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1959 Cadillac Series 62

The Cadillac Series 62 was a distinctly American automobile with dramatic and overwhelming proportions and drama. Its most iconic feature was the towering rear tail fins graced with magnum-grade bullet-shaped tail lights. The fins were the largest ever featured on any production car and the work of GM Design Chief Harley Earl. The overall dimensions were nearly identical to its 1958 predecessor, and a full 3 inches lower through the beltline, and sat as much as 5.5 inches lower. The excessive treatment continued to the front, with sculpted brows towering over quad headlights that flanked a grille containing more than a hundred stylized bullets above a chromed bumper. Two distinctive rooflines and roof pillar configurations were available, with body styles consisting of a 4- and 6-window sedan, a hardtop coupe, and a convertible coupe. The interior was luxurious with cushioned leather seating and upholstery, and a vast wraparound windshield. Power steering, four-wheel power brakes, two-speed wipers, wheel discs, outside rearview mirror, and vanity mirror were all standard equipment. Convertible body styles had power windows and a two-way power seat. The overhead-valve V8 engine was backed by a dual-range Hydra-Matic automatic transmission with column shift. Three Rochester 2-barrel carburetors helped the V-8 produce 345 HP at 4,800 RPM. The improved X-frame chassis boasted independent spherical-joint coil-spring front suspension and a 4-link rear axle with coil springs.

The most popular body style was the six-window sedan which found 23,461 buyers. A total of 11,130 examples of the convertible were sold. Total production reached 142,272 cars. The base price was listed at $5,080.

The futuristic design cues of the Series 62 captured the essence of the 'jet age', with many styling elements that could have been sourced from Cold War-era fighter aircraft. The tail fins actually date back to General Motors 3/8-scale 'Interceptor' design studies of the early 1940s led by Mr. Earl's assistant, Julio Andrade. The 'Interceptor' project had been inspired by a trip to a U.S. Army Air Corps base, where GM designers were shown an early example of the top-secret Lockheed P-38 'Lightning' fighter aircraft that would later be used in combat during World War II.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe
Chassis number: 59F104226

Cadillac was the first to use the tailfin on their vehicles, which first appeared in 1948. By 1959, it had grown to very flamboyant proportions and was used by the other big US automakers. By this point in history, the designs had been inspired by the space program and futuristic spaceflight. The inspiration could be seen throughout the vehicle, progressing past the pointed tail fins and continuing on into the turbine-shaped wheel covers, vestigial ventral fins at the lower edge of each side, and merging at the very large rear bumper. Equally large engines were required to carry these large vehicles gracefully down the roadways. An automatic gearbox, power steering and power brakes made them a pleasure to drive.

This example is finished in white with a tan convertible top. The interior is brown leather. It spent part of its life as a static museum display and later became part of the Brumos Collection in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2003 it participated in the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. It is an original car that has only been given repaints on at least two occasions. It has its proper mat and spare tire, original radio with rear speaker, six-way power seats, and whitewall tires.

This example has traveled just 55,500 miles since new. In 2008 it was brought to the Automobiles of Amelia presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $60,000 - $80,000 and offered without reserve. The estimates proved accurate and the lot was sold for $71,500 including the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Hardtop Coupe

The 1959 Cadillac may be the most celebrated automobile of its era. Penned by GM designer Dave Holls in response to Chrysler's 'Forward Look' 1957 lineup, the 1959 Cadillac's iconic tailfins topped them all. The ever-popular Coupe de Ville was the status car of its time, with unforgettable jet-age style and a full measure of leather-trimmed luxury and V-8 performance.

De Ville's standard features included a cloth-and-leather interior, padded dash, power windows, a 390 cubic-inch V-8 engine, and GM's highly respected four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission.

This Coupe de Ville is a magnificent 8,266-mile time capsule, completely original inside and out. It was delivered to its first owner, Mr. Joseph Chewzewski, by Central Cadillac of Newark, New Jersey on August 21, 1959. The current owner added this car to his Cadillac collection in the early 1990s.

Convertible Coupe
Chassis number: 59F118600

This 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible is Ebony with a red and black interior. It has a 390 cubic-inch four-barrel engine capable of producing 325 horsepower. It has been given a complete restoration and has traveled just 420 miles since that time. It is filled with factory options such as power top and power windows, air conditioning, cruise control, autronic eye, Wonderbar radio, factory wire wheels, and a power seat.

In 2008, the car was offered for sale at the Hilton Head Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by the Worldwide Auctioneers. It was estimated to sell for $135,000 - $150,000. Even though bidding failed to reach those estimates, the lot was sold for a high bid of $100,000 including the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Hardtop Coupe

The 1959 Cadillac was penned by GM designer Dave Holls in response to Chrysler's 'Forward Look' 1957 lineup. The 1959 Cadillac's iconic tailfins topped them all. It was the status car of its time with unforgettable jet-age style and a full measure of luxury and V8 performance. Officially, the Series 62 was the entry-level Cadillac. It shared much with the popular Coupe De Ville model, including the 130-inch wheelbase, the 325 horsepower 390 cubic-inch V8 engine, and GM's highly respected four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission.

This Series 62 Coupe is an example of preservation that has just 14,500 miles on the odometer. It still wears the factory-installed 1959 tires. It is finished in its original Wood Rose color.

Convertible Coupe
Chassis number: 59F120177

This 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida where it was estimated to sell between $100,000 - $125,000. It is powered by a 390 cubic-inch V8 engine with three dual-barrel carburetors capable of producing 345 horsepower. There is a three-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

The car is finished in black with a white top, a red tonneau cover, and a red leather interior. A complete frame-off restoration was completed in 1990. It has been the recipient of many Best of Show awards and an AACA National First in 1995, and an AACA Senior First from 1996.

At the auction, the car was sold, selling for $115,500.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe

In 1959, nothing looked like the newly redesigned Cadillacs. In a word, they were flamboyant with their large tailfins, dual rear taillights, and jewel-like grilles. The Cadillacs, such as this convertible, were loaded with accessories such as power brakes, power antenna, cruise control, air conditioning, and much more.

Power was from Cadillac's own overhead valve V-8 which developed 345 horsepower from its 390 cubic inches thanks to three two-barrel carburetors.

Convertible Coupe

Everyone knows GM's flamboyantly finned cars of 1959, especially the outrageous jet-age 1959 Cadillacs. How many know that they would have turned out very differently had a brash young designer named Charles M. 'Chuck' Jordan not indulged in a bit of industrial espionage in 1956?

Cadillac was working on new models for 1959, but almost no one there liked them, except soon-to-retire Styling Vice President Harley Earl.

Acting on a tip, Jordan drove to the Plymouth plant. Looking through the fence at prototype Plymouths, he saw 'nothing but fins, fins, fins.' He brought Bill Mitchell (Earl's heir apparent) and others over to show them. That very afternoon, with Mitchell's gutsy approval, they started on a new design. When Earl returned from a trip, he came into the studio, looked around, and walked out without saying a word. A few days later, he decided to support the second design.

Stretching 225 inches on a 130-inch wheelbase, the 1959 Cadillac was also three inches lower than its 1958 counterpart. Its V8 was bored from 365 to 390 CID and its output upped from 310 to 325 horsepower with a standard four-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts.

Once owned by Helen Voorhees Brach (of Brach Candy), the current owner purchased this 40,000-mile Seminole Red 1959 Series 62 convertible from her family in 2009. It is number 10,784 of just 11,130 built that year.

Hardtop Coupe
Engine number: 9G018423

This 1959 Cadillac Coupe, model 6237, has undergone a complete frame-off restoration back to its original condition. It includes matching numbers with the original motor and transmission. Both were completely rebuilt. The restoration took seven years and was finished in 2014. The outside body colors are cream roof with a black body, while the original interior colors are black and cream. The tail fins are a special feature, only made for one year on this model. The factory price was $4,892. The car has a 130-inch wheelbase and weighs 4,690 pounds.

The Harley Earl designed Cadillac Series 62 was a very large vehicle that featured a large, 6,390 cc (390 cubic inches) V-8 engine. The back had large fins that did little for performance and handling but was all about the style of the vehicle. The design of the vehicle was inspired by the space program and the era of jet engines. The large, 4400 lb car was fitted with drum brakes. These often wore out quickly. If a U-turn needed to be made, the driver would need a parking lot. The turning radius was 24 feet.

The name 'DeVille' would first be used in 1949 on the Coupe De Ville, and later on the 1956 Sedan DeVille. The 1942, 1946, and 1947 versions were similar; they were completely different from the 1941 body styles.

The car was a luxury vehicle that could carry six individuals comfortably. The car was a convertible with the top being raised and lowered automatically. The interior had electrical gauges. The headlights would turn on at dusk and were capable of switching from high beam to low beam when they sensed oncoming traffic. In total, there were eight lights on the front of the vehicle. The four on the top were the driving lights while the lights mounted on the bumper were the parking lamps. To add to the driving comfort, air suspension was used. This aided in providing a very soft ride but there was significant body roll when cornering. With the V8, it was capable of creeping to sixty in 11 seconds. This reinforced the notion that this Cadillac was built for comfort and not for speed. The drivers enjoyed the ride and they looked good cruising along, enjoying the large open road.

by Dan Vaughan