1967

Cadillac Commercial Cars: The two illustrations below are from the annual Cadillac catalog of commercial vehicles. Also illustrated were finished cars from Hess & Eisenhardt, Miller-Meteor, Superior as well as a magnificent Fleetwood Seventy-Five limousine from the Cadillac factory.

[ images missing ]   

 

Casale, Dario (Italy) custom hearse conversion of Fleetwood body [info from Ingo Marx, custom Cadillac enthusiast and hearse specialist, from Germany].

Eggli S.A. (Lausanne, Switzerland) 6-pass funeral car {HW collection ***, built from a Fleetwood 75 sedan, and using the stock [rear] side doors. Judging by the top of the front seatback, it appears to be a sedan rather than a limousine.

Miller-Meteor (USA) like other manufacturers of commercial vehicles for the hospital and funeral trades, this one built a limited series of such vehicles.  Some examples are shown below:

    
(left) This is the Classic ambulance with a headroom of 42"
(right)  Classic 48" ambulance with optional tunnel lights

   
Above two rows: the Classic ambulance had a headroom of 42 or 48"; it cost $11827
(Lower row, right) interior of Citation or Landau Traditional end loading hearse (standard interior)

This Miller-Meteor ambulance was photographed at the Indianapolis 500, on race day in 1967;
it was owned and operated at the time by the Conkle Funeral Home of Speedway, Indiana

Classic combination limousine

    
Landau hearse interiors

Snap-in panels over third window convert the limousine to this Classic funeral landau model

The same car in the regular ambulance configuration

   

Miller Meteor Paramount landau hearse

 
Above two rows: Classic ambulance with 42" headroom


This is the Classic ambulance with 48" headroom

Enthusiast, Bernie De Winter pointed out that the difference between a Paramount Landau and a Landau Traditional was the small quarter window in lieu of the closed quarters of the latter model. The Paramount bridged the gap between a limousine and a landau style; presumably offering the best of both worlds with the privacy of a landau combined with the greater visibility of a limousine style.

 

   
Citation hearse

      
Above two rows: the Traditional landau hearse for 1968

Here is a Miller Meteor Classic combination limousine-hearse

   
Mint, restored, 100-point Embassy flower car owned by Carlton Ham

S&S (Hess & Eisenhardt) (USA) Various commercial vehicles for the ambulance and funeral trades; typical styles in the S&S series are shown below:

S&S Victoria funeral coach

A survivor ... with custom wheels

S&S Park Hill funeral coach



S&S Park Row combination coach

[ image gone astray ]

Above two rows: S&S High-Body ambulance

[ image gone astray ]

Above two rows: S&S Kensington ambulance

 

[ image gone astray ]

S&S Parkway ambulance

 

 

 Superior Coach Corp. (USA)

Catalog illustration of 1968 Superior ambulance

Superior Crown

Superior Crown Sovereign

   
Superior Royale

   
Superior Sovereign

¨[missing images]   

        
This beautiful Superior ambulance was on show at the CLC Grand National, Detroit, 2002
[ Photos (bottom row): © 2002,  J. Scott Harris ]

 

Ultra Limos Inc. (USA) Ugly (?), stretched 6-wheel station wagon with chopped roof and tinted glass all round. Definitely a Mafia staff car!  A very similar car [see 1963 Dream Cars] was built on the 1963 Cadillac chassis. From Moscow, in Russia, Andy Khrisanfov informs me that this bordello on wheels once had been a regular Fleetwood Series 75 in service with the Doobie Brothers rock group; later it was converted by Ultra Limos Inc. of Anaheim, Ca. He writes: This particular example was built on the stock Fleetwood 75 that once belonged to the famous pop/rock outfit Doobie Brothers, by Californian company of Ultra Limos Inc. located in Anaheim (said Company is still in business, stretching up these rear-driven Lincolns of today's vintage; we have one of their products here in Moscow).  A clip from some old magazine, presumably Detroit Parade, that I happen to have in my files reveals the following features of that vehicle: the car is a full 384 inches nose to tail and weighs just over 7500 pounds. Its rear deck can be flipped open to reveal a 90-gallon hot-water tub (the word Jacuzzi apparently was not yet in use) inlaid with real ceramic, mosaic tile. The unusual tub even comes with a mirror, this being mounted on the inner side of the deck lid. Back behind the tub compartment there's enough space to house an electrically operated, folding rumble-seat, fully padded with the same deep burgundy mohair as the whole interior of this car. There are two large couches within, one straight and one curved, as well as a refrigerated bar, stainless-steel sink, microwave oven, radio and TV sets. A plush curtain serves to separate the chauffeur's compartment from the rest of the interior. Side and back windows are tinted to keep outsiders from looking in. Messrs. Van Bergeman and Kraig Kavanaugh of the above noted Ultra Limos Inc. stated that it took them nine months and about $80,000 to convert the essentially stock limo into this «boudoir» [I think bordello is more appropriate!], adding that the car is available for rent at the rate of $100 an hour.  The names of several customers have been indicated as well;  prominent among them are racing driver Parnelli Jones, entertainer Liberace and actor Tony Danza (of "Taxi" fame). My best guess is that the four rear wheels are just supporting ones, just as in GM Motor Homes, with an Eldorado front end being fitted for traction (photos do not reveal any traces of driveshaft tunnel on the floor). Keep up your work, Mr.Cadillac, and I will try my best to help you. I am using my editorial computer for this letter, but not to worry, I'm the historical vehicle observer at our newspaper, and have published back in 1993 a 15-chapter Cadillac history.  I'm ready to send you this publication, - all five newspaper issues with continuing story of our beloved marque [Andy was kind enough to send me the full-story ...in Russian - I can handle English, French, Spanish, German and Italian ...unfortunately, Andy, my Russian is limited to yes, no, thank you and ...I don't speak Russian!]

This cocktail lounge on wheels is a playboy's dream ...it simply oozes sex !

   

   
Model Vicki Susoeff is seen relaxing (1) in the car's plush, electrically operated  rumble seat,
(2) hot tub and (3) rear lounge seat; forward view (lower right) shows well-stocked bar,   steel sink, radio and TV;
a microwave oven is located beneath the bar; heavily tinted windows all round offer privacy and seclusion from the outside
world; Eldorado drive-train makes for flat floor throughout the "romping area"; the 9-month conversion cost around $80,000

 

Unknown (France) The original car, a 1967 Eldorado coupe, was acquired in 1970 by French film-maker, Bernard Château.  It had suffered rear end damage in a collision and was an ideal candidate for conversion to this movie camera-car. It has three sets of Austin "Mini" wheels mounted in the rear, to support the camera platform. After 30 years in service and with more than 800,000 miles on the odometer, the owner is currently (2003) restoring it to its professional working condition. Information and photos are from an article that appeared in France's NITRO Magazine issue dated Oct-Nov, 2003.

   
Left:  Mr. Château with his work-horse, in   1997
Right: shooting on the tarmac at Nice airport, on the Côte d'Azur

During the shooting of one of the funniest French movies I have ever seen, called
Y'a Pas de Problème, [There ain't no Problem], the Eldo is seen here getting ready
to haul a custom Ford station wagon along the Motorway to Chamonix
[ All photos: courtesy NITRO Magazine, Oct-Nov, 2003 ]

 

1968

Fleetwood (USA)

   

   
Fleetwood 75 sedan [above two rows]

McClain (USA) This car is converted from a Calais coupe, a cheaper way to produce a flower car (most funeral directors could not justify the cost of a full-sized flower car. Cars on the standard wheel base chassis could not carry a casket which meant that they could not perform other funeral home tasks other than carrying flowers. In an effort to reduce production costs, McClain used Plexiglas for the flat, rear window of the cab.

This 1968 flower car, built on the Cadillac "Calais" coupe chassis, was photographed
at the 1998 National CLC meet on Long Island;  this car is owned by CLC member
George Christ of  NY; thank you, CML member Bill Bittel, for identifying it
George had the car offered for sale in the Self Starter classifieds for Oct., 2008
[Photo:  courtesy Frank Perch of the CML]

    

 

Miller Meteor (USA) Various commercial vehicles such as ambulances, hearses and flower cars.  An example is shown below. 

Interior of  Miller Meteor Classic ambulance with 42-inch headroom

Miller Meteor Classic ambulance with 48-inch headroom

   
Above two rows: Miller Meteor ambulance with 48-inch headroom

Factory illustration of  Miller Meteor Citation, end-loading landau hearse


Miller Meteor Landau Traditional 3-way hearse

National Coach Company (Knightstown, IN, USA) custom 9-passenger station wagon, only one built for W.H. Hufstader, President of Hufstader Cadillac. Seats fold to form flat bed area; full rear door à la ambulance/hearse. This conversion cost $6,000 at the time. Photo: McC p.376. Enthusiast Bernie De Winter says the Indiana firm built several station wagons on Cadillac chassis in that era, up through the 1970 model year. One particular wagon was built on a Fleetwood Series 60 special chassis, in 1970. Those National wagons, he says, are most easily recognized by the two piece quarter window, shaped like that on regular, full sized GM wagons of that era, but built in 2 pieces with a small triangular pane at the trailing edge.

S&S (Hess & Eisenhardt) (USA) Various commercial vehicles under the S&S  label, such as ambulances, hearses and flower cars.  An example is shown below.

The S&S Victoria funeral coach, from a period marketing sheet

S&S Victoria hearse

S&S Park Hill funeral coach

S&S Park Row combination coach

    
S&S Victoria funeral coach survivor

 

 

 

Superior (USA) Various commercial car styles, including a Rescuer ambulance featured in the French auto magazine V8, #27, pp.10-12

Crown Sovereign landaulet

Low-top ambulance

   
Crown Sovereign landaulet, 3 way survivor

   
(left) Royale landau 3 way, (right) Royale or Sovereign limousine style coach with optional swag drapes


Two Crown Royale models
[ "Split" image is from period brochure ]

Coupe de Fleur with optional lower quarter panel trim

[Unknown, USA] Custom "hot rod" on base of Superior or H&E funeral car

Hot rod hearse, based on   Superior Sovereign landau hearse

[Unknown, USA] Camping car, presumably on 1968 Cadillac commercial car chassis [photo].

Butchered Superior Cadillac hearse; this was a popular use for used hearses in the early to mid 1960’s,
and continued into the ‘70’s to some minor degree; this camper just about had to be built
from a used car because of the high price of the base car when new

 

1969

Cadillac (USA) Fleetwood 75 limousine

   

   
Modified version of the Fleetwood limousine, with padded top and Derham style back light

 

S&S [Hess & Eisenhardt] (USA) Various commercial vehicles under the S&S label, such as ambulances, hearses and flower cars.  Some examples are shown below.

Above three rows: the standard Professional High Body ambulance

Above three rows:  the S&S Kensington ambulance

Above two rows:  the S&S Parkway model


Left: Professional High Body interior view

 

McClain (USA) Flower car [how many were built ???]; photo in SS10/96, p.18.

Miller Meteor (USA) Various commercial vehicles such as ambulances, hearses and flower cars.  Some examples are shown below. 1969 was the last year for the MM Paramount Landau funeral car.

Classic Limousine combination coach in its ambulance form

    
Above two rows: Miller Meteor ambulance with 42-inch headroom

Enthusiast, Bernie De Winter, says that the interior photo (above, right) shows a little known Miller-Meteor feature that was standard in combination coaches beginning in 1967. Called the Tu Way attendant seat, the front attendant seat could be quickly and easily switched from rear facing to side facing in about one minute. While some straight ambulances had this feature, as shown in the photo, it was more common in combination coaches due to the cabinetry often specified in straight ambulances.

   
Above two rows: Miller Meteor ambulance with 48-inch headroom

A restored survivor

   

[Above three rows] Landau Traditional funeral vehicles; lower photo features a Classic
limousine combination coach; this survivor belongs to Scott, a PCS member from Ohio
[ thanks for the tip, Sarah ]

Landau Traditional funeral car

   
(left) Classic Limousine, (right) Landau Traditional

Possibly this car?

    
(left) Landau Traditional 3 way, (right) Citation end loader

   
A surviving duplex model

 

Superior (USA)

   
Crown Landaulet funeral cars

Royale 3 way landaulet with standard formal drapes

   
(left) standard combination coach interior
(right) Crown combination coach interior

Superior Sovereign combination limousine

Superior duplex hearse-limousine

 

[Unknown, USA] funeral wagon converted to a camper:

          
Conversion of Superior Sovereign landaulet