Cadillac La Espada, 1954
1954 Cadillac La Espada (Spanish for the sword), (special order #1928)
Cadillac La Espada, 1954
This was the 2-seater roadster, companion car to the Cadillac El Camino
coupe during the 1954 GM Motorama; body sheet-metal was identical,
including the rear deck with its camel-humped tonneau cover [the latter
was copied, much later by Ford on their T-Bird models in the early
sixties]. La Espada was finished in Apollo Gold, a very light cream
color with a metallic golden hue. The cockpit of La Espada featured a
central console, bucket seats, horseshoe-shaped instrument cluster. The
special, inner door pull-knob appeared 2 years later on the production
Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. The dash-mounted rear-view mirror, that
appeared also on the Eldorado Brougham prototypes in 1955 and 1956, was
moved up to the windshield header bar in the production models. Across
the center console was the word Caution warning the driver not to use
the large knob below the ventilation controls to operate the plastic
canopy top while the car was in motion!
Cadillac La Espada, 1954
The 1954 Cadillac La Espada concept was a driveable show car first shown
at the 1954 GM Motorama. It was a two-seat fiberglass convertible,
mechanically similar to the El Camino concept coupe but with a specially
engineered convertible top, ribbed to create a perfectly curved surface
when closed. La Espada sported a recessed grille air intake in the
front, which was guarded by massive and sweeping front bumpers. The
bumpers were capped with white vinyl to cushion shocks and prevent
scuffing of the chrome. Ribbed aluminum on the fender sides was slotted
to admit air for the air conditioning system. La Espada, named for the
sword, had dual headlights controlled with an Autronic Eye. Below the
trunk compartment in the rear of the car was a special compartment that
housed the spare tire. Removing a bright chrome trimmed door, which also
served as a bumperette and license plate mount, accessed it. The gas
cap was located behind the left rear tail fin, which swung forward for
access. The experimental sports convertible had a 115-inch wheelbase, a
200-inch overall length and was powered by a Cadillac 230 horsepower
overhead valve V8 engine.
Cadillac La Espada, 1954
