Mercury Park Lane 1959. Robert McNamara, Ford, considered an extravagance to the fins, which were reserved for the upper range of the company, as this Mercury. This car, also was criticized because the intermittent power on the night, was a light arrowhead (red triangle) pointing to the direction opposite to that was to turn the vehicle.
1957 Plymouth Belvedere. General Motors cars had fins more exaggerated.
1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible. A rare example of horizontal fins.
Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. The fins could be a danger if a pedestrian tripped and golpeba with them. Note the lack of protection they gave against the bumper car of small strokes.
1959 Cadillac Eldorado. Fins type space rocket. ” This vehicle is regarded as the zenith of the fins.
The fins were launched in United States is commonly accepted that the chief designer Harley Earl of General Motors was the first to use them, inspired, he said, in a plane and P-38 Lightning fighter.
General Motors was also the manufacturer who use them with more enthusiasm, especially in its luxury car division, Cadillac. At Ford, for example, the wings were never so great, as Robert McNamara (often defined as “technocrats) deemed an extravagance (Source: Movie-documentary-interview with Robert McNamara” Rumors of War “,” Fog of war “).
In the 1950s were spreading more and more cars. Reached its maximum influence in the years 1958-1960 is commonly accepted that the car that used more bizarre was the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado.
Began to disappear after 1960. In the early 1960 and were present only in vestigial form of the new models.
The fins had no function except to give the car an “impressive” and said in his day, giving “directional stability” to the vehicle. The fins were criticized as being expensive and hinder the car, impede access to the trunk, and complicate maintenance Anticorrosive be a risk for pedestrians.
Fins vestigiales in a 1962 Cadillac de Ville
Cadillac Sedan de Ville 1972. The fins have almost disappeared. The vehicle also is a 4-door hardtop.
Link to article in English: Tailfin
Fins Fins in Europe in Europe were much more moderate than in United States, and also came with some delay, doing so will continue finned vehicles manufactured in Europe until well into the 1970s.
Mercedes Benz 190. Mercedes Benz decided not to call “Fins” their fins, but “lines of vision” theory in order to help bring the vehicle to park.
Peugeot 404.
David Buick’s Marvelous Motorcar: The Men and the Automobile That Launched General Motors by Lawrence R. Gustin (Hardcover – Jun 30, 2006)
