Though funerals aren’t high on my list of subjects I enjoy thinking about, it is easy to understand how many mourners would find comfort in a flower car displaying beautiful bouquets as part of a final send-off. That was the original intended purpose of this 1955 Cadillac, thanks to Superior Coach Company, which took ordinary Cadillacs and turned them into limos, ambulances, hearses, or whatever a buyer needed at the time. This one here on Facebook Marketplace probably hasn’t carried any foliage in a while, but it seems like a decent candidate for restoration and possibly turning into something that serves a different purpose. Located in Greenwood, Louisiana, this rare Cadillac is priced at $22,500, and we’d like to thank reader Zappenduster for spotting it and sending in the tip!
I’ve read that these are sometimes referred to as a Coupe de Flora, or a Coupe de Fleur, but whatever you want to call it, these are some real rarities in the Cadillac marketplace. I couldn’t find an exact number of how many examples Superior produced in ’55, but they’re certainly scarce, and this one is undoubtedly worth repairing and getting back on the road. Some lower-body rust is reportedly present, but the seller says it’s complete, and it seems to have more good bones than bad. I could also see someone with a vision perhaps restoring this one as an elegant El Camino-style pickup, which could prove more functional, but restoring it as a flower car and keeping things original sounds like a good idea as well.
The seller says he’s helping an 82-year-old friend sell his automobile collection, and it looks like there is a shed full of other vehicles that are looking for new homes. The listing provides few details, such as how long the Cadillac has been sitting inside or whether the crank will still turn over, but it’s a plus that the engine is still there. If original, it’s a 331 cubic-inch V8, paired with an automatic transmission. Most of what’s under the hood still seems intact, but if it hasn’t been running for years, the powerplant will probably need some mechanical attention or perhaps a rebuild.
From what I can see inside, I’m guessing it spent a few years outside before being moved to the shed, as the dash looks like it’s been baked to a crisp in the hot southern sun. The seat will need to be completely redone as well, but the speedometer and rest of the dashboard appear to be in nice cosmetic condition. There seem to be a couple of good restoration options, and while each will require plenty of work, I think this 1955 Cadillac could have a promising future. How do you envision moving forward here?
Very Cool ! ……Just not $22,500 cool.
It could be $22,500 cool if you weren’t sitting on springs.