Five Favorite Fins of the Fifties (and early 60s)

One of the most iconic design elements of late 50s and early 60s American cars has to be the tail fin. Cadillac pioneered (and grew) them from an aircraft-inspired cue in 1948 to a glorious pinnacle in 1959 and finally back to a fading suggestion by 1964. Fins were a fashionable enough fender item that J.C. Whitney sold tacked-on versions for those young men looking to ‘update’ their old car, and customizers added and extended them on plenty of lead sleds. But what tail fins stand out as really special? Not the biggest or the most chrome-laden, but the fins that work the most harmoniously with the car? I’ve got a casual hit list of the ones I like best, and you probably have your own as well. GM and especially Cadillac did dominate my 5 fin list, and that probably makes sense… They did write the book on this pointy subject.

1. 1957-58 Cadillac El Dorado. I love the rounded down rear fenders and decklid contrasted by razor-slim tail fins that flowed very nicely compared to the regular models, especially in 1958.

2. 1961-62 Cadillac. How do you temper the wild 1959 and ’60 Cadillac styling with something that still looks jet-age yet balances out the new smaller bodied car? Lower fins to balance the effect of the upper fin and tie in at the tail lights. Brilliant.

3. 1960 Buick. This is a case where the fins are an integral to the body sides and rear fenders in a sweeping way. The entire tail end of a ’60 Buick just works for me. The ’59 Chevy is a very close second, but I give Buick the nod for integration.

4. 1960 Chrysler. Not really tall fins, more like extended fender peaks. But the way those killer taillights jut out at the top and dive into the rear end really make the look. Its one of Mopar’s best in those crazy years.

5. 1959 Pontiac. Another GM car with lower fins, although more implied than sculpted, and a bit less successful than Cadillac’s a few years later. This one made my list for the twin upper fins with the back up light cradled in the middle. Nobody else really made a multi-fin quite like this, and it manages to work without feeling too cocky. At least for 1959…