This example, with number plate MT-79-62 (originally from 1959), spent most of its life in the United States, where it was first sold and preserved. In March 2012, it was imported to Europe, staying in the Netherlands for 12 years before being acquired by Pedro Freitas in June 2024. Since then, the Cadillac has found a new home on Madeira Island, embarking on a new chapter in its history and enriching the region’s classic car heritage.
The 1959 model is considered by many experts and enthusiasts to be the most exuberant and iconic Cadillac of all time. Its dramatic rear fins – the largest ever produced by the brand – with rocket-shaped taillights, became icons of 20th-century car design. These shapes were not just aesthetic, they reflected the era’s fascination with aviation and the space race, influences strongly present in the visual language of American car design at the end of the 1950s.
Under the bonnet, the 1959 Coupe de Ville is equipped with a 6,400cc V8 engine with approximately 330 horsepower. Coupled with a four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, it offered a smooth a quiet ride that was a striking feature of Cadillac and a point of reference for automotive comfort. With power-assisted brakes, power steering, and a suspension system engineered to isolate road imperfections, this model represented the cutting edge of engineering in its day.
The interior generously finished with high-quality materials, offered not only comfort, but also meticulous attention to detail. Chrome panels, symmetrical dashboard and enveloping seats reflect Cadillac’s commitment to sophistication and luxury.
Today, the 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville is widely recognised as one of the most desirable and valuable American classics, for both its visual impact and its historical and cultural significance. Preserving such a vehicle is more than collecting, it is a tribute to a golden age of automotive design. It is with pride that this car takes centre stage at “Clássicos na Magnólia”, featured as the poster car and symbol of this edition dedicated to the second half of the 1950s. Now in Madeira, this true sculpture on wheels will continue to tell stories, this time under the Atlantic sky and the Madeiran sun, where it will undoubtedly remain a focal point of admiration.
Datasheet Year: 1959 Brand: Cadillac Model: Coupe de Ville Country: United States of America Number plate: MT-79-62 Engine: Gearbox: 4 Owner: Pedro Freitas