It was an all-new Cadillac for 1959, heralded as "a new realm of motoring majesty". The 1959 Series 62 Caddy with its gaudy set of eye-grabbing tail fins was sure to inspire jealousy. A 'landmark' automobile, it symbolized America during the jet age and post-war prosperity.

With its revamped body style, the 62 Series was long and sleek like a fine cigar with sweeping spear type body molding from front to back. Large orbs protruded the triple taillights that seemed ridiculous on an automobile that commanded to be taken seriously. The car maker's iconic horizontal medallion adorned front fenders just like the one's owned by celebrities from President Dwight D. Eisenhower to Elvis Presley. While Hollywood embraced this immortal vision of engineering, detractors would say it embodied excess.

The Sixty-Two series included a coupe, sedan and convertible. Standard equipment featured power steering and brakes and the Cadillac Hydra-matic Drive for an "eager, smooth response" that "automatically shifts gears for the driver". Two 8-cylinder engines were designed for the '59 models with either a four-barrel carburater or the six-pack (a three dual-barrel carb that was standard on the El Dorado).

Salesmen were armed with 29 'selling points' to move these automobiles that featured an all new grille, instrument cluster below sight line, the 'most efficient' air conditioning on the market, posture control seats, 48 luxurious interior choices, 'new type' shock absorbers and an air ride that was 'better than ever'. Why a fully retractable power antenna in a vehicle that had front and back heating must have seemed like cutting edge space age technology.

The convenience and bigger, better styling of the Cadillac 62 Series was emphasized over competition from Imperial and Lincoln. Decked out with a set of 15-inch white wall tires, these machines were just more impressive than their contemporaries. But these flamboyant automobiles would soon become dinosaurs, some of the last of Harley Earl's creations.

The Cadillacs of '59 were prone to excessive rusting, causing few cars to survive. Those yearning to restore one of these classics will find it hardest to locate a convertible, which might be modestly valued between $45,000 to $80,000 in top condition. Of the 142,000-plus '59 Caddies produced, only 11,130 of the 62 Series were convertibles. The 2-door hardtop is valued at about a tenth of the convertible. The 4-door family sedans are the least desirable to collectors. But, slap on a coat of pink paint and who could resist?

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