Nostalgic for the Fifties and Sixties - Beyond Tiki

J johntiki Member MD Joined: Mar 31, 2002 Posts: 1528	J johntiki Posted posted on Wed, Sep 28, 2005 4:25 PM Tikifish I always knew you had great taste! :) For most people the iconic 1959 Cadillac is the glaring example of America's excessive automotive design of the era but I have always admired the '60 even more. The '59 had those Sputnik-esque taillight cones perched on either side of those "jet-powered" massive tailfins and man do I love them. For me they tend to sum-up the whole atomic-age, "forward-thinking" mind-set of the 1950's that we "remember" so fondly. The razor-sharp fins on the 1960 Caddy on the other-hand tend to present a representation of the steadfast determination and preparedness America had moving into a frighteningly new and potentially apocalyptic age. The fins on the '60 appear less frivolous then the ornate tail-pieces on the '59 while unmistakeably maintaining that distinct American ideal that 'bigger is better.' To put it simply the 1960 Caddy just appeared more intense than its predecessor. I'm sure the Cadillac designers in Detroit gave no thought to how the improved streamlined appearance could be construed 45 years later but I nonetheless find it interesting and maybe even a bit plausible. The 1960's began where the 50's left off as another prosperous, nervously peaceful decade that quickly came apart at the seams and as you see... the future was foretold in the fins. Unfortunately with the tragic and gradual banishment of the tailfin from automotive design that portal into "where we're heading" is closed for good. :)

Tikifish I always knew you had great taste! :)

For most people the iconic 1959 Cadillac is the glaring example of America's excessive automotive design of the era but I have always admired the '60 even more. The '59 had those Sputnik-esque taillight cones perched on either side of those "jet-powered" massive tailfins and man do I love them. For me they tend to sum-up the whole atomic-age, "forward-thinking" mind-set of the 1950's that we "remember" so fondly.

The razor-sharp fins on the 1960 Caddy on the other-hand tend to present a representation of the steadfast determination and preparedness America had moving into a frighteningly new and potentially apocalyptic age. The fins on the '60 appear less frivolous then the ornate tail-pieces on the '59 while unmistakeably maintaining that distinct American ideal that 'bigger is better.' To put it simply the 1960 Caddy just appeared more intense than its predecessor.

I'm sure the Cadillac designers in Detroit gave no thought to how the improved streamlined appearance could be construed 45 years later but I nonetheless find it interesting and maybe even a bit plausible. The 1960's began where the 50's left off as another prosperous, nervously peaceful decade that quickly came apart at the seams and as you see... the future was foretold in the fins. Unfortunately with the tragic and gradual banishment of the tailfin from automotive design that portal into "where we're heading" is closed for good. :)

Post #189443 by johntiki on Wed, Sep 28, 2005 4:25 PM