1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz “The Raindrop Car”

The car was used by Harley Earl in Florida, but it was not cut up for destruction or sectioned diagonally to repair collision damage as the myth goes

by Chip Lamb

In 1958, Cadillac produced a total of 815 Biarritz convertibles. Five were taken straight from the assembly line to GM’s super-secret Styling Center, where they were highly modified. At least one of these cars has survived, reportedly the prototype of the “Raindrop” modification, and is presented here as part of the Wiseman Collection.

At first glance, this unique convertible, finished in its original shade of red, may look like its regular Biarritz counterparts, but the rear-end styling used on this car was a precursor to the giant tailfins later used on the 1959 Cadillacs. Likewise, the dual pointed projectile-shaped taillights were also a preview of things to come. However, the most distinguishing characteristic of this car was its unique “Raindrop” feature.

Fitted to the car was a special electronic sensor programmed to snap into action the moment a drop of rain was detected. Once this occurred, it would automatically lift the three-piece...