The '60 is far more elegant, (and I read somewhere the fin was fractionally taller). On the other hand if one is going to have either why not go for the real thing? I'm afraid I'm going to bottle-out, and sleep peacefully with the 1960 tucked-away in the garage!
Sorry John, I dislike both, but the 1959 is by far the worse of the two. Too big, too much fin, 1959 especially, an extreme in design. I know some love it.
I know it has become trendy to bag on the '59 Caddy. But, back in the day, it was sensational, the epitome of everything that was American. It was large and in your face, and no other maker in the world had anything like it. This is why it has become an icon, recognizable even by folks who know nothing about cars. I love it! That being said, if I had the cash, I'd buy the '60 for its cleaner lines.
This is no contest. 1959 ALL THE WAY, every day, 24/7 ...Period. People can criticize, certainly, but to say these are "gaudy" or "over-the-top" really need to see this car with "1959 eyes." When compared to 1958 Cadillacs, '59s looked like elegant, streamlined, modern luxury vehicles......that made a statement and sold very well.
These two are my least favorite Cadillac designs but like a number of people have correctly suggested, they deserve credit in that they form a very recognizable and important era of automotive history and stimulate comment; albeit polarized. I much prefer the lines of the '60; they seem to flow better IMHO.
Sorry, but neither year is of interest to me, even a little bit. I thought General Motors excelled in gorgeous styling for their 1959 model year, with the exception of the Cadillac. Regardless of what some say it meant to the era, it was access to the extreme for me.
As for the '60, the only car that year in the GM line-up that was okay for my eyes to look at was the Buick. Chevy abandoned their classic '59 look, Pontiac did the same, Oldsmobile was downright bland and boring, and for Cadillac, the excess was toned down a bit, but I'm still bored with it.
This is no contest. 1959 ALL THE WAY, every day, 24/7 ...Period. People can criticize, certainly, but to say these are "gaudy" or "over-the-top" really need to see this car with "1959 eyes." When compared to 1958 Cadillacs, '59s looked like elegant, streamlined, modern luxury vehicles......that made a statement and sold very well.
To my eyes, the '58 was over the top too. It was the only brand in the '58 line-up that I didn't like. After 1956, General Motors lost styling direction with their Cadillac's. The '56 was beauty on wheels.
...for the record, and for what it's worth, most auto enthusiasts, historians, writers, car aficionados, collectors & clubs routinely rank the 1956 Cadillac (excluding Eldorado ) and the 1957 Eldorado as the best looking, most pleasing Cadillacs of the 1950's.
Again, it's important to note the exclusion of 1956 Eldorados. The first time I ever saw one, honestly, I said, "What jerk messed up this Cadillac? The front doesn't even match the back....what the hell!"
I was shocked to discover that it was 100% GM-factory Cadillac. 😔 😕 😔
