At first glance, you might think it’s a repainted hearse or repurposed ambulance, but the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Broadmoor Skyview is neither of those, it was purpose built by Superior Coach for the Broadmoor Hotel of Colorado Springs, Colorado as a way to take advantage of the scenic beauty of the area, carrying guests in a sort of observation car that allowed them to see the sky and mountains all around.
The hints of vintage hearse or ambulance is the result of the company that did the work being Superior Coach, the same company that built both Cadillac hearses and ambulances on the same platform. Instead of equipping them for those special duties, the Skyview was built with multiple rows of seating and a multi panel plexiglass roof allowing the passengers to take in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains while comfortably seated in an enclosed car.
The seller of this car says it’s number 8 of the 8 cars of this body style that were made and number 6 of the 6 built specifically for the Broadmoor Hotel. The other 5 are said to still exist in museums or collections, though they’re not as complete or original as this one.
If you’re a vintage Cadillac connoisseur, you are probably familiar with these specially built cars, but it was a new model to me. This one would probably fit best in an automotive museum, though I can’t see why it couldn’t be restored and used on occasion for some special purpose.
It’s for sale on eBay.