The late 1950s were the peak era for peak tailfins, and Cadillac models were prime examples of just how bold the styling became. The Pick of the Day is a 1959 Cadillac Sedan de Ville advertised on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Parma, Idaho, with pink paint for days.
“Good straight car, body is very straight, paint is in decent shape, with a few small scratches and paint chips,” the listing states.
This as a “flat-top” car, the seller states, describing the roofline. In all, Cadillac offered 12 different body styles for the 1959 year, and this one was originally marketed as the four-window Sedan de Ville. As such, it was one of about 12,000 of its kind produced for the year, each weighing a hefty 5,000 pounds, and wearing wide-whitewall tires and miles of chrome trim.
It’s worth noting that the official Cadillac paint chips for 1959 appear to make no mention of the word “pink.” The closest shade looks to be Wood Rose (code 49), although pop culture has made the notion of a bright-pink 1959 Cadillac something of an obsession. They even mass-produce diecast model cars of the same.
The de Ville model ran from 1959 through 2005, so this example was the first of its kind. From a styling perspective, it’s a tough car to mistake, particularly from the rear end. Iconic tailfins with bullet-style taillights evoked a sense of speed with space-age flair that was modern and trendy at the time. Power came from a 390cid V8 that produced 325 horsepower. And at 225 inches in length and 2-and-half tons, this big sedan needed all the power under the hood it could get.
Based on the photos that accompany the listing, this de Ville looks to be well-preserved both inside and out. The seller states that the car has very minimal rust for its age, and that the mechanical roadworthiness is intact.
“Transmission shifts as it should,” the listing states. A slow oil leak is noted, however. While the listing does not state the specific mileage, the car has reportedly not been driven much over the seller’s five years of ownership.
No pink Cadillac story is complete without paying homage to the late Aretha Franklin and to Bruce Springsteen, who both had hit albums in the 1980s making mention of pink Caddys. This de Ville might be just the right car to help you discover what the rage was all about. And if it doesn’t fit in your driveway, you could always settle for the diecast version.
The seller is asking $20,000 for this full-size version, or best offer.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.