Fun for fin fans - Large-scale Cadillacs
by Doug Breithaupt

Cadillac motorcars have always been highly desirable but until recently, large-scale diecast producers have been slow to take advantage of this fact. Up until 1998, only two Cadillacs had been offered in 1:18 scale. Three new Cadillacs hit the shelves in 1998 and at least three more are planned for 1999.

The first large-scale Cadillac was the 1955 Eldorado Biarritz by Solido. Actually a 1:22 scale offering, it provided a fine model of the car but could not resist the bubble-gum pink color so often wrongly associated with Cadillacs of the 1950's. A softer shade of rose would be correct. The model shown below has a white enterior with opening doors but no engine detail. A 1955 Fleetwood was also offered in 1:18 scale as an 'Elvis' Cadillac but good taste has kept it from my collection until the Elvis tampos are removed. In 1998, Yatming offered a very nice 1958 Eldorado Biarritz in blue or gold. The blue example below has opening doors and hood with engine detail. The 1959 Cadillac by Maisto is a must. As shown below, it is a striking model of this Americon automotive icon. Having owned a 1959 Coupe de Ville, I was very pleased to see that the car is quite correct in detail with one exception. The tops of the fins have been folded over, no doubt to protect collectors from the sharp points. From first-hand experience, I can confirm that on the real car, they are to be respected and stories of injuries from the fins are true.

Moving back to the 1940's, Anson recently produced a beautiful 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible. This car is provided with great detail. The doors, ttunk and hood open and it is available for less than $20. Get one if you have not already. Anson also offered a 1998 Cadillac Seville in 1998. The same quality is extended to this modern classic. It is also one of just a handful of four-door sedans available in 1:18 scale. Again, everything opens and shows correct detail. One would expect that Cadillac dealers are using this one to advantage.

Anson has two new Cadillacs planned for 1999. The first is a 1953 Eldorado, the first year the Eldorado was offered. The second is a 1973 Eldorado, which also served as the Indy Pace Car that year. Yatming is offering the 1949 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, first of the finned Cadillacs and one of the first hard-top sedans. For those manufacturers considering more Cadillacs, how about the 1967-68 Eldorado, the 1975 or 1981 Seville or the 1981 Eldorado Touring Coupe? Of course a Cadillac V16 of the 1930's would also be welcome.