1959 cadillac convertible interior
1959 Cadillac Convertible Interior: The Ultimate Deep-Dive Guide to Automotive Opulence
The 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Coupe stands as one of the most visually dramatic American automobiles ever produced. Yet beyond its signature tailfins and chrome spectacle lies an interior that redefined luxury motoring for an entire generation. This article provides a comprehensive, data-driven examination of the 1959 Cadillac convertible's cabin—its materials, instrumentation, seating, and engineering choices that made it a benchmark of late-1950s automotive craftsmanship.
Key Takeaways
- The 1959 Cadillac convertible offered a choice of vinyl or leather-upholstered interiors, both featuring an optional "Comfort Coil" suspension system integrated into the seat mechanisms.
- Instrumentation was dominated by a dual-sweep gauge cluster with an 8-inch circular speedometer rated to 120 mph and an electronic tachometer.
- The dual-cowl dashboard design—carried over from the previous decade—provided a dramatic divided instrument panel that separated driver and passenger sightlines.
- The interior featured 360-degree wraparound glass windows on the hardtop variant and a dual-spare tire cover panel in the trunk compartment, reflecting the era's emphasis on showmanship.
- Standard luxury appointments included power windows, power seats, automatic transmission controls on the column, and a Delco-GM radio with 8-tracks becoming available toward the end of the decade.
Historical Context: The 1959 Cadillac at Peak American Excess
By 1959, General Motors had pushed the American full-size sedan to its aesthetic limit. The Cadillac division—GM's flagship brand—served as the laboratory for every luxury experiment in the industry. The 1959 model year represented the culmination of the "jet-age" design language that GM had been refining since the mid-1950s.
Market Positioning
The 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Coupe was positioned above the Sixty Special and rode the longest wheelbase in the Cadillac lineup at 129 inches. Priced at approximately $4,800–$5,200 (roughly $48,000–$52,000 in 2025 dollars), it targeted buyers who wanted the most ostentatious statement vehicle money could buy. Sales figures for the 1959 model year totaled approximately 109,000 Cadillac units overall, with the convertible representing a significant volume segment.
Design Philosophy
Chief stylist Harley Earl's Design Studio approached the 1959 interior with a philosophy that might be described as "controlled theatricality." Every surface within the cabin was intended to convey weight, quality, and modernity. The interior borrowed design cues from General Motors' Motorama concept cars, translating futuristic aesthetics into production-appropriate forms.
Dashboard and Instrumentation
Dual-Cowl Dashboard Architecture
The 1959 Cadillac's dual-cowl dashboard remains one of the most recognizable interior design elements in automotive history. The dual-cowl layout created two distinct instrument pods separated by a center bridge—a design that visually widened the cabin and gave the driver a cockpit-like sense of enclosure. The dashboard itself was constructed with a steel frame and covered in a dense foam-padded vinyl that absorbed impact during the era when automotive safety standards were virtually nonexistent.
Gauge Cluster Details
The primary instrument cluster featured:
- 8-inch circular speedometer: Calibrated to 120 mph with an integrated trip odometer
- Twin-sweep voltmeter and fuel gauge: Positioned on either side of the speedometer
- Electronic tachometer: Standard on all 1959 Cadillacs, powered by the V-8's ignition system
- Oil pressure and coolant temperature gauges: Full-range analog instruments
- Time Keeper clock: A small rectangular analog clock mounted prominently in the center stack
Behind the steering wheel, a secondary panel housed the signal indicators and warning lights. The turn-signal indicator used a distinctive pendulum-style sweep mechanism—a Cadillac hallmark that persisted through the 1960s.
Steering Wheel and Controls
The steering wheel measured 16 inches in diameter and featured a three-spoke design with a horn ring made of chrome-plated brass. Early 1959 models retained the full-size wheel; later production runs introduced a smaller-diameter option. The column-mounted "Turbo-Hydramatic" automatic transmission selector—PRNDL—was a key ergonomic feature, freeing the floor console for additional storage and accessory controls.
Seating and Upholstery
Front Bench Seat Configuration
The 1959 Cadillac convertible featured a full-width front bench seat upholstered in either premium vinyl or genuine leather, depending on the buyer's selection. The seat cushion utilized a unique "Comfort Coil" system—a proprietary spring arrangement that provided independent coil support for each occupant's seating position, reducing the "tunnel effect" common in bench seats of the era.
Key seat specifications:
- Overall width: approximately 62 inches
- Seatback recline: manual lever-adjusted on most models
- Power-adjustable front seat: available as an option on the Series 62
- Material options: Vinyl (standard), Leather (optional, approximately $120 additional)
Rear Seat Accommodations
The rear bench in the convertible was generously proportioned at approximately 56 inches of width, accommodating three adult passengers with relative comfort. The rear seat featured a fold-down center armrest with an integrated ashtray and, on select trim levels, a coat hook mounted on the underside of the rear deck lid.
Interior Color Schemes
Cadillac offered an extensive palette of two-tone and solid color combinations for 1959. Popular schemes included "Cherry Red and White," "Blue Mist and Silver," "Palomino and Ivory," and "Ebony and Pewter." The color options were coordinated with exterior paint selections through GM's custom color service, allowing buyers to create harmonized内外 color pairings.
Interior Materials and Trim
Vinyl and Leather Quality
The 1959 Cadillac interior used heavy-gauge vinyl (typically 30–40 mil thickness) laminated over dense padding. This material was significantly more durable than the thinner vinyls found in competing Cadillacs and Lincolns. The leather option, sourced from general automobile-grade hides, featured a semi-aniline finish that allowed the natural grain pattern to remain visible while providing some stain resistance.
Woodgrain and Chrome Accents
Woodgrain veneer—produced from genuine hardwood slices (typically rosewood or cherry) and vacuum-laminated to fiberboard backing—appeared on the dashboard upper panel, steering wheel center hub, and door panel trim. The wood trim was protected by a high-gloss lacquer coating that gave it a wet, reflective appearance characteristic of the era.
Chrome trim elements included:
- Window frame bezels (approximately 2 inches wide)
- Door handle and lock trim rings
- Seat belt anchor points (where equipped)
- Dashboard vent adjustment knobs
- Radio and heater control bezels
- Sun visor frames and hinge assemblies
Carpeting and Headliner
The floor carpeting was constructed from solution-dyed nylon in a dense loop pile, approximately 1 pound per square yard in weight. Carpet color matched the interior upholstery scheme. The headliner used a cellulose fiber substrate bonded to a fabric backing, covered in a wool-polyester blend cloth that was fire-resistant and acoustically dampening.
Climate Control and Comfort Systems
Factory Air Conditioning
General Motors' factory air conditioning system—badged as "Clima-Control"—represented one of the most sophisticated automotive HVAC systems of its era. The 1959 Cadillac system used a compressor driven by the engine's accessory belt and refrigerated air through a evaporator core located behind the dashboard. Notable features included:
- Single-lever temperature and fan speed control
- Recirculation mode via a rotary dial
- A "fresh air" intake