Are hearses welcome?

of course they are wagons!!

 

I agree. I always wanted a hearse decked out in Cragar SS rims and white letter tires. Funny, a couple people have asked if my current wagon is a hearse. It isn't, but they do ask.

 

Some hearses were station wagons. It seems when most people think of a hearse they think of something like a Cadillac, with a stretched wheelbase, a raised roof, suicide doors, and commercial glass (the industry name for glass made to order for a coach builder because the oem glass isn't big enough- like if you raise the roof enough the windshield will have to be taller, etc.). But coach builders made a lot of cheaper models that didn't have all those things.

So what they would do is use a Pontiac or an Olds or a Buick as a rolling chassis to cut costs, keep the stock roof-line to keep the OEM glass. They can also avoid stretching the car sometimes if they opt to make it a rear-loader instead of a 3-loader. If that's not enough they can forgo the limo-style partition. The rear doors may or may not be suicide doors on a rear loader.

What you're left with then, is a wagon that has a custom interior, the rear side windows filled in, a pair of landau bars, possibly suicide doors, and a vinyl roof. If it were a dual-purpose hearse it may even have the rear most side windows still, with snap on exterior panels that "convert" the car between a hearse and an ambulance.

There was a olds hearse on craigslist a few months ago, think it was an 85, that was basically just a stock wagon with custom interior and vinyl material over the roofline with minimal padding. Tare off the vinyl, throw an OEM set of interior in it, and no one would ever know it had served as a hearse.

 

You forgot to mention making sure there aren't any stiffs in the way back...that would be a dead giveaway!

David

 

We used to call them bunwagons in the day. Don't know why. Any wagon can carry big buns. Mine are just mid-sized!

 

and a Tail gate is a tail gate.

 

called the guy today, but didnt get him. My understanding is that the car is completely in Hearse trim except for the rollers. Still has the curtains and they are supposed to still be really nice. Things like that get sun damaged fast down here. Hopefully I can get over there and see it by this wekend. I really want to sell off my truck.

 

I saw the following ad in the Toronto area kijiji, he's got quite a selection of cars...

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-Funeral-coaches-W0QQAdIdZ184590870

 

Wow... Serious collector. I'd like to see some of those Ambulances..

 

Ok, so I saw the caddy over the weekend. Its a little rougher than I had hoped. seats are completely bare, and all the carpet is gone. the headliner is really nice, the drapes are past saving, and the wooden platform in the back is rotten. tailgate has a big dent, and needs a pass fender. Might be fixable.

This poor car was sunk to the frame in the dirt. I am not convinced the motor will turn, but it might.

Basically, at this point its not for me. If there is some interest in this car I will pass along the info. Cost is $700. He has a spare 472, and a 500 as well, but these things have been sitting outside under a floor mat for years. I doubt you could get the pistons out of the block without a sledge hammer. there is no way they could get by w/o a MAJOR rebuild. Assuming you could bore them out enough to clean up.

 

I think I stoped by this guy's house last year. He had a 1975 Superior ambulance that was painted pink. He was just about to send it to the shop to be restored. He also had one or 2 cadillac stationwaggons if i remember well.

 

OEM glass

Some of the makes other than caddy did use commercial glass also like my 65 Olds.

 

Back in the mid 70s (when I bought the Suburban) I remember looking at a '38 Ford ambulance. It was pretty rough and was sitting in a field with a bunch of other old cars and trucks. The guy had to move everything (including himself) due to "eminant domain" bulls__t so they could build a freeway onramp and was letting everything go really cheap.
He said he had driven the ambulance to where it was currently parked a couple years before. He took me out with a fresh battery to see if it would crank, but alas, the engine appeared seized so I decided to pass on it. Who knows, if it had turned over that day I might be driving it now instead of the Suburban. Oh well.

 

ahh yes...back when the gov. had to have a legitimate reason to take your property!