. Biarritz name was discontinued after 1963. From 1964 - 1966 the car is officially designated "Fleetwood Eldorado" (convertible).

From the 1964 Catalog:

http://www.oldcarbrochures.org/index.php/New-Brochures---May/1964-Cadillac-Full-Line-Brochure/1964-Cadillac-Full-Line-12-13a
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

76eldo

To elaborate on what Eric wrote, The Eldorado Biarritz from 1976 through 1978 were ALL hardtops only.  There were NO Biarritz convertibles built in these years.

1979-1985............

There were Biarritz coupes 79-85.  They had additional chrome trim on the fenders and doors which continued as a halo molding around the top of the roof which had a stainless steel cap on the roof.  The Biarritz interiors were button tufted seats in a diamond pattern.

The only Biarritz convertibles offered at that time were in 1984 and 1985.  These are considered "Factory" convertibles because they were converted by ASC for Cadillac and carried a different VIN prefix which identifies it as a convertible.

To further complicate matters, there were other other companies that built convertibles based on Eldorado's and DeVilles, most notably Hess & Eisenhardt.  These cars were custom ordered and also sold through Cadillac dealers.  They were not Biarritz models but were standard Eldorado coupes that were generally nicely equipped.

So, contrary to what the often incorrect eBay sellers state, not every Cadillac convertible is an "Eldorado", and not every Eldorado convertible is a "Biarritz".

Brian
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g27g28

#6
It is highly unlikely that a 76 eldo would be a biarritz but after the production convertible was discontinued in 76 there were biarritz cars made into convertibles.  I have seen a few over the years.  This continued on with Hess and others until the 84 and 85.  I have never seen a later than 85 biarritz modified into a convertible. 
1941 Series 62
1954 Coupe DeVille
1978 Phaeton
1980 Fleetwood

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

#7
FWD Eldorado:

1967 - 1970: 2 door HT only.

1971 - 1976: 2 door HT and Convertible but not called a Biarritz. *Final year for convertible.

Late 1976: Biarritz trim option offered on Coupe only.

1977 - 1978: Biarritz decor trim optional.

1979 - 1985: Biarritz decor trim optional (included SS roof panel)

Convertible reintroduced 84-85 - offered only with Biarritz trim.

1986 - 1991: Biarritz trim optional - (SS roof dropped).

The direct answer to the question - there was no Biarritz in 1975. It was simply an Eldorado - coupe or convertible.
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Big Apple Caddy

Quote from: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on May 11, 2017, 06:26:05 PM
It is incorrect.

In 1964 the Eldorado Convertible was repositioned as a sister car to the Series 60 Special in the Fleetwood line. Biarritz name was discontinued after 1963.

Are you sure??  The 1964 Cadillac data book also identifies an Eldorado Biarritz convertible plus attached is a sampling of various different 1964 and 1965 newspaper ads, mostly from Cadillac dealers, advertising 1964 Eldorado Biarritz convertibles.

Jason Edge

#9
Eric is correct. The 1964 Eldorado dropped the Biarritz and joined the Fleetwood Body series. The information on page 16-2 in the 1964 Cadillac Shop Manual is incorrect. It was a simple mistake, probably from copying similar information over from the 1963 Shop Manual. There is a ton of literature indicating the Eldorado was the Fleetwood Eldorado in 1964.  Here are the scans from the 1964 Cadillac Data Book page 26 and 27 in the Body Styles Chapter:




Jason Edge
Lifetime Member
Executive Vice President
CLC 1963/64 Cadillac Chapter Director - www.6364Cadillac.com
CLC Carolina Region Webmaster - www.CRCLC.org
CLC MRC Benefactor
email - jasonedge64@outlook.com
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Jason Edge

#10
This is probably the 2nd most common area of body style confusion in the 1963 & 1964 Body style years. The #1 body style related area of confusion is the 63-6267 and 64-6267 convertibles:
The 1963 6267 convertible was a "Series 62" convertible but had "de Ville" interior styling.
The 1964 6267 convertible was formally moved into the "de Ville" body styles and was a "de Ville Convertible" even thought it retained the 6267 body style code.
Over the past 21 years I have been dealing with these model year cars I have heard and seen either body style interchangeably called either body style!
Jason Edge
Lifetime Member
Executive Vice President
CLC 1963/64 Cadillac Chapter Director - www.6364Cadillac.com
CLC Carolina Region Webmaster - www.CRCLC.org
CLC MRC Benefactor
email - jasonedge64@outlook.com
1964 Coupe DeVille - Sierra Gold - http://bit.ly/1WnOQRX
2002 Escalade EXT - Black
2013 Escalade EXT Premium Edition - Xenon Blue
2022 XT5 Luxury Premium - Dark Moon Blue Metallic

Big Apple Caddy

What about all those dealers, mostly Cadillac dealers, in my attachment that advertised 1964 Eldorado Biarritz models?  They all incorrectly identified the cars back when these ads ran in 1964-65?  Is it possible that a model name change occurred during the 1964 model year i.e. there were some 1964 Eldorado Biarritzs initially?

manxie

#12
Great info fellas. Excuse my ignorance please  :-[  but can someone tell me the difference between a Sunroof and an Astroroof? I would just like to know if my 78 Biarritz Custom Classic is 1 of 475, or 1 of 25? Thank you, Steve.
78 Eldorado Biarritz Custom Classic

30326

Have a Detroit Iron Informations System CD. On it is this attached document. Don't know who wrote it or when.

30326

Nowhere in the 1964 Cadillac original sales brochure is the word Biarritz used. The most luxury models are under The Impeccable Fleetwood Series; Eldorado Convertible, Sixty Special Sedan and Seventy-Five Sedan & Limousine.


jdemerson

Based only on Cadillac Division publications (which I have and have reviewed), I can confirm:

The 1964 Cadillac Data Book lists a Biarritz model 6367 on page 367.  (The designation may have changed soon after.)

In spring 1976 there was a small Cadillac brochure on the Eldorado Biarritz package. It shows a very lovely blue coupe. There was no convertible Biarritz. The details of the 1976 brochure are:   

Eldorado Biarritz,   1976 Color folder,  Blue Custom Biarritz. White covers,  6 sides, 8.5x4 inches   

John Emerson
1952 Cadillac 6219X         
John Emerson
Middlebury, Vermont
CLC member #26790
1952 Series 6219X
http://bit.ly/21AGnvn

D.Smith

Quote from: manxie on May 12, 2017, 03:07:10 AM
Great info fellas. Excuse my ignorance please  :-[  but can someone tell me the difference between a Sunroof and an Astroroof? 

The "Astro Roof" is the power tinted glass roof.  The glass "Astro Roof" debuted in 1975. 

The power sun roof is a solid steel panel.  Which is covered in vinyl on cars with a full vinyl top option, although can be painted steel if ordered on a coupe with a half vinyl top.   

Both type of power sun roofs were available for several years, but eventually the more popular power Astro roof won out and became the only option.   Hope that helps.

D.Smith

Quote from: Tpicks55 on May 11, 2017, 05:24:31 PM
I was recently asked if my car was a Biarritz.  Its a 75 Eldorado convertible.  Title doesn't state anything but cadillac eldorado convertible.  Can anyone explain what is or makes it a Biarritz?   Thanks Tony

No Biarritz models in 1975.   

The Biarritz package for hardtops coupes came out late in 76 after the convertible was dropped.

I've seen a few 75 and 76 convertibles with Biarritz seats taken out of a 77 or 78 Biarritz hardtop parts cars.  Some people like the big fluffy pillowed seats.   But they are just owner additions not factory.   

But as pointed out by another earlier poster, some real 77 and 78 hardtop Biarritz coupes were chopped and modified into convertibles by coachbuilders.  But not made by or sanctioned by Cadillac until 1984.   

manxie

Quote from: D.Smith on May 12, 2017, 08:01:21 AM
The "Astro Roof" is the power tinted glass roof.  The glass "Astro Roof" debuted in 1975. 

The power sun roof is a solid steel panel.  Which is covered in vinyl on cars with a full vinyl top option, although can be painted steel if ordered on a coupe with a half vinyl top.   

Both type of power sun roofs were available for several years, but eventually the more popular power Astro roof won out and became the only option.   Hope that helps.

Perfect Dave, mine has an Astro Roof  8)  Many thanks, Steve.
78 Eldorado Biarritz Custom Classic