Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte lll, began building the town of Biarritz on France's southern Atlantic coast in 1855 into a luxury resort for France's elite. It offers everything from a world class casino to a surfer's paradise. The town's name and the cache it carries was appropriated by Cadillac for its top of the line, hand built, limited edition convertible. Costing a whopping $13,074.00, the gold-toned badged car sported spiked tail fins jutting out from a rounded rear. Harley Earl also took styling cues from past concept cars. Unlike other luxury cars, wire wheels were replaced with cast aluminum and steel "Sabre" wheels. Up front, a gold-toned Ferrari inspired 'egg crate' grill surrounded by a massive bumper with rubber tipped bumperettes. Every option Cadillac offered was standard on the Biarritz. The engine was a 365 cid 325 HP V8 with 2 4bbl Carters linked to a 4 speed automatic. A removable fibreglass hard top could also be employed for winter driving, Its hard top sibling, the Seville, only sold 400 units in '57, but this convertible saw 1800 units sold.