The giant 1959 Cadillac with it's iconic fins has always been a cool and unmistakable car. I have a couple in 1/18 and they are real eye-catchers ! Some years ago a big, beautiful 1959 coupe appeared at one of our local cruise nights and I later took one of my pictures and altered the photograph in the computer to be as it might look without fins.
No cars were harmed in this photo-shopped/computer image and it was done simply as a photographic look at a possible '59 sans fins !
The longer I look at it the more I warm up to it, but I'm still undecided if I like it or not. Caddy lovers will probably see it as sacrilege though....lol.
The longer I look at it the more I warm up to it, but I'm still undecided if I like it or not. Caddy lovers will probably see it as sacrilege though....lol.
Lol, yet since no Cadillac was actually changed, I am guessing they have nothing really to consider an affront ! The 1959 Cadillac is such a strong statement as an automobile that it is still an iconic and spectacular automobile even with a significant change.
I can't help feeling it looks rather impotent whilst liking the overall premise. Did you have any mid-way stages with small, 90º angle fins or even a raised edge to the decklid ? Very impressive image, though.
Yes, it's fun to look at some of the styling features of some of these old cars and wonder how they would look without them. And even if some of those styling details were a bit excessive, the answer usually is that they did at least look "all of a piece" and were meant to create a particular impression, so they tend to look pretty bland without them.
Here are a couple I did just to amuse myself. And maybe nobody else, but what the heck.
@graeme-ogg, Nice job on both. I find the 60 rather attractive. To me, the '61 is a harsh reminder that this model was closely related to the incredibly strange Plymouth for that year.
Thanks ! It does seem like something Lowey might do. He was certainly willing to put things out there and try new directions !
As many of you know, that IS something Raymond Loewy (yes, "Loewy" ) did. The story is that he removed "all the junk" from a '59 Cadillac, sold it back to GM, then re-styled the car and drove it across Europe.
Being the fan that I am (..and had owned a '59 CDV for many years ) I of course, found Loewy's creation to be an abomination, blasphemous and just down-right wrong. But of course, to each his own.
I like the change on the '61 Dodge and think that if the round tail lights on the rear fender points were removed it would look even better. I'm not sure about the complete fin removal on the '60 Dodge and wonder if perhaps a lower profile fin at the same location might prove to be an attractive compromise?
I must admit I am not a fan of the '59 Cadillac but appreciate it for what it represents historically. I agree with all the negative comments regarding Loewy's ruination of a '59 Cadillac.
Similar to Graeme's re-profiled Dodge, these were similar 1957 and 1958 Dodge automobiles that some years back I adjusted only in computer/photo-software to see how they might look without their tail fins :
Yes, it's fun to look at some of the styling features of some of these old cars and wonder how they would look without them. And even if some of those styling details were a bit excessive, the answer usually is that they did at least look "all of a piece" and were meant to create a particular impression, so they tend to look pretty bland without them.
Here are a couple I did just to amuse myself. And maybe nobody else, but what the heck.
I really like the Dodge without the fins. That looks really good Graeme !
You guys are killing me! First my '59 Cadillac, now my Dodge.... 🙄 🙄 🙄 I owned a 1957 Gold & White Dodge for over ten years.... Without the fins, these cars look like plucked chickens! 😬 😬 😬 😬
The 1959 Cadillac is such a strong statement as an automobile that it is still an iconic and spectacular automobile even with a significant change.
