Meet the Classic Cadillac With a Whale of a Tail Fin

WSJ ^ | 25 Sept 2021 | A.J. Baime

[DUMBGRUNT]

This 1959 Series 62 Coupe has a design flourish that passersby can’t help but notice

There it was, all 225 inches of it [nearly 19 feet long].

The price was much lower than I thought it would be for a Series 62 Coupe—about what it would cost to buy a basic new Toyota. My brother said to me, “Todd, if not now, then when?” And he was right. I bought the car and had it shipped it back to California.

Surprisingly, I get more comments about the Vegas turquoise paint than about the outrageous styling.

[DUMBGRUNT]

A stunner!

If you got it flaunt it!

[UnwashedPeasant]

It’s as big as a whale! Where is it heading?

[Telepathic Intruder]

With a whale fin for a tail fin.

[DUMBGRUNT]

full txt:
https://archive.vn/9p12p

[DUMBGRUNT]

[Adder]

What a beautiful road beast.

[Kickass Conservative]

My Mother had a 59 Cadillac Coupe De Ville.

She sold it snd bought a 63 Coupe De Ville.
I took my Driver’s Test in that Car.

[DUMBGRUNT]

—”Where is it heading?”

To the call of the open road.

[Mariner]

Under powered for a 5000lb car.

[DUMBGRUNT]

—”I took my Driver’s Test in that Car.”

I hope parallel parking was not on the test?

[Bigg Red]

I took my driver’s test in a ‘59 Sedan de Ville. Baby blue. We called her the Blue Beast.

[ocrp1982]

A quick check on a couple of classic car sales and auction sites has this car listed at the very lowest asking price of 52k (needs lots of love) to a high asking price of 200k (Love provided for you).

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I was 8 years old. We all kept waiting to see what the next model year would bring. Everybody expected even BIGGER tail fins. Alas, that was the high water mark.

[Dr. Sivana]

My next door neighbor, growing up, had one (in that color!) that he kept until his death in the ‘80s. Before he died, he went back to Italy to visit, and HAD THE CAR SHIPPED WITH HIM, to show his kin he had “made it” in America.

[Bigg Red]

My driver’s test required parallel parking — in a ‘59 caddy.

[DUMBGRUNT]

—”Under powered for a 5000lb car.”

I hear that all the time for many cars/trucks.

And yet, you cannot go any faster than the car in front of you?

Here in DuPage county, the roads are full most hours of the day, where will you need it?

Even out in farm country there always seems to be a tractor pulling some huge equipment...

[rockrr]

When I was in school (about 1971) I had a classmate who owned a ‘59 Caddy ragtop. Bright red. He was ~ 6’6” and pushing 300 lbs - made for lots of second (shocked) glances as he drove her around.

[Dr. Sivana]

Under powered for a 5000lb car.

It sported a 390. What could you put under the hood that is more suitable in '59? The 413 was a Chrysler product. I had a '65 with a base 383 with quad carb. It had plenty of power .. and torque.

[doorgunner69]

Do not mention the drum brakes that were toast after one hard stop.

[Bell Bouy II]

As a yout I pumped gas(29.9 per G)and every year we would look forward to see how Cady would hide the gas filler.
Think in 59 it went from the taillight to the center rear just about the plate/tag ?