A Lovingly Restored 1957 Cadillac Seville in Mary Kay Pink

Classics
American
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2021
The rare and exclusive 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville stood out as a special automobile—even in an era of big and bold American car designs. The example available now on eBay - opens in new window or tab. is one of just 2,100 Eldorado Seville coupes produced for 1957. And it’s an even rarer bird thanks to its Mary Kay pink paint.
One of the more striking designs from famed GM stylist Harley Earl, the Seville was a star in the Cadillac lineup. Its stablemates included the Eldorado Biarritz convertible - opens in new window or tab. and the even rarer, hand-built four-door Eldorado Brougham.
As legend has it - opens in new window or tab., cosmetics tycoon Mary Kay Ash had a series of Cadillacs painted the pink hue of her brand’s face blush. The pink luxury cars were given to sales associates who sold more than $100,000 of Mary Kay cosmetics in a year. Other Caddy owners took a liking to the pink shade.
A relatively restrained use of chrome give the Seville an elegant and subtly luxurious look, at least by 1957 standards.
A relatively restrained use of chrome give the Seville an elegant and subtly luxurious look, at least by 1957 standards.

Lower Stance and Faster Engine

The listed Seville features a new interior, vinyl top, re-chromed bumpers, and the obligatory wide whitewall tires - opens in new window or tab. for a luxury car of the period. For 1957, Cadillac restyled all its models with a lower stance that suited the Eldorado Seville. It took on a more aggressive and sportier look—thanks to its relatively unadorned flanks and exposed rear wheels in place of the fender skirts.
At the same time, all Eldorados got a 25-horsepower boost compared to other Cadillacs. That came courtesy of dual four-barrel carburetors atop the 365-cubic-inch, 325-horsepower V-8 engine.
Two big four-barrel carburetors hide underneath that enormous air cleaner, giving the Eldorado Seville a 25-horsepower edge over other 1957 Cadillac models.
Two big four-barrel carburetors hide underneath that enormous air cleaner, giving the Eldorado Seville a 25-horsepower edge over other 1957 Cadillac models.
The Seville got distinctive rear-end styling for 1957. The rear fender line sweeps down to a single round taillight on each side. Backup lights using a shape inspired by jet engines frame the bumper’s dual exhaust outlets.
With big fins and rocket look backup lights and dual exhausts, the Seville is the pinnacle of 1950s style.
With big fins and rocket look backup lights and dual exhausts, the Seville is the pinnacle of 1950s style.
While not subtle by today’s standards, the overall look is relatively clean and subtle for 1957. The designer resisted the heavy chrome side spears, portholes, two-tone paint, and over-the-top trim found on other luxury cars of the day. One flourish is the large chrome panel aft of the rear wheels. It rises to the top of the wheel well and carries to the rear of the car.

Loaded with Amenities

Inside, there’s no shortage of chrome, along with just about every creature comfort available in 1957.
Inside, there’s no shortage of chrome, along with just about every creature comfort available in 1957.
The Seville coupe and its Biarritz convertible stablemate came packed with just about every convenience and luxury amenity available at the time. The list included remote mirror, and power steering, brakes, windows, and seats. There was probably a leather interior, but perhaps it was swapped to cloth during the restoration.
The price of that exclusivity was not cheap. Both the coupe and convertible priced at $7,200. That represented a premium of about $2,000 compared to a Cadillac 62 convertible in 1957.
From its Mary Kay pink paint and white top to its gleaming chrome and gold badging, the Seville coupe on eBay - opens in new window or tab. is a well-loved example. The immaculate interior is packed with features, including air conditioning. Even the carpeted trunk is spotless, right down to the original equipment tire jack.

About the author

Jim Travers
Jim Travers is a lifelong gearhead. A classic car enthusiast and collector, Jim is a regular judge on the car show circuit and is author of the Smithsonian Institutions book, “Extreme Cars." His work has appeared in Automobile, Autoblog, BBC Autos, Car and Driver, Cars.com, Car Talk, Consumer Reports, and Hagerty. He lives in Duxbury, Mass., a town known for its beach and its dump. Jim can often be found at one or the other.

Share your feedback

This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.