Maybe I’m off-base, but car/campers like this seem a bit odd. Decades before the “glamping” craze, these cars were touring National Parks and Route 66 in comfort. I would personally rather have a pickup with a slide-in camper, but that’s just me. This specific car is a 1952 Cadillac Meteor camper and can be found here on Craigslist with an asking price of $3,150. Located in northwest Ohio, the car doesn’t look too bad, but will probably need a full restoration. Thanks to Barn Finds reader D.P. for the tip on this camper!
We’ve featured a similar vehicle like this here on Barn Finds before. A lot of these conversions were done at the “factory” meaning brand new chassis-cab vehicles were sent to specialized coach builders (like Meteor) where the campers were built in their factories. In fact, there are modern companies such as EarthRoamer that are still doing these types of conversions, albeit on a much different platform. Not only could you get cars converted to campers back then, but you could also get pickups done as well.
The ad doesn’t have a lot of details except for the fact that the car is “pretty solid.” It does say the engine is from a late 1970’s Oldsmobile, but it doesn’t state that it runs or what the condition is. Also, the ad indicates that the camper was a critter habitat for a while, specifically Raccoons. Vintage campers are complicated to restore. They often hide surprises that are not obvious until you dig deep into them. So what’s your opinion on these types of campers? If you have any memories in one of these, let us know.
FYI, currently the link to the ‘other cadillac camper’ reverts back to the homepage.
Cummins diesel,,,plenty of room. Heck, you could probably get a Big Cam 400 under that hood,,,ach du lieber,,,RACCOONS!!
Living in Yellowstone in the late 60’s, I saw all manner of campers come through. This one is certainly interesting. As I approach 65, I’m becoming more interested in getting a “tiny house on wheels” (What a craze, eh?). However, this one’s a bit more work than I can handle. Someone may buy it just to turn it into a food truck.
At first, I was going to suggest this was a homemade DIY conversion of a Miller-Meteor hearse or other service vehicle. I didn’t know they did actual camper conversions. All I know was several summers ago I almost bought a 1954 Cadillac commercial chassis with the back converted to a pickup bed with hot tub.
1959 Ford taillights (?) used by Meteor? Those Cadillac turbine wheels gotta be worth something, if cleaned up real good, wouldn’t ya think?
Never did see anything like these until I found Barnfinds, seems like my kind of rig!
This was a popular conversion in the 1960s, using retired Cadillac Ambulances from the 1950s. Most were built by a firm in Florida known as “Cabin Craft”. I’ve had 2 of them, a 1955 Superior, and a 1956 M & M. Ambulances were preferred over hearses because they usually had a better rear axle ratio for higher interstate speeds.
I lived in my 1956 for 3 years. Had it parked next to my antique car shop, that gave me both time flexibility to work long hours without a commute, and also saved me the costs of house payments while building the business. My young nephew used to tell friends that his uncle lived with his old cars!
Had a big problem the first winter, it wasn’t very well insulated, and I nearly froze to death one weekend when the weather dropped to near 0 degrees F. Ended up that Saturday night sleeping in a 1940 Packard limo, parked in the warm shop.
And they call living in your car homeless! Been there done that!
My first born was conceived in your Caddy camper, Bill … December 1994 … Thanks for letting us use it; sorry we lost touch; hope you are well.
The ’59 Ford tail lights are interesting but obviously not original to this unit.
LS swap!
I can only speculate on the horrors that would be revealed if one were to run a black light through the interiors of these old campers.
eeeeewwwww!!!!
I don’t think you get laid that frequently in one of these…..
Maybe the raccoons?
I’m sure a few were built in a factory, but these combinations always strike me as homemade because the lines of the camper never match the style of the car. Most likely, a commercial chassis fresh out of service was cheap, and what else would the average joe do with a hearse or ambulance?
Chebby,
None of the Cadillac factory authorized hearse & ambulance coachbuilders would have even considered building one of these, it would not be looked upon well by the funeral industry! These were typically built from 8 to 10 year old Ambulances just retired from service. Most were built by small-production travel trailer companies when customers requested them.
In searching over the last 35 years, I have yet to find a single printed brochure/flyer advertising these as available either in-stock, or by special order. I once had a long phone conversation with a former shop manager at Cabin-Craft, he said that in their best year, they made perhaps 8 to 10 of the Cadillac conversions.
By the time these conversions were created, the vehicles were already 10 year old used commercial cars, vehicles that almost no one wanted. There’s the other reason they were chosen; A nice, good running, 10 year old Cadillac ambulance in 1965, could be found for as little as $500.
I’m sure a few were built in a factory, but these combinations always strike me as homemade because the lines of the camper never match the style of the car. Most likely, a commercial chassis fresh out of service was cheap, and what else would the average joe do with a hearse or ambulance?
Sorry for the double post, I misspelled my email and the site thought I was a new commenter.
I think those front rims are Kelsey-Hayes mags from the 56-57 Eldorado. They might be worth a couple of bucks.
I think a company called Eureka made some of these too. I don’t know what else they made ambulances ? camping gear ?
No Eureka never made these or anything like it.
Geezerglide85;
Eureka made hearses & ambulances, and starting in 1939 some Chevrolet 6 door airport limousines. They even built some small buses for the military during WW2, but Eureka Coach never built any RV vehicles.
I could see one of the lower coach builders doing something like that, but not Eureka.
In the 60s there was a small used car dealership called “Nickelsons” they build and sold several of these. This might be one of them.They were in Canton Ohio..Dont know if they put any kind of a tag on them
A used car lot in Columbus Ohio, Vaughn Motors, sold these in the 1970’s. I believe theirs were converted locally. Maybe in Canton, my home town, or in Columbus.
There’s this one in CA, considerably better shape: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/d/1955-caddyshack/6688401367.html
While most were factory built, apparently a few people took this on themselves:
http://s265.photobucket.com/user/brmurph/library/Camper/Building%20Camper?sort=3&page=1
This kills me!
I hear the crusher calling….
I have only seen 1 of these restored. It was Perfect. It always appeared at our annual swap meet in Western NY.
Did anyone notice the buckling where the overhang connects to the body of the camper? Looks like it’s on both sides….surprise #1.
Restoring the Cadillac would be straightforward enough. But as others have pointed out, old campers are a mine field of mold, rot, and structural issues. Water gets in and they rot from the (deep) inside out.
But hey, you never know until you try. It would certainly make for a unique conversation starter in the campground. Just make sure the ‘coons have relocated before you get to it. They’re a bit hard to reason with.
“FYI, currently the link to the ‘other cadillac camper’ reverts back to the homepage.”
as well as “pick ups”
“here on barn finds”
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“cadillac”, “Romer” and the ebay links work.
That camper is ROTTEN! Look how it is sagging onto the roof of the Cadillac. Also, is that a raccoon turd in the sink?
I love all manner of these things! Makes me wanna a old timey jug band with this as the tour “bus”. Just me, the wife & the cats. Hell even the raccoons can come along,.. providing they can keep a tune & help with the driving.
One heck of a challenge!!!