In 1959 at Cadillac, the stylists had their way with the largest fins ever put on an car produced to that time…but the greatest proponent of giant Fins, Harley Early, had retired. He also was credited with the creation of the Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac LaSalle among other GM styling triumphs.

When Earl retired from GM in 1959, he left behind him a design legacy using classic chrome, two tone paint, tail fins, hardtops and wrap around windshields. Earl founded the GM Design and Styling Department in 1927 and by the time he retired in 1958, it had grown from a staff of 50 to 1,100.

The new regime at Cadillac had come up with a new look for the upcoming 1960 Cadillac which among other changes, featured a much smaller tail fin.

On January 13th, 1959 Cadillac produced a Series 62 convertible, VIN #59F0042438. This was to become a very special car…with a hint of things to come next year from cadillac.

Instead of a 1959 production series 62 convertible body, a 1960 series 62 body was slightly modified to fit on to the 1959 Cadillac chassis, engine, transmission.

The 1959 current interior was also utilized but with one significant exception…to give the car a hint of what might be instore for future cadillac owners, a black & white Emerson television was installed in the dash and the standard Cadillac radio was moved to the far right side of the dash and installed….also, a smaller Cadillac glove box was custom made and fitted into the dash.

I have been restoring this incredible piece of cadiillac history and should have it completely ready for public viewing in just a few months.

It will be offered to the public for sale at NO RESERVE at the upcoming Barrett/Jackson auction in Scottsdale,Arizona in mid January…2005.

Any questions can be directed to luvdg@aol.com

Pictures of the “motorama” car can be found here.

Note by Publisher:
Thanks to Yann Saunders (aka MrCadillac) from the Cadillac Database this car was identified as a hoax (false Motorama car).

The car was built with no expense spared, including 24K gold plating in the rear compartment and no expense spared in the meticulous restoration. It is a fiberglass body, built on a 129.5″ wheelbase; 55.5″ high and 219.9″ long. This vehicle never had an engine and is the same way today.

This Dream Car has been appraised by two separate companies, one at over $900,000.

It was the feature car, on a turntable inside the banquet hall, at Cadillac’s 100th Anniversary event in Dearborn, Michigan in 2002. This is one of GM’s most famous and most photographed Dream Cars. This automobile is like stepping back in time to the 1956 Waldorf Astoria Show in NYC or the Paris Exhibition. It is perfect in every detail.

Click here to bid for this true museum piece on ebay. (Link is gone)

Note: History of this car and more photos by Yann Saunders.