Is this true about the tail fins on '59 Cadillacs?

[chrisntam]

There is a seller (from Florida) of classic cars on eBay who says his cars are "simply the best" and it is "truly magnificent" and "mint" and "pristine" etc. 

In one of his ads, he says this:

"The fins were so long on the 1959 model Cadillacs that several fatal and serious accidents occurred when people were backed into and impaled with these monster-sized fins or were involved in car accidents when they accidentally rear-ended a 59 Cadillac with their car."

Is that true?

[Walter Youshock]

There was also a story about the '59 Chevy going airborne from cross winds lifting the back end of the car off the road.

Any Cadillac with pointed fins can be used as a weapon.   More owners and mechanics and probably Clark Street employees got stabbed than anyone.   One reason they put rubber guards on the '57 front bumpers was other cars were getting impaled in their trunks.  The '55 Dagmars were lethal.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Funny thing is that I "stabbed" myself a couple of times when working on my '60 CDV, and they do hurt.

Doesn't take too long to remember to give them a wide berth.

And yes, I think there was at least one tale of a motor cyclist getting "gutted" from running into the back of a '59.

But, the stories of the '59 Chev are unproven, as don't forget they used to race these in NASCAR, and no leaving the ground there.    Plus, there is no "lift" generated with the shape of these "wings"

Bruce.

[76eldo]

Frank Nicodemus fell into a 59 or 60 rear fin and impaled his arm on it. It was a serious injury.

They could never build anything like that today.

Brian

[David Greenburg]

There were some serious injuries from Cadillac tailfins back in the day.  Ralph Nader's "Unsafe at Any Speed" talked about several as I recall, including a motorcyclist who had his chest sliced open rear ending a '59, and a kid backing up up to catch a fly ball who got impaled on a '60.  Over the years I've been poked several times by my '59's fins, slipping on a wet driveway, or leaning over too far etc., and it can hurt. My '60 hasn't gotten me yet, but I'm sure it will.  In high school I wrote a murder mystery in which the victim has an odd triangular puncture wound, which turns out to be a result of being pinned against a wall by a '59.

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

David. I picked up a NOS rear fender spear for a 1956 60S. Of course, with that, you would have to do the deed and then put it on the car, where the murder weapon promptly "disappears" into plain sight. Much like the frozen pot roast/lamb chop in one of the 40s film noir movies.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Christine should've been a '59 Cadillac. 

[TJ Hopland]

They could build something like that today, they would just have to put those yellow triangle stickers all over the rear of the car with a picture of someone being injured and have a red slash through it.

I remember reading somewhere there is some sort of a pedestrian front impact standard being implemented where its supposed to minimize injuries when you hit pedestrians.   The funny part is initially it was only being applied to fairly high end 'fast' cars.  If you get hit at 200 mph does the shape of the front of the car really make a difference in the injuries?   Seems like there were also concerns about the new design effecting aerodynamics and mpg.   I can't remember if that whole thing was in the USA or if it was one of the EU countries.

[Walter Youshock]

Sammy Davis Jr lost his eye in an accident between Las Vegas and LA when he hit the steering wheel hub of his '54 or '55.  The design was changed for '56.

[INTMD8]

I also heard that salesmen or just men in general liked the chrome steering wheel hub because the reflection made it possible to see under a woman's skirt. I also heard that some women complained about high gloss floor tiles on the showroom floor for the same reason. I guess some salesman got caught.

Steering wheel hub allowing me to see under a womans skirt seems like she would be standing directly over me in the drivers seat anyway.  I have a hard time understanding how that was/ever was a real concern.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

.........I remember reading somewhere there is some sort of a pedestrian front impact standard being implemented where its supposed to minimize injuries when you hit pedestrians. ......The funny part is initially it was only being applied to fairly high end 'fast' cars.  If you get hit at 200 mph does the shape of the front of the car really make a difference in the injuries?   Seems like there were also concerns about the new design effecting aerodynamics and mpg.   I can't remember if that whole thing was in the USA or if it was one of the EU countries.

It is world-wide, ands has been for years.

In Australia, many years ago, there was an attempt to have "dangerous objects" removed from older cars in order to protect pedestrians.   One of the parts they tried to have removed was the hood ornaments on '55 and '57 Chevs.   Luckily, it never came to fruition.

Bruce.

[chrisntam]

Now that's a case of people having nothing better to do.

[signart]

Funny thing is that I "stabbed" myself a couple of times when working on my '60 CDV, and they do hurt.

Doesn't take too long to remember to give them a wide berth.

And yes, I think there was at least one tale of a motor cyclist getting "gutted" from running into the back of a '59.

But, the stories of the '59 Chev are unproven, as don't forget they used to race these in NASCAR, and no leaving the ground there.    Plus, there is no "lift" generated with the shape of these "wings"

Bruce.

As far as NASCAR and the '59 Impala's rumored wing "lift" go, quite the opposite is true. The wings actually produced "downforce".  Junior Johnson discovered this by drafting so close and then releasing the downforce on the car in front of him causing them to momentarily lose traction so he could slingshot around them.  By the way he won the 1960 Daytona 500 driving an "outdated' '59 Impala.

[INTMD8]

Jim,

I had a '59 Coupe Deville and sat in the passenger seat to see if it was possible. It was possible.

LOL, ok I will keep that in mind.

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

Sammy Davis Jr lost his eye in an accident between Las Vegas and LA when he hit the steering wheel hub of his '54 or '55.  The design was changed for '56.

True story.  Sammy was driving a '55 Eldorado when he went through an intersection and a driver
ran a red light and hit him broadside.  The impact caused his face to slam into the steering
wheel and that cost him an eye.  That chromed center on the steering wheel was dangerous.

I have a '55 and once when I was reinstalling the center piece I didn't have it completely
"locked" into position.  Took a drive and chose to give someone a toot on the horn who
gave me a "thumbs up" and the center piece (under spring pressure) let go and hit me
in the face.  Fortunately I was wearing glasses and it hit the middle of my right lens
instead of my eye!!

Mike

[gatelyrestoration]

I have seen many people get impaled on the 59 and 60 Caddy fins over the years.