Needless to say, there’s quite a few Don Draper (and Roger Sterling) look-a-likes in old Cadillac brochures and ads; no doubt the producers of Mad Men spent some time perusing them. But I just ran into the the most authentic one yet, in the 1960 Cadillac brochure. So which model did he drive to his date with this lovely…model?
The Eldorado Biarritz; the most expensive non-limo standard-production model in 1960.
I was kind of hoping it had been the limited-production Eldorado Brougham, since we’re celebrating Brougham Day.
It was the limited-production Eldorado Brougham! Only 101 made. 1959: 99.
I think Betty Draper looks better than her, but that was true of most of his affairs on the show. I wonder how the brill crème holds his hair for the drunken ride home in the convertible.
But Betty’s so icy cold that it destroys any sex appeal. She isn’t even warm to her children. I don’t blame Don.
She could be a little freaky even felonious. Remember in a later season in bed with her second husband, her suggesting they go in next room and she would hold down Sally’s friend for him. Later she went to the slum to try to save her from the hippies.
Will someone please open the champagne?
In an early season of Mad Men, the Draper family appeared in a scene that obviously was intended to mimic these vintage car ads. 1962 Caddy.
The thing I remember about that scene is when they leave, Betty blithely shakes their trash off the blanket onto the grass, and they drive away.
Many today don’t realize how trashy public places were in the 60s-70s before anti-litter campaigns slowly changed peoples’ habits.
You beat me to it with largely the same point, but I remember Don chucking his empty beer can into the bushes as well. Not sure if that was intended to illustrate a point about Don or about society at large at that time, but gathering up the recyclables would have been inauthentic.
I was going to say the same thing. I remember being shocked at how they simply left the trash on the grass, but that is the way it was in those days.
Didn’t Don drive an Imperial in one of the later seasons?
Mid series, but it was a “rental” when he was in California visiting Ana Draper, I don’t know if they rented Imperials back in the 60’s though?
Remember, Don is in California…swimming pools, movie stars!!
I’m sure Hertz or Avis had a stash of Imperials and Cadillacs at LAX for their select customers……
” Remember, Don is in California…swimming pools, movie stars!!”
Don’t forget the battered rusty old pickup trucks every where with poor folks looking for scrap metal……
=8-) .
-Nate
Nate,
If Don had visited the deep south (New Orleans or Memphis), in the mid ’60s, I would agree with you about the tin man collecting scrap in a beat up pickup truck.
But California (the golden state) during the aerospace boom, when Lockheed, Douglas, and Convair were clambering for worker; I don’t thinks so…..
In the words of Don Draper ( Season 3, Episode 2, Love Among the Ruins), “I was in California, everything is new, and its clean, and the people are full of hope…”
Nate, lets not burst the bubble….
“Nate, let’s not burst the bubble”
Yes, Watts never happened.
It is interesting to look back at old ads to see what the marketing department thought their “target ” audience looked like. Especially for the more expensive makes such as Cadillac, Lincoln, and Imperial. These cars were targeted to affluent social types, executives, and men of substance. Of course these cars were sold to anyone that could scrape together an adequate down payment. Years later they they ended up in many unexpected socio- economic arenas that were never anticipated by the original advertising agency. That of course is the beauty of massive depreciation. I just wait for these desirable creations to drop down to my economic strata!
True from 1969 on… Note that the cars are always static with no on the road or driving pictures?. What the hell has the couple with the old boy in a book store got to do with the car?. Crazy and really surreal.
I love these vintage Cadillac ads depicting the creme de la creme of ’60s society, but the model in the picture doesn’t hold a candle to Betty Draper (January Jones)!
“Darling, don’t look now but the Carl and Ginny just walked in. I don’t understand how they could be seen out in public with that horrid 1959 Cadillac she talked him into last year. But I think they voted for Stevenson, too. Anyhow, I’m so glad you waited. Can we get another drink?”
As always a matter of opinion, I find both women to be attractive. I suspect the model in the ad is somewhat older than Ms. Jones. Both the man and the woman in the ad appear to be young for typical Cadillac customers.
‘spinners ‘ ~ feh .
-Nate
The thing I noticed was that the Eldorado Brougham didn’t have the ’59-60 wrapped windshield but rather the same one from the 1961 models, mostly raked with a tiny wrap on the front corner – a year early. Wonder how many of those Executive-types with their perfectly-coiffed lady companions banged their knees when getting into regular production 1960 Caddies with that nasty dogleg?
Notice the ‘equipment’ on the table in the restaurant. It’s small and unobtrusive, no different from the plates and salt shakers you’d find at home. Old Rich. The ad agency knew what they were doing.
Modern fancy restaurants have BIG and AGGRESSIVE equipment. Nouveau Riche has triumphed.
The ’59 Caddy was an exception to the previous Old Rich Caddys. It was BIG and AGGRESSIVE, and GM seems to have realized the problem quickly. Toned it down some in ’60, then returned to Old Rich modesty for a long time. Quality that didn’t have to shout.
That was also back when Cadillac was gunning to be an actual luxury marque and not just a GM, albeit the top of the line GM. Now they are trying to be American BMWs. If that is where they bucks are, more power to them, but I tend to see Cadillac of the last 30-40 years as more of a “near-luxury” car, something affordable to a good chunk of the populace and something not even trying to compete with the likes of Rolls and Bentley or even seriously with the senior Mercedes and BMW. Now I guess they are trying to get into S-class/7 series territory, but we’ll see.
Well, in the ’63 Caddy brochure, Joan from Mad Men makes an appearance.
The model in the brochure really looks like her!
Perhaps she is staring into Rogers Caddy looking for something?
Um, maybe she could stand up so we could be sure.
Looking at the first picture of the couple at the table, I can’t help but think that this had to be some of the best marketing ever. Even if this wasn’t your scene, you were at least intrigued by it. I remember some of these classic Cadillac ads would strategically placed a two year old Cadillac in the ad to remind you that an alternative to the brand new Cadillac was a pre owned Cadillac also available at your Cadillac dealer. An innovative writer could write a story based on every one of these classic ads and it would likely be a very interesting read.
The woman in the photo looks more like Bobbie Barrett (season 3 love interest)??
The setting would be ideal, a man with his mistress at a fancy restaurant while Betty is stuck at home with Sally and Bobby..