Although Cadillac had invented the tail fin in 1948, by the late 1950s others were offering their own take on the theme. In fact, the 1959 Cadillac fins were a response by Cadillac to the 1957 Chrysler line, which had borrowed Cadillac's own idea and taken it one step further. According to the late David Holls, former design director at GM, the famous fins of 1959 were the result of a directive from management that Cadillac would not be outdone by Chrysler products, in effect "Whatever they can do - we can do bigger".

There was little danger of that, as the 1959 Cadillac was a modern classic that truly represented the high point of the era of fins and flash. It was huge yet remarkably docile to drive, thanks to abundant power, a first-rate automatic transmission, and excellent power steering and brakes.

No other car captured the essence of the Jet Age quite like the 1959 Cadillac. In addition to sharply swept and dramatically pointed fins, surface development was a series of curves, nacelles, and character lines that could have come from one of the new jet fighters of the time. Wheel covers carried a turbine wheel motif, and there were even vestigial ventral fins at the lower edge of each rear side, passing through the fender skirts to merge into the massive rear bumper.

This dramatic 1959 Cadillac is a statement about American motoring philosophy at that point in history and it is said that every old car enthusiast should own at least one at some point in their lifetime. The outrageous styling belies that fact that these are fantastic cars to drive on the road, assuming it's wide enough. When compared with its contemporaries, both domestic and European, it's a true luxury car and a pleasure to own and be seen in. The example on offer today is in overall very good condition and is reported to need no immediate work. The white paintwork and bodywork are said to be in good condition from an older re-paint, the trim is tidy and the engine and automatic gearbox are reported to be running very well indeed.

We feel that the car, if so desired, could be immediately put to work as a bridal car and as such would complement any fleet of wedding cars. It would be most welcome at the dozens of County Shows that have sections for classic and interesting cars or maybe you would just like to light up a big 'Ceegar' and burble down your High Street "Boss Hog" style. A '59 Cadillac is a piece of classic Americana and we encourage all prospective bidders to come and see this one in the flesh. We welcome pre-sale inspections and think that this is a seriously tempting proposition given the realistic guide price and sheer scale of this impressive American icon.

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