Future Ghostbusters Tribute? 1959 Cadillac-Superior Hearse
With roots dating back to the early part of the 20th Century, Superior Coach Corp. was a major player in the ambulance/hearse conversion business. That includes this 1959 hearse which was based on a Cadillac commercial chassis. Hearses turn up from time to time here on Barn Finds, and they’re often pretty far gone. But this one doesn’t seem to have succumbed to the passage of time or Mother Nature. Located in Scottsville, Kentucky, this “last ride” is available here on eBay where the current bid is $13,100. The seller mentions both reserve and “make office” functions, but we don’t see them now.
When we see one of these vehicles, the immediate question is “What do you do with it if you buy it”? A common answer is to use it as a Halloween haunted house prop. But since this is the same model year as the Ectomobile or Ecto-1 from the 1984 movie Ghostbusters, maybe you could turn it into a tribute to that iconic vehicle. Though we don’t know its history, the odometer reading is less than 59,000 miles which could be right as most of the time these vehicles made short vs. long trips.
Assuming it’s original, we’re told the 390 cubic inch V8 does spin over when power is supplied to the vehicle. The same is true for many of the lights. The seller says he/she was told it was a runner not that long ago, so perhaps getting the Caddy to at least function might not take herculean efforts. But it’s going to need restoring unless you go the haunted house route.
The seller is likely a dealer as he/she indicates that all sorts of other vehicles are up for sale. And trades will be considered. So far, it looks like two bidders are interested in the Caddy and have been dueling it out with the bid button. Wonder what they want to do with this antique?
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Comments
Yech!
Somebody really wants this, up over 20k now and another week to go yet. It looks a little rough, but there aren’t that many to pick from anymore. Good thing is that the glass looks good. I’m sure those rear quarter windows are made from unobtainium. and that commercial windshield would not be cheapif one was needed. No air in this one, I guess they didn’t care about the driver and the dead guy keeping cool back then.
Recently saw 93 Cadillac Hearse (obviously out of service) with side lettering We Put The Fun In Funerals. Looks like this one had 🎵 Fun 🎶 til someone 🎵 took the headlight away 🎶! Amazing how today’s funeral vehicles look so awkward if based on few remaining sedans and even worse when as glorified trucks. Per my instructions, my TOWN CAR will carry my cremains to my grave. Going out in STYLE! 🏆 💐 💐 👍 😎
There’s a picture somewhere on the internet of a later hearse parked sideways in front of a salvage yard. They’ve painted a sign on it that says “We Sell Used Body Parts.”
Willie the Wimp in his Cadillac coffin
Love it.
I’d repaint it in midnight blue (the blackest Black). Rebuild the mechanicals, re-fit as a herse. Add a coffin in the back, hiding the best audio system I could afford.
Ghost Busters tribute? So lame.
yup , i love it too
I love the Ghostbusters too, but this car deserves its own glory.
Id paint it some pretty Cadi color and de-hearse it, make it into a highway cruzer,
with a 7.4 Vortec or 6.2 or
As for price, ya, its worth all the guy can get for it, to make something of this caliber today ?!,
well, it just wouldnt happen.
.. though, apon closer inspection, it would sure serve a great Ecto-1 =)
or a band van
Absolutely agree with Aussie Dave. No Ghostbusters tribute. I also like the midnight blue idea but if it was mine the interior would have to resemble a limo with a seat that goes along 3/4 of the inside with room for a fully stocked bar. All dark blue velour interior. I love the feel of leather but if say you’re going for a weekend ride, by the time you get out of the car you’re stuck inside and sweaty as hell. Plus if you fall asleep, your face isn’t stuck to the seat when you wake up. One good thing about leather though is it’s a lot easier to clean. I think this car needs a nice set of wheels and ghost flames. Everything blue and 400 horses under the hood. Would be nice.
.. though, apon closer inspection, it would sure serve a great Ecto-1 =)
or a band van
YES ghost flames
Death Camper Coupe!
Band van yes, in the 60’s had a band and a friend knew someone who had an old Packard hearse. He’d let us borrow it and drums, amps, mics, etc. would all fit. Really cool when we’d pull up to a small church that hired us to play for an event!!
The world doesn’t need another Ecto1
Agreed
Unlimited access to the carpool lane ;-)
An old original hearse is a fun unit. I have had a 65 Superior unit since 1985. Amazingly it will garner more looks than my 58 Caballero or any of my convertibles. Mine has a casket, flowers and was great for morning commutes years back. No mean drivers that won’t let you merge, no tailgaters. I did not have to go 25mph over the speed limit. Yes indeed a hearse is fun. I always wanted a 59 but the ones I came across were rough beyond help. Too many unique items to replicate once battered. Once Ghostbusters hit prices tripled. I suspect this unit will likely pass the 30k mark or higher. Other units from the 50s 60s, and 70s do quite well if in functioning condition. Amazing that there are still 59s around like this.
Seasoned folks to the site, know how I feel about movie cars, tributes, and I didn’t even dignify that silly Mutt Cutt post with a comment. The movies are great, but not enough to make the vehicles famous, except Adam-12, of course. I never understood the mindset of wanting a hearse, I don’t know about you, but dying really bums me out, and I want no reminders of that final time. I also have a tough time thinking this is over $20 grand. Mom always said, if it doesn’t sound like it makes sense, it probably doesn’t.
What’s wrong with hearse? It’s the same as having an ambulance, tow truck, limo, taxi, or police car. Every funeral I have been to is a celebration of life. Yup kicking the bucket sucks but if you worry about it, you never live. How many murderers did my cop car haul? How many fatality car wrecks did my 42 year old rollback haul or my 50 year old Holmes wrecker rig drag? Quite a bit of craftsmanship went into hearses and unlike regular vehicles their numbers are far fewer. they are all vehicle that did a thankless job. I also have Caprice taxi. I routinely get the” Why do you have that?” The car started life as a police unit, did a hard thankless job. It then gets dumped at an auction hosed yellow and gets beat another 200,000 miles and then dumped at the junkyard. No one cared it ran fine..dump it in a shredder. Hearses met the same fate. once older they were down to airport,, morgue, hospital pickups and then dumped to the dreaming rock band, storage boxes at junkyards with their front clips long gone, hippies, and many other sad endings for a low production and in many cases, well. crafted auto. Yup kicking the bucket sucks. All good things end but it’s not the hearses fault or the taxi, ambulance, cop car or tow truck.
I was just watching Adam-12 last night Howard. I tune in from time to time. Just seeing what’s parked at the curbs keeps me sane.
Seller has quite a junk yard. Just think if Neil Young still had his famous hearse. Sale price would be in six figures and someone would buy it. Hard to believe this is over 20 large already.Like your Mom said.
Forget Ghostbusters. Clean it up, but don’t restore it to perfection, buy yourself some bell bottom corduroys and a matching coat, and go looking for Maude at local funerals.
Only a few of us are old enough to get the “Maude” reference. Good one !
But you would need the Jaguar XKE one like in the movie.
In the late ’70’s, one of my buddies bought a 1959 Caddy hearse. It had full windows and curtains, as opposed to the panel van treatment at the rear of this car. Lots of fun cruising the small town we lived in.
Had to spill a lot of whisky to rid the smell of formaldahyde.
Nah, Harold preferred his Caddy; his insufferable mother bought him the Jag.
And personally, I’ve always thought Harold’s treatment of the rear end was better than the original.
The world does not need any more IncorrEctos. Its not even the same coachbuilder. This is also not a hearse as described, but a combination car. This Superior Royale needs to be restored to its former glory.
This is a hearse not a ambulance,needs stay that way
A HEARSE 🎵is a HEARSE🎶 And no one wants 🎵 to be flat in the back of a HEARSE 🎶 Talk to WILBUR about this POST 🐎 🐴 😉 😜. SORRY, just being CADDY! 🐈 😻! ME OW!
Make a great pick-up?
If this was a 1959 Miller Meteor Futura Duplex model, like the original ECTO-1, it would bring 4-5 times the current bid. They are as rare as hens teeth and builders pay dearly for them. These cars were professional vehicles that were used and abused for the most part and didn’t survive because of this. Many builders use different models like this Superior because the MM’s are so hard to find. Some even buy 1960 or 1961 models and swap the front end from a 1959. Some even graft the fins from a 59 onto the newer models. It is crazy!
Here’s an unmolested 1959 Futura Duplex,,,I think
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ_bae5iuYU
A very rare and special car. It needs a rare and special person to restore it. That’s more rare than the car. I always liked taking my Cadillacs to car shows and listening to many guys mouth off about how they “worked on this” and” restored that” and then when I get into details, they get quiet and admit, they paid someone.
Some person with more money than brains will probably buy this just for a profit.
Cadillacs are “Special vehicles” for “special People” and most people, never owning one just can’t understand. I remember all the nasty remarks I received at age 16 when I bought my first Cadillac. My favorite was “I would never own a car like that”. My reply was “yes, I’m sure you never will”!
It’s not a car, it’s a “Cadillac”!
Looks like Pro Mod material lol 😂
Puts me more in mind of Leningrad Cowboys Go America than Ghostbusters.
Tried linking to a YouTube video, can’t get it to link. Check out “I drive a Hearse” this is what you’d sing while driving this ’59.
This is kinda cool I would not do a ghost bustGers tribute that’s been done multiple times I would go more with a demon Dracula theme maybe even blacking out the chrome blood red interior dark tinted windows
A DARK SHADOWS special with Vampire emerging from coffin? Shadows of the night 🎶 Haulin 🎵 🎶 me on view? 🎵 🧛♂️ 👍
Please don’t promote the idea of converting a highly desirable Caddy hearse into a Ghostbusters car. Its tad amount to promoting its use in a Demo Derby!