1media/1948_Cadillac-thumb.jpgmedia/Cadillac_02.jpg2020-06-30T11:32:59-07:001948 Cadillac10plain2020-08-23T16:33:58-07:00Shortly before World War II, GM’s design chief Harley Earl examined a prototype of a new fighter plane called the P-38 Lightning. Inspired by the aircraft’s look, he soon added visually striking tailfins to Cadillac models. The rest of the industry quickly copied the style, which became one of the hallmarks of 1950s automotive design. Model Carol Borgeson poses here between two Cadillac tailfins. On the left is one from 1948, the year they were introduced.
