1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, Ex-Conrad Hilton

This is a short “tease” video on a very special, 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham that was ordered new by hotel magnate, Conrad Hilton. He retained the car until his death in 1979.

This vehicle is being sold in an online auction with our friends at Bring-A-Trailer. The auction is now live and can be accessed here:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/195...

Chassis Engine Number 5770146798 Body Number 361

Ownership History:
1957-1979 Conrad Hilton (Palm Spring, CA)
1979-1988 Inherited by Conrad’s chauffeur, John Marshal Carney and later his children (Covina, Lake Elsinore and later San Diego, CA)
1988-1988 Default ownership reverted to Player Auto Body, San Diego
1988-2003 David Fogg, San Diego/Palm Springs, CA
2003-2021 Patrick & Renée Crist in Gig Harbor, WA
2021-2025 Private Collector, Medford, OR

American entrepreneur and famed hotel magnate, Conrad Hilton remains a household name remembered by many for a variety of reasons. From humble beginnings, he worked from an early age, entered politics and then served a short career in the military during World War One, serving in Europe until the end of hostilities. Upon returning to the States, he focussed on building his business empire from small to a worldwide presence in short order.

While one of the more prominent Eldorado Brougham owners, he was far from the only high-profile client that had one. Bob Hope, Aristotle Onassis and even John Wayne were also proud owners of Cadillac’s new flagship model.

This Eldorado Brougham was standard in all regards with no special features. It was however finished in the relatively rare color combination of "Copenhagen Blue” of which 27 of the 400 were so completed. For the interior he chose the popular cloth, leather combination color of “Blue Parisienne.” A check several years ago with staff at the Thunderbird Country Club confirmed the Hilton family membership and many remember Conrad and his “special” Cadillac and to this day, the right rear of the front windscreen still carries a club entry sticker and for members onsite parking privileges.

Additional individuals confirmed Conrad’s ownership including, former Palm Springs Mayor, Frank Bogart, Eldorado collector and historian, Duncan Emmons, his Ex-Wife, Zsa Zsa Gabor and even Hollywood starlet and Hilton family friend, Ginger Rogers.

After the sale of the car in 2021, the new owner spoke with Richard (Rick) Hilton, son of Barron Hilton and grandson of Conrad Hilton and he shared fond memories of riding in the back of the car in his youth in and around Palm Springs. Rick Hilton still lives and resides in Bel Air not far from his Grandfather’s estate, “Casa Encantada."

The car remained largely in the Palms Springs area but upon Conrad Hilton’s passing in 1979, the car was gifted to John Marshall Carney, Mr. Hilton’s regular chauffeur for many decades. Reflecting the very limited use of the car by Hilton over the 22 years he owned it, total mileage at the time of Hilton’s death was just over 10K original miles.

Mr. Carney resided in Covina, CA and drove the car until the early 1980s before his health also deteriorated. The car passed to his children who were living at the time in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The car was stored initially by Carney’s children in Lake Elsinore, California but was sent in the early 1980s to Player Auto Body in San Diego where they requested quotes and estimates to address paint, trim and interior work Mileage at that time was just over 11K. The quote for the requested plating work was far more than Carney’s children were willing to accept and they abandoned the car rather than paying to have it shipped elsewhere.

Player Auto Body eventually ended up obtaining a default title and registration via a mechanic’s lien sale and shortly thereafter it was sold to San Diego Eldorado enthusiast, David Fogg in 1988.

Total mileage at the time of the sale was now just over 11.5K miles.

Contact me for full details and complete history.

Kind regards and best of luck,

Bill Noon

Phone 619 840 7811
Email [email protected]