Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Town Car concept

1956 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Town Car Concept at RM Amelia Island

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

These days people are prone to refer to anything top-of-the-line as "the Mercedes-Benz" or the "Rolls-Royce" of whatever category they're in, but once upon a time that position belonged to Cadillac. And with good reason: in the 1950s, Cadillacs were the very pinnacle of luxury motoring. And few examples could demonstrate that as aptly as the 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Town Car concept.

Unveiled at the Motorama – GM's own traveling auto show – the Broughham Town Car was a concept version of the Cadillac Eldorado that would hit the market the following year. Only this version was even more opulent, with a split cabin: open in the front and trimmed in black leather and chrome for the chauffeur, enclosed in the back with beige leather and gold everything – from the telephone to the decanter – for the occupants.

The one-of-a-kind car never went into production in this version, but was rescued from being scrapped after touring the United States in the traveling exposition. Recently restored and given a gold-trimmed 365 cubin-inch OHV V8 engine for show use, the Town Car is expected to fetch between $500,000 and $750,000 at the upcoming RM Auctions event at Amelia Island on March 12. Visit RM Auctions' website for more information.

Gallery: 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Town Car