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Cadillac Cleaned Up its Overdone Styling in 1961Cadillac flung aside its garish styling excesses of 1959-60 with the introduction of the 1961 Cadillac. The car still was massive, but had crisper styling and was the cleanest-looking Cadillac in years.
The 1961 Cadillac reflected the influence of new General Motors head stylist William Mitchell, who created gorgeous cars such as the 1963 Buick Riviera and succeeded flamboyant Harley Earl, who had been GM's first chief stylist.
Earl liked lots of chrome and high tail fins. Mitchell felt that cars should be cleanly and crisply styled, with a more chiseled look. That belief was shared by other stylists for American car companies in the 1960s. For example, Ford Motor's 1961 Lincoln Continental had such exceptionally clean styling that it was applauded by the prestigious Industrial Design Institute.
With the change in design leadership, the 1961 Cadillac marked a transition between two historic GM design eras. It also halted Cadillac's overdone styling and helped make it even more of a sales leader.
Mitchell, however, didn't have as much influence on the 1961 Cadillac's design as he would have liked. That's because, with Detroit's long model lead time, that car's design was largely developed under Earl, who realized in his twilight years at GM that items such as tail fins had gone too far.
Styling of the 1961 Cadillac also was influenced by the automaker's exclusive (only 200 built) 1959-60 Eldorado Brougham sedan. That model had modified styling by Italy's Pininfarina outfit, which designed elegant Ferrari bodies. The Eldorado Brougham had smooth styling and modest fins, while other 1959 Cadillacs had enormous fins.
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13/6/2004 | Viewed 6,788 time(s)
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