HomePick of the DayPick of the Day: 1959 Cadillac Sedan de Ville, pink and proud...

Pick of the Day: 1959 Cadillac Sedan de Ville, pink and proud of it

The ‘flat-top’ behemoth with the mighty tailfins is an American icon

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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. 

Cadillac

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.

Cadillac

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.

Tyson Hugie
Tyson Hugie
Tyson Hugie is a Phoenix-based automotive enthusiast who has been writing for The Journal since 2016. His favorite automotive niche is 1980s and 1990s Japanese cars, and he is a self-diagnosed “Acura addict” since he owns a collection of Honda and Acura cars from that era. Tyson can usually be found on weekends tinkering on restoration projects, attending car shows, or enjoying the open road. He publishes videos each week to his YouTube channel and is also a contributing author to Arizona Driver Magazine, KSLCars.com, NSX Driver Magazine, and other automotive publications. His pride and joy is a 1994 Acura Legend LS coupe with nearly 600,000 miles on the odometer, but he loves anything on four wheels and would someday like to own a 1950 Buick Special like his late grandfather’s.

7 COMMENTS

  1. The grille is waaaay better than the fins and those are 3x awesome. 3rd best is the taillights- little rocket ships. Get your babe to wear ALL PINK for a real fun romp- she would probably beg to do it anyway. Pink champagne?

    Possibly and I’m serious— folks might think I am the local breast cancer rep- — come back from shopping and those ribbon decals are everywhere. Get “right on” fist from women as I’m driving 🙂

    I do have to beleive it is a steal- and it It will be soooo easy to sell this. Half the price of “55

  2. What An Aircraft Carrier….I bet you could land a number of helicopters and fighters on that roof…An amazing CAR!!

  3. Absolutely a great version of the cad sedan deville. I remember them well. In 1959 I was 19. Today, at 81, I am a lover of and loyal of the deville. I love the models without the fins as to me they are not elegant. Sharpness in design of anything is not elegant. However, since I love the deville so much, I would love to own this one. Pink is one of my favorite colors. She looks lovely. Thank you for letting me see her again. Best, Margot Malpher.

  4. This Pink Cadillac may have been a prize for a woman who sold Mary Kay Cosmetics ! I’ve seen a few of them!!!

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