This 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air is described as an “Estate” and the conversion was supposedly done the year the car was built. An internet search for hearses of this year shows a few examples including this one. While this car is not exactly a hearse, it is definitely not a wagon or Nomad. Found here on eBay with a current bid of €2,500, the unique car is located in Kriegsfeld, Germany. Thanks to Jeff for the tip on this oddity. If anyone reading this speaks and/or reads fluent German, please feel free to drop us a comment if any of our information doesn’t translate well. For example, if you know what “There is no scraper on the entire car, so no US Prestolit bomber.” means, let us know.
Typically a hearse would have front seats only with room in the back for a casket (obviously). At first glance, there are two bench seats. The ad states that the front seat and door panels were originally in green and the brown seats have been installed in the car. The dash looks original and appears to be in good shape. The speedometer is in km/hour and has a great vintage look.
The ad states that registration papers show this was an original V8 car. Although the engine and transmission are currently removed, the seller says that a 350 c.i.d. engine and automatic transmission are available for an additional price.
This is a pretty neat car overall. There are certainly issues, but it looks like a very unique project. Overseas buyers will be wise to get a quote for shipping before bidding on the car. Hopefully, it will fit in a container and they don’t charge you by the pound. If you know anything else about this car (or exactly what it is), drop us a comment.
Have shipped dozens of cars to USA from all over, never used a container – too expensive and too risky, if this rolls, steers and brakes it may be possible to go ro-ro, a far better and affordable way to transport.
O.K, I’ll bite, what is ro-ro. ?
Roll On Roll Off
Das ist richtig. (That’s right!)
Dakota, I think that this is a National Coachworks conversion. I’ve
seen a few of these over the years. But I’ve gotta say that I’ve never
seen a National equipped with a rear seat before. Most all of them
had a flat floor behind the front seat to accomodate a gurney or a
casket depending on what the car was to be used for. Other than
that, you have a ’55 Chevy that’s pretty much a blank canvas. My
only worry would be how much rust damage there might be. Those
specialty panels may be irreplacable. With Halloween around the
corner, just think of the fun you could have with this beast. Cool
find!
Kenneth, it doesn’t look like a hearse to me at all. That rear door looks like it was designed in Germany. That is not an American design.
Also I think the hearses in Europe have really long windows in the back to show off the casket when in procession.
“There is no scraper on the entire car, so no US Prestolit bomber.”
This means there is no bondo on the car and so it is not the typical american car made of plastic.
American restorations have a reputation in Europe not to be very good and that many things are hidden under putty instead of repairing the sheet metal properly.
By the way, I can also confirm this for my MGA project.
this is problably build in the Netherlands, here is another: http://www.hetnederlandschekentekenarchief.nl/hnka/index.php?topic=1924.0
Agree this was built by a European conversion company. Obviously with a rear seat, it’s unlikely it was used as a hearse. We need to hear from more readers on the other side of the pond. There may be a builder’s plate somewhere on the body that would provide more clues.
The ad says that the original green seat is included and that the brown seats are from a sedan.
A friend had a hearse with a rear seat for a while. It was added after the funeral home sold it. It was used in SoCal for a celebrity graveyard tour, lol.
…which is common. As a frequent hearse shopper, I see hearses and ambulances aplenty with rear seats added after they left service. Unfortunately, this most often means that the original interior fittings were discarded long ago.
Not that it adds much, but I once owned a Rolls-Royce hearse that had a rear seat that folded flat to make room for the “Stiff-in-a-Box.” I used it to haul yard debris to the dump and bring Christmas trees home.
You’re probably right Miguel. What threw
me off was the “C” pilars as they are quite
close in appearance to those used by
National on their conversions. Still a cool
find though. My neice would love it.
a wagon converted to a hearse then converted back to passenger duty with the addition of a second bench seat then gave up its drivetrain when it could no longer pass vehicle inspection in some part of Europe.
Oh, Perfect ! Exactly what I am looking for to help establish my New Business. A hearse that is simple, plain and very cheap. When we are going for low cost , corners must be cut. Smokey’s Discount Burials (or whatever). $179.50, all inclusive, nothing hidden. You call……..we haul…….that’s all. 24/7
Need 2 for His & Hearse?
Schweinhund! I vant to know ze history of zis car. Vas is los?
“You plug ’em-we plant ’em!”
“There is no scraper on the entire car, so no US Prestolit bomber.”
What he likes to say is: There is no Bondo on the car.
Yeah, your right Paul, that this was problably build in the Netherlands.
It’s still got dutch license plates on it. so it probalbly never was entitled in Germany.
This is my old ’55 build in antwerp Belgium, it used to be a 4dr sedan but was converted to a hearse after she left the plant. there were only 3 build, conversion was done by a shop in ‘zeeland’.
it was an original v8