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Topic starter
02/06/2023 8:36 pm
It has been a minute since I posted the next Imperial-Cadillac comparison pair. This time around we're looking at 1959.
Now into 1959 and General Motors has finally addressed the Virgil Exner redesign at the Chrysler Corporation. Across all five brands, GM’s cars are lower, wider & longer than before.
At the top is Cadillac, with its sharp tailfins and distinctive style. It is definitely styled to compete with the Imperial Crown Convertible. Looking at the two, one may think outrageous in either direction. They both are taking their style to the extreme.
The Imperial is now in its third year of redesign and for the most part is the same car with some front-end restyling. A much-bolder grill treatment that adopts a much more in-your-face look is the most obvious change.
The Cadillac is bold, with large fins and loads of chrome. The new fins are said to be the tallest on any car so far, I’m not sure because the Imperial looks to be pretty equal in height.
The Cadillac & Imperial were quite far apart when it came to price and sales volume. The Imperial Crown Convertible was just over $5700 and sold under 600 examples. The Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz was priced over $7400 and sold over 1300 examples.
Clearly the Cadillac, as with my previous two comparisons, was the sales winner and finally for 1959 had styling to compete. The buying public must have felt the same way too.
For me, I’m torn. I like them both. They both take their style to the extreme and represent the 50s extravagance perfectly.
What choice would you take?
Now for the models, the Imperial is a beauty. The model captures all the elegance and extravagance of the 1:1 just as it should. It is a welcome addition to the previous two years issued. Great Lighting Models has created a wonderful masterpiece in miniature, but I am very biased because I believe these are the best Imperial models available.
The Cadillac is from Spark, and when you look at them together, it seems undersized. The length is there but the width looks a bit off. The 1:1s are not quite an inch different with the Imperial being the wider. However, the models seem to be much more, but I didn’t take any measurements. I’ve noticed this with a couple other Spark Cadillac models before, but the Spark Cadillacs are pretty much the best available.
1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible - Imperial Crown Convertible
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
02/06/2023 8:37 pm
That Imperial is tempting. But, I would have a hard time passing on the Caddy for its sheer outrageousness.
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
02/06/2023 8:49 pm
As you said, they both represent the extravagance of the 1950s. Both are impressive cars with my style preference the Cadillac. One thing I know for sure, I would not want to parallel park either one.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
02/06/2023 10:23 pm
A bit of trivia: the final designs of the 1959 Chrysler products were under the supervision of Bill Brownlie. This was when Exner was recuperating from his 1956 heart attack.
02/06/2023 11:28 pm
I owned a 1959 Cadillac CDV for many years but despite their iconic looks & popularity, these cars have often become targets for unfair criticism. When I hear/read statements like, "...loaded with chrome..." it must be noted that when compared to 1958 Cadillacs, the '59s showed considerable restraint. Those fins were indeed the tallest ever seen but some Chrysler products, overall, made have stood taller.
The Cadillac fins were purposely engineered to look exaggerated via that slopping trunk design. 1961 Cadillacs fins are almost just as tall, but that higher trunk design conceals that fact. With a 130" wb and at over 5,000lbs, 1959 Cadillacs were a pleasure to drive.
Books have been written about these cars and debates over their styling will probably continue forever, but I've always been a fan and simply put.... it was the right car at the right time.
03/06/2023 9:44 am
I think the Imperial grille in'59 detracted from the years before and seemed more like a last minute, rather garish, inexpensive styling resolution. The '59 Caddy is my least favorite Cadillac design but I vote for it over the Imperial for the very bold statement it makes.
Regarding the models displayed; I prefer the quality and look of the GLM, which I have.
John Merritt and Ed Davis reacted
03/06/2023 11:08 am
@chris, I agree. I know that some cars have been overexposed and have become cliches. The '57 Chevy comes to mind. But cliches become cliches because there is something right and honest about them. They are universally recognized as representative of some era or event. That '59 Caddy was the epitome of fifties American exuberance and optimism. No one anywhere in the world had anything remotely resembling it. The designers at Cadillac went all out and gave us a car that was destined to be an icon of the fifties. I love cliches.
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
03/06/2023 1:11 pm
@jkuvakas I agree to that on all fronts. I take exception, however, when I hear/read about how the 1959 Cadillac was, "Over-the-top in all respects, with its over-styled dash, crazy fins, two front bumpers, 8 front lights, chromed sno-cones, 5 cigarette lighters...."
Some authors tend to overreact. Park a '59 Cadillac next to any 1958 GM offering (especially Oldsmobile ) and then tell me how "wacky" the Cadillac is. 🙄
What's not to love? 😎
03/06/2023 1:42 pm
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
03/06/2023 3:13 pm
Christopher Moroni’s commentary on the height of the ‘60 fins being almost as high as the ‘59 is fascinating after all theses years of thinking that the ‘60 fins were lower when actually they weren’t that much lower. They just looked that way because of the trunk an fender configurations. Thanks, Christopher for that insight.
David Knight
Richmond, Virginia. USA
Topic starter
03/06/2023 5:17 pm
I took photos of the ‘58 & ‘59 Sixty Special Sedan models together. If I recall, the ‘59 seemed almost subdued next to the ‘58.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
Steve Jacobs and Christopher Moroni reacted
03/06/2023 5:23 pm
That Imperial is tempting. But, I would have a hard time passing on the Caddy for its sheer outrageousness.
Ditto.
I had the extreme pleasure of having a friend get delivery of a black 1959 Series 62 Cadillac convertible (white top, black and white interior) the day I arrived to visit him in Saugatuck. Snow on the ground in March, top down, heater on blast, leather jackets zipped up, and we rode a good distance along Lake Michigan. A terrific memory!
Retired in Dunedin, Florida.
Topic starter
03/06/2023 5:45 pm
Between these two years, if this was a Series 62 and the Imperial, I’d take the Cadillac. It is my favorite Cadillac. The cleaner sides and the overall look is far more appealing than the Biarritz.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
03/06/2023 6:01 pm
@jcarnutz Yep, I've always felt that way too.
Years ago, when these cars were cheap, every now & then I'd see some joker who put Eldorado trim on a Series 62 or CDV. That would make a maniac out of me! 🤪 😳 🤪 😳 🤪 Today, you can't touch side trim for Coupes or Eldos without thousands in your pocket..... which discourages most jokers. 😀 😀
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