Today in Automotive History
1948 Tailfins Are Born
The first Cadillac with tailfins was produced on this day, signaling the dawn of the tailfin era. Tailfins served no functional purpose, unless you consider attracting attention functional. General Motors increased the size of the Cadillac's "tailfeathers" every year throughout the 1950s. In 1959, the model's sales slumped dramatically, sounding the death knell for the tailfin. The 1960s, consumers announced, would be a practical decade.
Posted by Quality Weenie at February 3, 2005 07:53 AM