As the automobile supplanted the horse and buggy, hundreds of early manufacturers struggled to simply build a car that would be reliable. This was in a new frontier with no paved roads or any supporting infrastructure.
But the contraptions survived, evolved rapidly, and within 30 years, styling became an important factor in selling cars.
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Henry Ford put the world on wheels by building 15 million “bulletproof” Model Ts between 1908 and 1927. Styling was not a part of his formula. You could pick any color you wanted, as long as it was black.
Henry’s stubborn unwillingness to change almost destroyed his company as General Motors led the way with emphasis on beauty across a wide array of brands and models.
In 1927, GM discovered a brilliant young designer in California who was creating custom-bodied cars for the rich & famous.
Harley Earl was barely 20 when the giant company lured him to Detroit, and for the next 4 decades,“Mistearl” became one of the most influential and powerful figures in the industry.
Harley Earl transitioned automotive architecture from a general design that was an evolution of the horse-drawn buggy, essentially a narrow box with fenders over the skinny wheels to keep the mud out. His revolutionary shapes integrated the fenders and body into flowing shapes, and in 1933, this “streamlining” was the basis for the first concept car … The magnificent 16-cylinder Cadillac Aerodynamic Coupe. Quickly dubbed the “fastback” with a smooth, unbroken line arching gracefully from the top edge of the windshield to termination at the rear bumper.
Cadillac would offer several production “fastbacks” over the next two decades, with the final version being the 1948/49 Series 62 Club Coupe featured here. Powered by a 346 cubic inch, 150 HP V8 running through a 3-speed manual transmission, it was also the first car to have unique “tail fins” that distinguished it from everything else on the road. The rear fin became a styling rage with nearly all brands adopting their interpretation of the “wings’ that reached extravagant heights throughout the 50s and 60s. This was a great time to be a car enthusiast as the unveiling of each year’s new models was almost as anticipated as a kid’s Christmas morning … at least it was that way for me.
Fast forward to recent years, and the situation is reversed…all the manufacturers build an excellent, reliable product, but the styling of our “daily drivers” has become generic.
In 2004, Cadillac introduced the CTS-V, a series designed to attract a younger clientele with bold style and high performance. By 2008, this formula led to speed and handling that made it the world’s fastest production car with an under 8-minute time on the famed German 12-mile Nürburgring track.
Meet the “FASTERBACK” … A second-generation, 2013 Cadillac CTS-V coupe with a 580 HP, supercharged V8 coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission. Comfortable and quiet … or … very fast and loud, plus, like its 1948 ancestor, it looked different than anything on the road. And it still does.
Angular and abrupt with low windows and a distinctive rear end, this time with tall vertical taillights that wrap up and over the short deck lid to touch the back window. The third brake light doubles as a functional rear spoiler, and large dual exhaust outlets are a styling feature centered below the license plate. Up front, the mesh grill and big power bulge hood make a statement.
Cadillac’s emphasis on performance has paid off, with the median age buyer dropping 10 years since the introduction of its performance-oriented models.
Today, the brand has established itself as a world-class performance/luxury brand with a continuation of the “V” series cars, including the new Blackwing models that are even more powerful and are the only premium performance cars that still offer a manual transmission.
Sixty-five years separate these two great cars. They are obviously completely different, yet they share a common heritage. They are a representation of the state-of-the-art at their respective places in time.
When you strip away the modern comfort and convenience features like air conditioning, power steering, brakes, windows, seats, navigation, back-up camera, etc., they are both beautifully styled, comfortable, fast, and, most importantly … reliable. The 1948 was the first new design from GM after World War II. The 2013 Cadillac CTS-V was the first true performance entry from the storied luxury brand.
I appreciate the opportunity to share some thoughts on these pieces of rolling art because I am fortunate to have them safe and sound in my garage. Looking forward to my early Saturday mornings when I can travel 77 years back in time to cruise and feel the breeze in the Fastback and then switch cars and watch the scenery blur in the Fasterback! Great fun.
