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Luxury1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville: Tailfins at Their Tallest
Fins at full height.
The 1959 Cadillac is the high-water mark of the tailfin era. Its fins rose taller than on any Cadillac before or since, each holding a pair of bullet-shaped taillights, and the whole car measured more than 18 feet long.
1959 Cadillac engine and luxury features
A 390 cubic inch V8, rated at 325 horsepower in standard form, moved the big body with ease. Power steering, power brakes and a long list of comfort options made the Coupe de Ville feel like a rolling living room, and its pillarless hardtop roof gave an open, airy look with the windows down.
The end of the Cadillac tailfin era
Styling trends shifted away from fins by 1960, and Cadillac toned them down year by year. That makes 1959 a snapshot of late-fifties confidence. Today the car draws crowds at shows, and its size means storage space and a careful brake inspection are worth planning for.
1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville key facts
- Model year
- 1959
- Signature
- Tallest Cadillac fins
- Taillights
- Twin bullets