Danbury Mint 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible - Red Hat Society

If you want a little folly and fun in your collectible hobby, add this smile-evoking little gem to your more serious diecast collection. Did I say ‘little’? This is a BIG gem; one of Caddy’s finest ever. A tail-finned monster of the highway that always commands attention. So how outrageous would this be in your neighborhood? If you check out redhatsociety dot com, you will read about the origin of this ever-increasingly popular woman’s club. And guys, this would be a great gift for the female in your life but be cautious how you approach this. The society was originally intended for the sisterhood of ladies nearing or exceeding fifty. So if the woman in your life is age-sensitive, then give it for what it is worth – a happy and colorful conversation starter on wheels.

Their website will explain the significance of the red and purple colors that the Red Hat Society honors and all of the group’s most wondrous amenities. But I’ll chronicle the finer points of the DM model itself. You know, it really is smile-evoking. I doubt any viewer of your diecast collection would be silent when they spot this sweet automotive treasure trove within it. The note from my buddy at the DM accompanying the model said, “Just for fun”. It is just that simple. The ‘characters’ in the front seat will literally cause you to grin. They’re decked out to the hilt. These are removable, but before you drive yourself crazy adding them to the car, a wise word. The driver needs to go onto the seat via the passenger’s side. Her left hand fits well on the steering wheel and her tiny tootsies touch the pedals.

Her right hand dutifully holds that monumental red hat in place as they go speeding towards the next shopping stop. The dainty passenger motors by in fine fettle with her hand propped up on the door and her elegant pink scarf flying in the breeze. These are two ‘forever friends’ gliding down the highway forgetting all the cares that the world can be, if you let it, and trust me, they aren’t! All you have to do to prove it is take in what DM provides with the big Caddymobile. Of course there are the Society sisters who glamorize the front seat, a red and purple beach umbrella with a contributory pink, red and purple beach ball to go along with it.

There is a shopping bag full of shopping treasures, three balloons on sticks with “RHS” letters, a hat box, no doubt laden with a big red noggin cover, and two tennis rackets. Danbury dutifully painted the exacting Society logos and graphics on the car in as gorgeous a purple and red as anyone could possibly imagine and finished the interior to match. ‘Gaudy’, you say? ‘Elegantly fun’, I say!

While still based in an older technologic ’59 Cad tooling, the model has those fantastic internal door hinges, the perfection of fidelity to the awesome 1:1 and a fit and finish beyond reproach. If and when I find a society for guys that have as wonderfully crazy a theme as this, I want DM to do a replica for it. I’m initially thinking in terms of a Corvette, but hey, I can be persuaded elsewhere!

-Tony F Perrone