Question on the 1959 Eldo Biarritz

[Randall Ayers McGrew CLC # 17963]

I have seen them with and without chrome on the rocket tail lights.  Which is accurate?  Did it have them or not, or was that an option?  I will be making a model of the Biarritz and the Seville, so I really want to get it right.

Thanks!

[Dave Greenburg (#3830)]

Randall:

Although many people have added them to other 59s, particularly Eldorados and Fleetwood 75s, the chrome cones or "blister moldings" on the fins were unique to the 59 Fleetwood 60S.

Dave Greenburg
59 Fleetwood 60S

[Randall Ayers McGrew CLC # 17963]

Thank you, Dave.  THis has bothered me.  I appreciate your response.

[Dave Greenburg (3830)]

Of all the extra glop on the 60S (and dont get me wrong; I love that glop, which is why I own one), the tailfin cones are the only thing that ever finds its way to other models. Although I sometimes have fantasies of mating my 60S to a 59 flattop and creating a flattop Fleetwood.

Dave
59 60S

[Lucas F. CLC #15674]

Were the tailfin cones an extra-cost option or standard? If they were standard were they used with all exterior colors?

Thanks,

Lucas F. CLC #15674
1963 Series 62 Convertible (minimal glop)

[Dave Greenburg (3830)]

The chrome tailfin cones were standard on the 60S in any color.  They are not listed as an option for any other model in any of the literature I have seen, although you could have gone to the dealer and gotten a set and bolted them on.  I know lots of people add them to other 59s now; I dont know how common it was to do that back when they were newer.  I dont recall seeing any period pictures of non-Fleetwoods with the chrome cones.  When I was married in 1989, after a long search I was able to find a limo service with a white 59 limo (Ive had this disease for a long time).  The owner/operator was very proud of the chrome cones he had added (and quite impressed that I noticed).

Dave Greenburg
59 Fleetwood 60S [lots of glop and proud of it]

Were the tailfin cones an extra-cost option or standard? If they were standard were they used with all exterior colors?

Thanks,

Lucas F. CLC #15674
1963 Series 62 Convertible (minimal glop)

[Paul]

I have a factory triple persian sand 1959 Biarritz, with the chromed tail fin pods. I have a photo of the car from 1960 with these pods chromed, so they were either factory, or dealer ordered, I guess.

The first owner was a supper-club (and later) casino owner in Las Vegas who bought a new Eldorado convertible each year. The car came to Australia in 1960 when the car was around 12 months old. The pods were chromed, which makes one suspect that either the original owner had them done, or ordered them as a special oredr. In any event they were there in the photo in 1960.

Paul

[Yann Saunders, CLC #12588]

When you could pay seven grand for your car in 1959, you could afford to add any special trim you wanted.

I agree that there is nothing in any factory literature Ive seen that offered the chrome pods as an extra cost option.

When chromed, these pods seem to scream out,  "HEY, LOOK AT MY HUGE FINS!"

Honestly, I dont think the 59 Eldorado models Cadillac needed anything more than they already had.  They are so unique as it is, with their vast expanse of stainless trim and the absence of a side spear !

[Paul]

Yann...when NOT chromed these cars scream, "HEY, LOOK AT MY FINS!!!"......

Paul

[Randall McGrew CLC # 17963]

Hey Paul!  My son Jonathan would LOVE to have a 1959 Eldorado Biarritz in persian sand JUST ... LIKE ... YOURS.  He thinks they are, to quote Judy Jetson, "the most Ut!"  

I have a semi-not-so-rare model of the 59 Eldorado Biarritz with the chrome tail fin pods.  That is primarily why I asked.  As an amatuer modeller, I like to make the car as original as I can.  Yann is probably right.  The chrome was a simple gilding the lilly item.  Hey it cant hurt!!! In my humble opinion, the 59 Eldorado Biarritz is the penultimate of the Luxury Car era.  It was all down hill in style from there (although the 60 through 66 are still gorgeous).
Personally I think the 1960 is the best of the 60s cars...beautifully balanced in line and shape, color and textiles.  But I must admit, I like the sheer audacity of the 1959 Eldorados.  Simply wonderful.  

I want to thank you one and all for your replys.  I really appreciate it.  This was a simple and silly question but it stands to illustrate that even with all the documentation, there are still points that remain shadowy for the judge.