’59 Cadillac helped birth love affair with American cars

By Richard BruinsmaWhen a two-door 1959 Cadillac rumbles into town, people look.At just a smidge over 5.7 metres long, and with those iconic rear fins and twin-peaked brake lenses, this Caddy is high on the list of cars responsible for the world’s love affair with American dream machines of the 1950s and 60s.“It’s just one of those cars – 1959 was a pretty good year – they just got it all right,” said Jeremy Pollard, who was responsible for finding a parking space for the car on this particular day.While he was the one fielding all the questions from enthusiasts at the Sunshine Coast Antique Car Club’s sign on day at Nambour recently, the car is actually owned by his son, Bowie Pollard.“He used to own a 1959 four-door, but when he saw the two-door at a Toowoomba swap meet, he said he wanted it,” Mr Pollard said.“It was non-running, and we trimmed it all.”They did all the work themselves – mechanicals, upholstery and body work. They even carefully retained the car’s patina paint job with a coat of clear.The car is pretty much standard, apart from a pearled steering wheel and air-bagged suspension, which allows the car to sit low when parked but rise to a driveable height when the big V8 engine is turned over.Jeremy is unsure exactly why this model Cadillac is such a head-turner, but maybe it has something to do with its 390 cubic inch engine, its sleek shape, those fins, and all that steel.“I think it’s the size more than anything, you just don’t see anything like the ’59 Cadillacs any more, even in the USA they’re quite rare.”So if you see this machine rumbling along local streets, make sure you get a good glimpse.It’s the stuff of many a car lover’s  dreams.