Concours of America to Feature Cadillac Tail Fin
By: Casey Annis (Sports Car Digest)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Concours of America to Feature Cadillac Tail Fin
The iconic Cadillac tail fin will soar once again in a special "Jet-Age" display at the 2019 Concours d'Elegance of America. This unique class, called "The Rise and Fall of the Cadillac Tail Fin," will feature world-class examples of the marque from the 1948 through 1965 model years. Show date is Sunday, July 28 on the grounds of The Inn at St. John's in Plymouth, Michigan.
Perhaps no automobile was as revered in its own time as the tail-finned Cadillac. With its powerful performance, elegant craftsmanship and breathtaking appearance, the Cadillac of the 1950s and 1960s truly was "The Standard of the World."
Originally inspired by the Lockheed P-38 Lightning Fighter plane, Cadillac's first 1948 tail fin was a Harley Earl creation. The sculptured fender line was soon copied by other manufacturers. But Cadillac was first, and the fin was instantly associated with the brash jet-age style of America's number-one luxury car.
By the mid-1950s the Cadillac glittered with jewel-like style and the tail fins kept growing. Names like Coupe de Ville, Fleetwood and Eldorado Biarritz were embedded in American culture, music and movies. The Caddy's tail fin reached its absolute zenith in 1959 and gradually receded as times and tastes changed over the next few years.
"The Rise and Fall of the Cadillac Tail Fin" display celebrates an era and an automobile that will never be forgotten.
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Although this article is 6 years old, I thought it was interesting. My father's first Cadillac was a 1960 Coupe deVille. He bought it after test-driving a 1959 Jaguar Mark IX that I fell in love with. Unfortunately he was more impressed with a car made for the neuveaux riche instead of the one I wanted that was made for royalty.
When we got back from Japan in '60, went to visit aunts, uncles, cousins in Chicago. One Saturday, Dad and Uncle Tommy went "riding" and Dad drove up in a Teal/Pink '57 Caddie. Mom hit the roof 'cause, in her mind, Caddies were a waste of money. Dad kept Caddies up until his passing in 2000 and his "final Caddie" was a 2000 Hearst - he woulda been proud.
My fav was the '59 El Dorado Classic - dark blue/white - did some serious azz whipping on the Fords/Chevies/Mercuries and Studies.
After that 1960 Coupe deVille my father mostly drove Cadillacs. I inherited the one he had when he died, but it wasn't my kind of car so I traded it not long after for a Peugeot 604, which was known as the Cadillac of France.