For more than 70 years (1909 to 1980), Superior Coach Corp. was a major player in the construction of ambulances, hearses, and limousines. Many were based on chassis supplied by General Motors, especially those from Cadillac. Just in time for Halloween, the seller has a mostly running but rough example from 1965 that needs a water pump (supplied by the seller) and some cosmetic touches. Unless you want to include it in a haunted house exhibit. Located in Norwalk, Ohio, this transport for the nightlife is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $4,000.
The hearse is the ultimate “last mile” vehicle. If you were going to be taken to your final resting place, it would be hard to beat a Superior hearse with Cadillac underpinnings for the trip. This 1965 edition likely has a 429 cubic inch V8 under the hood, an upgrade from the previous 390. It should be paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission. We don’t see any hardware under the hood for air conditioning, but it may have been removed.
Given the deteriorated paint and surface rust (which may go deeper), it’s unlikely the Caddy has been used in recent years. It comes with the Tiara option, which we assume is a higher level of trim. The odometer reads 49,000 miles which is plausible because these machines typically only made short hops. The frame and floors are said to be solid, but the windshield is cracked and the upholstery in the front has been baked by the Sun.
We’re told this Caddy is a good runner, but you’ll need to move it by trailer until you fix that water pump. We suspect more will be needed, but that’s the only thing mentioned. Who knows how old the tires and fluids are. Depending on your purpose, this hearse might be a cool acquisition, but we suspect it only has a future as a novelty attraction. Thanks to one of our favorite ghouls “Ted” for this tip!
Two words: Cadaver transport. An
enterprising person can make themselves at least $70-$90K a year
hauling bodies from the morgue to
medical schools around their state.
The only requirement is that you pass
a funeral director’s course in the state
you live in. Once you do that, you can
contract with funeral homes and your
county corriner’s office to transport
the dearly departed to their final destination. And yes, you would have
to have a new A/C unit installed in the
car so the body won’t start to smell.
Good news is that these cars are easy
to service and parts are still available
through NAPA. The down side is the
cost of said parts. My experience with Cadillacs is that they are really
reliable rides until something breaks
or wears out. Then it’s sock it to me
time when you visit your local auto
parts store. The only things keeping
me from doing this kind of work is
my very poor eyesight and lack of a
willing partner. Any takers?
May we rust in peace!
One of the neat transportation pieces l had was a ’48 Cadillac black and grey hearse. Huge flathead V8, manual transmission, big right side door and lots of space for a party. Stuffed a couch cross ways in the far back and put a coffin in the middle with ice chest, beer and booze. It had 4 jump seats behind the front seat which made it comfortable for a small crowd. Really good for going to the coast during spring break. Some of the other students came up with a ’49 all black Buick hearse, and before you ask, we did have a hearse race.
I worked on a 41 Body By Fisher Cadillac Limo for a customer. It was a resto mod and I put hours upon hours of work into it. I had pics of the entire build till my h/d crashed w/o a back up.. Beautiful car, I believe it’s still driving around Ft Smith, Ar..
I see a truck conversion.
I believe that the NAGS number for the windshield is DW 678. This is a special (tall) windshield specific to the Cadillac Professional Car chassis, which is the starting point for this vehicle. I haven’t looked for one (I am a former vintage ambulance owner) in a number of years, so I can’t speak to availability. Joining the Professional Car Society is a big help.
As the former owner of a 63 S&S Victoria 3 way that was only just retired from service, it never ceases to amaze me that ensuing owners allow a magnificent coach to deteriorate to this condition! Many funeral homes are now restoring or purchasing antique coaches for active service. They are wonderful vehicles to drive. Out of all the vehicles in my past, the greatest sellers remorse is letting mine go, those coaches in #3 condition now bring well into five figures, what a dumb*** I was!
Now THATS a land yacht! One of my favorites a 1965.
And it looks like the roof is all steel. Now a days it’s fiberglass.
General Motors would send commercial chassis’ to these coach builders with an engine and trans installed, front clip, dashboard, steering wheel and pedals. Wheels and tires, of course. Everything else was manufactured by the coach builder.
Thus, depending on the coach builder (Superior, Eureka, Miller Meteor & others) you get different size windshields, side windows, sometimes suicide doors, etc.
I’ve always wanted a hearse and flower car.
Someday……..
Were my pockets deeper and my time more plentiful, I’d be all over this one and Ghost Busters the heck out of it.
These were used as ambulances as well, I believe.
@Bill West
Don’t beat yourself up, Bill. When it comes to regret selling a car, we’re all dumb@sses
True Angel, very true. There are times
I beat myself up for trading my ’66 Calais 4-door hardtop for a POS ’66
Olds Tornado that was a headache from day one. I was ALWAYS sinking
money into that damned thing. The last straw came when BOTH driveshafts fell out just towing a friends John boat to our favorite fishin’ hole on one of the few days that I was home after a long road trip
with the band. Wound up trading that
lemon for a ’62 Buick LeSabre ragtop
that I liked soooo much better than the Olds– and the young ladies did too. But it was my older sister that would drive me down to Champaign
to tape segments on the Marvin Lee
Show, a half hour country program
with local artists. I played rhythm
guitar for him back then and all you could see of me was my left hand.
But I digress. As I said, a person can
make a good pile of cash doing
cadaver transport so how bout it Angel, wanna throw in with me and
schlep bodies from morgue to med
school? You get to drive a caddy again and we both make money. There’s our ticket to a decent life for
our families right here! Wanna try it?
@Kenneth Carney
Aw Kenneth, thank you so much for thinking of me! And you know if I had the $ I’d be there with you stuffing bodies in the back. But as you said, first order of business is to install a/c. Very cold a/c. I love Cadillacs and I love hearses. And your idea is a great one. Except for passing the funeral directors coarse. Which at one time I actually considered becoming a mortician. Until I worked in a hospital and saw 1) a decapitated body and 2) a burnt body. I’m older now and think I can handle that better now. Hear that Frog?
I have two really big regrets. Selling my 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman to my father and selling my collection of three cars when I got divorced. MY 1970 Buick Riviera, My 1971 Buick Riviera and my 1975 Cadillac Eldorado convertible.
I did however keep my 1976 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. Eventually selling to a friend who put it in a garage and forgot all about it.
Oh, and Kenneth C
You mentioned your 1962 Buick LeSabre convertible. In 1970 I had a 1962 Buick Electra 225 convertible and my mom had a 1962 Buick Invicta convertible at the same time.
I had two friends of mine I went to church with whose father owned a
company like one I want to start. They had both a hearse and an ambulance for use in whatever job was needed. Back then, (1969) they
called it the funeral industry and it was seldom, if ever, talked about. Most of that was due to the stigma
that came with came along with the
job. On a humorous note, I recall a
story that one of the brothers told me
before life took us in different directions. Their father sent them on
a run to Chicago to pick up a body and bring it back to Bloomington for
burial. The boys decided to tag team
the trip with one boy driving while the
other slept in the back of the coach.
Well, the driver decided he wanted a
burger so he pulled the hearse into
the drive thru at a McDonald’s along the way. Realizing where they were, the second brother wakes up (Still in
the back of the coach) and tells the
cashier that he’ll have what his brother ordered. I can just imagine
the shock that woman got when that
second brother sat up and ordered
a meal from the back of the hearse?!!
I’ll bet it scared the crap out of her and her friends. And there was the
insurance agent in our town that drove a hearse to his client’s house with the tag that read U NEXT. Turned out that he was their top salesman.
Wonder why! Turns out he took over
our agent’s territory when he retired in 1971. A most convincing prop indeed. .
Great stories in this thread, folks — thanks!
Russ Dixon,
To quote you, “…one of our favorite ghouls “Ted””… I RESEMBLE that!
🤣👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼
I appreciate seeing some of the tips that I send in, are being posted!
Many thanks, Ted🧟♂️
It has been sold! This has been a treat for me to read all the incredible comments about this hearse! Now I am seeing more and more pop up in my notices!
Ted