1966 Cadillac Superior Flower Car Hearse on 2040-cars

 Offered for sale is a 1966 Superior Cadillac Flower Car.  This is a rare car for an advanced collector.

A flower car is a very unique version of a hearse. Very few funeral homes ever owned one.  They are intended to be used only in the most lavish of funerals such as for extremely popular celebrities, politicians or gangsters. At these over the top affairs, floral tributes are sent in overwhelming numbers, sometimes by the hundreds. Delivered to either the church or the funeral home they need to make their way to the grave site. After the funeral service and when the casketed body has been placed in the standard hearse by the pallbearers, the ‘flower bearers’ each carry a flower basket or floral display from the church to the flower car. This mass of flower displays is then placed on top of the stainless steel deck. They are arranged against the little racks and bars.  To ensure that they do not blow away or fall off on the way to the cemetery, the flower car driver lowers the stainless deck (hydraulically) so that the flowers ride low in the bed and out of the wind.  The flower car then leaves the church first leading the hearse and the mourners to the cemetery.  Upon arrival at the cemetery the stainless deck is raised again and the floral tributes are handed to each mourner as they walk to the grave site so they can place them upon the grave. 

How many funerals are ever awash in flowers? Even years ago when sending flowers to a funeral was customary, few funeral homes found a need to purchase a flower car. They were only ever purchased by funeral homes in areas of the country where the custom was for really lavish funerals. The east coast and Chicago area were the target markets.  And then only a few funeral homes in these areas ever bought one. This one may be the first one you have ever seen.

To justify and amortize the expense of such a specialized car for the funeral home the car was designed so that it can also function as a full hearse and carry a casketed body.  A full flower car like this one has a rear door and casket rollers and bier pins to make this possible. This capability then allowed the flower car to also function as a second hearse in a multi-body funeral or as a first call car to make a removal from the place of death or possibly even carry a body to the airport for shipping to another city.

Flower Cars are VERY RARE!! Because of their use in only the most lavish funerals, flower cars were really only ever built on the top line chassis. (Cadillac and Packard) When you take the total number of (post war) Cadillac commercial chassis used by each coach builder and then count up the total number of flower cars you find that the production for all flower cars in any given year would rarely top 100. Divide them up by each different coachbuilder and the number quickly falls to just one or two digits. In 1966 Superior built just 30 flower cars! This car is 1 of 30.

What about THIS flower car?

It was sold brand new in Akron Ohio to the Stewart & Calhoun funeral home. They are still at the same address on Thornton Street. A picture of this car in service can be seen on their website. http://stewartcalhoun.com/about/

The original professional car dealer was the American Limousine Service of Cleveland Ohio. This is all documented on the original owner’s manual, warranty booklet and protect-o-plate. The Stewart & Calhoun funeral home kept this car for almost a decade selling it in 1974 to the Palms Chapel funeral home in Fontana California. Palms Chapel was not well run and the owners themselves eventually died and the ownership of the business was tied up in probate for years.  Finally in 2000 I was able to purchase it. By the time I got it, it had been sitting for approximately 15 years. The odometer shows 50,000 miles and based on the condition of the car I believe it to be correct. (You look, you decide)

I did all the wake up repairs of flushing, tuning, cleaning, rebuilding and replacing including a new radiator, water pump and a full brake job with all the hydraulics replaced and a completely rebuilt front suspension. It tracks very straight. I rebuilt the driveshaft, including new U-joints, center bearing and balancing. I disassembled the instrument panel for cleaning and repair. During this time I added a correct 1966 Cadillac AM-FM radio and power antenna. I reupholstered the seat in cloth and vinyl using the original pattern.  It looks very nice and correct and is very comfortable. The floor mat is the original gray. (The Cadillac commercial chassis did not come with carpet)

I drove it for several years to meets and shows but it has now been sitting for a about 5-7 years, and in a realignment of my collection I am selling it.

What is wrong with it?

The carb could benefit from a boil out and cleaning as it is gummy. It runs and drives and would easily go onto a trailer but DO NOT expect to drive it any distance until you have checked and serviced all the systems. I have NOT replaced the L78-15 bias ply tires from back when I bought it in 2000. They hold air, but they are now likely 25+ years old.  The lights and electrical system functions but there is damage to the Cadillac harness that leads to the rear end so the tail/brake lights are intermittent. A replacement harness is included.

The body is straight, the paint is horrible! It is original paint but it is cracked and lifting and is generally yucky. There are no dents or accident damage. The rear bumper is bent as seen in the pictures. The car is remarkably rust free. There is no rust through in the front clip or front doors. There is some rust in the tops of the rear doors. The back door is rust free. The rockers are good, the skirts are rust free and they are using their original brackets and mountings. The really rusty area is the floor in the back of load area.  The floor area where the lifting arms for the rear deck attach needs repair. Hence the hydraulic system for the deck cover is not operational. (The pump and lines however are all in place) The rear of the load floor is the worst. It is bad enough that the casket rollers have sunk down and broken from their mountings. (a picture of this area is included) This was likely a problem way back in 1974 as somebody cut and installed a replacement plywood board that has been fitted with rollers so that the car could still perform funeral duty. I have included lots of  pictures of the underside, if there is something you want to see, please ask.

ALL the trim that is missing in the pictures is in the back. Included also are extra 1966 Superior pieces I have acquired over the years.

Anticipated buyer:

This is a significant car that is intended for an advanced collector/connoisseur. When it is gone I know that I will never get another one like it. It has taken me a long time to actually decide to part with it.

I am offering it with a low price considering the work I have put into it that reflects just my minimum investment in parts. I am ready to sell it, not play any dumb games. Hopefully you feel the same way about buying it. Unfortunately I am relisting it because the last buyer could not/would not follow through with the purchase. If you bid please be ready to finalize the purchase and remove the car to your place.

It is fully titled in my name. It has personalized California plates “FLWR CAR” that go with the car. It is currently on California non-operational status with no back fees due.

If you have any questions PLEASE ASK!! If you would like to see a picture of something in particular please ask. I will do my best to post them or send them to you.

Legal Text:

I am being honest about offering this vehicle to you; I expect the same courtesy of having you be honest about buying it. Bids from buyers with less than 10 positive feedbacks will be summarily rejected. Your winning bid is a commitment to complete the purchase, NOT re-negotiate the deal in my driveway.  The vehicle will stay with me until cleared, certified funds are in my possession.

There is of course NO WARRANTY of ANY KIND.

Having it picked up within 3 weeks of the auction closing is expected and should be possible. I will work with you to make this happen, but of course I AM NOT paying for the shipping.

Thank you for looking and reading this and Good Luck in your bidding.