Back in the Fifties it was all about fins

by David Burrell There is no doubt that fins define American car design of the 1950s.  The well told story about how they originated with ...

by David Burrell

There is no doubt that fins define American car design of the 1950s. 

The well told story about how they originated with the 1948 Cadillac, inspired by the Lockheed P38 fighter plane, overshadows their real impact on car styling.

When GM’s Chairman, Alfred Sloan, first saw the styling proposals for the 1948 Cadillac, he supposedly commented to Cadillac’s general manager, Jack Gordon: 

“Now, Jack, you have a Cadillac in the rear as well as the front.”

What Sloan meant was that up until 1948, Cadillacs had been easily identifiable from the front, by their huge chrome encrusted grilles.

But the rear end was a different matter.

Generally, most cars of the 1940s looked quite similar at the rear too.

They had simple rounded boots and rear fenders, adorned with smallish tail lights.

Cadillacs were no different, even though they cost twice as much as a humble Chevrolet.

Rear fender fins meant Cadillacs stood out from the pack even more.

Those who paid big money to own a 1948 model were visually rewarded for their outlay.

And so, the shape of the rear end of a car became as important as the front.

Other car brands followed Cadillac’s lead, but in a more cautious manner.

Nothing outlandish, mind you.

Even in 1954, fins were modest protuberances -- even on Cadillacs.

That year's Fords did not even have fins.

Rather, they had a tubular rear fender design that ended in circular tail lights with the indicator in the centre.

Sort of like a jet engine exhaust.

But it all changed in 1956.

That’s when Chrysler’ s design boss, Virgil Exner, added big bold fins to that year’s models.

The fin race began in earnest!

And it was not confined to the USA.

1959 Cadillac

Exner upped the ante in 1957 with the longest, tallest fins the world had ever seen.

By 1959, the great fin competition reached an apex.

And that’s an intended pun.

Cadillac’s twin towers of sheet metal were proclaimed the winner.

Chevrolet’s radical interpretation was a close second.

As the great motoring writer Tom McCahill wrote of the Chevy in Mechanix Illustrated: 

“My first reaction when I saw this rear flight deck, which curves downward from either side in a slow V, was what a spot to land a Piper Cub.”

Fin-mania was not confined to the USA. 

Pininfarina applied them to his 1959/60 Fiat, Peugeot and BMC designs.

That said, he was late to the fin party.

By 1961, GM was de-finning its cars with indecent haste and Pininfarina’s cars looked outdated not long after they hit the showroom floor.

Same goes for Holden’s 1960-61 FB/EK models, which looked more like a 1957 Chevrolet.

Everyone has their favourite fins. 

Mine include the 1957 Vauxhall Victor. 

Such an outrageously shaped fender on such a small car. And British, too!

Then there is the 1956 Dodge and the 1959 Pontiac.

My all-time favourite is the 1957 DeSoto.

I’m sure you have your favourites as well as those you do not like!

David Burrell is the editor of retroautos

1957 Vauxhall Victor

1959 Chevrolet

BMC Morris Oxford

Chrysler design boss Virgil Exner really started the fins wars.

Lockheed P38 was the design influence for the 1948 Cadillac fins.

1959 Pontiac

American Motors added shapely fins to their 1958 range.

Fiat 1800

Ford made sure its Lincolns carried fins for 1957.

The modest fins of the 1956 Chevrolet.

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