As Americans, we are so fortunate to be able to enjoy so much of everything. We have music, movies, video games, television; so much is available to us today. That plenty makes it difficult to name the one most cherished item in any one of those groups. What is your favorite song of all time? Your favorite movie, actor, classic car? The name itself, Classic Car, tells you something. Whatever we choose is already a classic.

I gave this choice a great deal of thought. I wanted to choose my favorite, not the prettiest, the biggest, the most expensive, the cheapest or any other category, but my favorite. So I didn't use any real criteria, I just wanted to think about it and ask myself which classic car I would really like to have, that one must be my favorite.

I finally chose one that is immediately recognizable in American folk lore, is extravagant in its beauty and easily represents American plenty. There are few machines of any kind that could ever compete with the 1959 Cadillac. Be it the Sedan de Ville, the Coupe de Ville or the Eldorado or any of the other designs. The 1959 Cadillac had it all. This vehicle is the epitome of American flash and glitz.

The 1959 Cadillac had everything; looks, performance, and comfort. It was recognized everywhere as the ultimate symbol of success. It was fully impressive and of course controversial. Even in the days of cheap gas anyone could recognize a beast. The outrageous tail fins and jet pod taillights screamed "Can I get any more lavish?" Some would say, "This year saw the tail fins reach a literally ridiculous height."

Everything came in pairs on the 1959 Cadillac; two rocket taillights on each fin, twin headlamps on each side of the snarling grill and two utility lights just below the headlamps on each side in the front. The 1959 classic Cadillac even had what some refer to as the twin grills. In front was the marvelously threatening toothy grin of a shining grill split by a single, thin, horizontal chrome bar. Look at the rear end of one of these beauties and you will see the second, miniature grill spanning the full backside but sporting the same toothy glare as the front end.

Everything about the 1959 Cadillac classic spoke directly to the consumer. The car pursued the interested and taunted them to "take me and use me and abuse me." This classic car, the 1959 Cadillac was the apex of design, comfort and plush; there was nowhere else to go. There was no more room for any more chrome, or glass, or glitz. This was it. The designers had spent themselves and had exhausted all resources to produce the 1959 Cadillac.

We always say "They don't make 'em like they used to!" about a lot of things. When we say it about the fifties American automobiles, especially the 1959 Cadillac, we mean it. This was the classic car that is immediately recognizable around the world.

The 1959 Cadillac is my all time favorite classic car. I have chosen it because it alone has been proud enough to make that overall bold and staunch statement of "I am American!"

Learn more about this author, Gary Maclean.
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