Cadillac made its cars – and their paint finishes – to withstand the test of time. Did you ever notice that the trim tag on some classic Cadillacs says, “This car finished with Magic Mirror Acrylic Lacquer”? The lacquer was manufactured by DuPont and was known for its high-gloss, mirror-like finish. I am curious if the vehicles from any other divisions of General Motors were painted with such a product.
This car was one of the lucky recipients of Magic Mirror when new:
Featured on AutoHunter is this 1961 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. The car is being sold by a dealer in Woodland Hills, California, and the auction will end Monday, May 19, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. PDT.
The listing says the car was one of 1,450 Eldorado Biarritz models produced for the year. When compared to the ostentatious Cadillacs of the late 1950s, subsequent models had toned-down tailfins, although they were still a prominent part of the design. One of the noteworthy exterior features for 1961 was the convex “jeweled” grille. According to the included photo of the trim tag, this car’s original paint code was 96: Jade Metallic.
The interior, on the other hand, bore trim code 16: Jade Florentine and ostrich leather. The cabin retains an original look, although a modern Pioneer head unit has been cleverly installed in the glove compartment – and connected to an amplifier and a speaker box in the trunk. Options abound, including power windows, power steering, power door locks, and even factory air conditioning.
For about 50 years and across 12 generations, the Eldorado held its spot as one of the automotive industry’s premier personal luxury vehicles. A magazine advertisement for the Eldo said, “Cadillac Supremacy: Wherever highways lead and quality is recognized, Cadillac is known and accepted as motordom’s supreme achievement.” The 1961 Biarritz was a car aimed at the high-rollers of society; its retail price of $6,477 was lofty compared to lesser GM models (for example, the least-expensive Bel Air was only $2,536).
Power comes from a 390ci OHV V8 mated to a four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The engine is fed by a four-barrel carburetor and was rebuilt about 12,000 miles ago, according to the listing.
These days, it seems there are so many ways to dress up the exterior of a car as opposed to just a paint coating: Many people use wraps or paint protection films (some of which are available in matte finishes), and some hobbyists even customize their vehicles by creating faux patina.
Personally, I’m still a fan of the Magic Mirror concept – there’s nothing like a brilliant paint reflection to accentuate the curves of a classic machine.
The auction for this 1961 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible ends Monday, May 19, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery