$13,000 for the scent of a Cadillac Eldorado Brougham

By: James Robinson, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 28.11.2017

For the most discerning of collectors

Anyone who remembers the Series 70 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham will also remember just how exclusive, and expensive, GMs top-of-the-range four-door hardtop was.

First released in 1957, the Brougham was over $13,000 when new, making it more expensive than a Rolls Royce of the same era… or a house of the same era.

The Brougham truly was an amazing car and, it wasn’t just its price tag that set it apart; it was also so far ahead of anything else when it came to opulence and refinement.

There was an absolute plethora of new and space-age features including a stainless steel roof, air suspension, six-way electric automatic memory seats, automatic trunk opener, cruise control, polarised sun visors, an ‘Autronic Eye’ which dimmed the cars high beams when it detected oncoming traffic, air conditioning, power windows, an automatic-release park brake and even electric door locks.

The bodies were also bespoke and handmade in Turin, Italy by legendary design house, Pininfarina.

These days a good Series 70 Eldorado Brougham will set you back anywhere from $150,000-$300,000, depending on the condition, and it’s pretty easy to understand why.

What’s harder to understand is that a new-old-stock Arpege atomizer complete with Lanvin perfume, which came with the Brougham when new, is currently being offered for sale on eBay for the princely sum of $10,000 US dollars!

That’s $13,000 Aussie dollars for a 60 year old perfume! That seems a bit outrageous, right?

Well, kind of, as the seller explains, the atomiser and fragrance are, in the Brougham community, the holy grail of collectibles, because most owners back in the day simply used the specially made fragrance and then didn’t replace it.

Still, rare as they may be, that’s a hell of a lot of money for some fragrant liquid! 

Unique Cars magazine Value Guides

Sell your car for free right here