OK, this Pick of the Day isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for a classic vehicle that will stand out in a crowd, and that might even get traffic ahead of you to move out of the way, you might consider this 1976 Cadillac Miller-Meteor hearse/ambulance being advertised on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Chicago.
However, the dealer notes that if you’re interested, “Make sure you measure your garage to be able to fit this 22-foot monster.”
A.J. Miller started making horse-drawn carriages in 1853 in Ohio and, like so many others in that business, built some early engine-powered vehicles as well. But it couldn’t compete with the major players so it began specializing in producing coachwork for hearses and ambulances. In 1956, Miller was acquired by school bus-builder Wayne and was merged with Meteor, another professional-car producer that Wayne had acquired two years earlier.
Fans of Ghostbusters will be interested in learning (or already may know) that the Ecto-1 was a ’59 Caddy with Miller-Meteor coachwork.
The Pick of the Day wears blue paint and has a tan cloth interior. Its top is black vinyl topped by a functioning Beacon Ray ambulance light. The ambulance also has a working public-address system.
Empowering this big vehicle is its original 500cid Cadillac V8. The car has an automatic transmission, power brakes and steering and, the dealer adds, “drives like any other Cadillac — like a dream.”
In addition to the front bench seat, the rear compartment, separated by a bulkhead and sliding glass window, has a pair of fold-down seats and a gurney-style stretcher. The rear also has its own climate controls.
The dealer notes that the vehicle spent most of its working life in Texas, which “has kept the underside clean and away from all the nasty snow and salt Winters bring.”
The hearse is offered for $24,000. To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Old hearses hold a certain appeal for many collectors. I would certainly be proud to park this in my garage!
Tough for picking up dates in!
Haha probably guarantee a freak…
Andy
We have a Hearse club in our city with about 30 vehicles. They come out to all the car shows and put on quite a show themselves what with the Skeletons and ghost props. The cars are actually pretty fascinating and always in great shape.
It’s a hobby like anything else. Everyone has a good time!
Who ever buys this will be riding “Hearse” class!
My Dad’s sense of humor:
We had a 1948 Packard hearse and matching limo, gorgeous black on purple velvet for the hearse’ interior.
Recall we used to have drive-in movies? (Now they may be coming back on account of COVID-19)
My Dad took out all the original casket handling rotating/slide-out “roller tray” and seats & equipment. He put in a junk-yard bench seat.
Before the seat was finally installed, we looked and there was serious space opened up. “You could ride your tricycle around back there” – 1 description of the space remaining.
Dad found some drive-in scary movies, packed up the kids (Mom mysteriously did NOT accompany), and in we went for our spot, usually with enough space to turn this beast into that narrow parking slot.
The looks we got as we pulled in and then they would notice the eerie green-glowing side lights and the hearse-swoop symbol on the back….
I don’t recall having anyone in the surrounding parking slots, ever.
Then, my Mom placed about 30 of those flourescent-colored “Rickey-Tickey-stickers” all over the hearse’ exterior….
I think their divorce was quite soon thereafter…
From the looks I think it is really set up as a private ambulance more than anything.
Probably still useful as that, alth – which has a limited market at best.
Surprised it has the mileage it does under any uses..