The 1957 and 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was the most expensive American car at the time. It was a styling masterpiece and a technological wonder. Virtually every comfort and luxury available at the time was included at no charge. These limited production cars weren't intended to make a profit for Cadillac, they were a declaration of Cadillac's superiority in the luxury car market. The Eldorado Brougham was Cadillac's supreme achievement in the late fifties and by virtue of their rarity, each one has been collectible from the moment it was built. There was no better statement of success in its day than arriving in a Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. Identification of the Eldorado Brougham is similar to that of other Cadillac vehicles of the era. A Body Name Plate is mounted in the engine compartment on the driver's side, directly behind the brake booster and on top of the heater plenum (near the heater and fresh air duct). The code numbers provided on this plate identify many details about the car, including the body number of the car, interior trim code, and exterior paint color codes. We will first address the trim code. The 1957-1958 Eldorado Brougham trim code is comprised of a four digit number. There were 44 different selections of trim and color in all. The first three digits designate the interior trim code and identify the color and upholstery material used. The fourth digit represents the type of carpeting used. There were two upholstery materials used on the Eldorado Brougham, a beautiful cloth fabric and genuine leather
