ORIGINAL MILLER & METEOR BROCHURE
(Click to Enlarge)
1974
CADILLAC MILLER AND METEOR 'TRADITIONAL' MODEL HEARSE
This beautiful 38 year-old Classic
Endloader Funeral Coach comes from it's 1st owner Funeral Home out of Pulaski,
Virginia, who took delivery Feb.25, 1975 direct from Miller & Meteor
Corporation. Records indicate this Coach might have been used as the Demo for
the Funeral Director's Convention or at the M&M Plant. It retains it's original
37,100 miles and shows 'new'. Finished in 'Sable Black' with it's original, mint
'Antiqua Blue' Brocade Upholstery, Black 'Krinkle' Vinyl-Look Roof and the Mahogany Mica
Flooring. It is equipped with cold Factory Air Conditioning, Whitewall Tires, Full
Wheel Discs (Eldorado-Style), Variable Ratio Power Steering, Automatic Transmission, Dual Comfort
Front Seat, Deep Pile Carpeting, Courtesy & Warning Lights, 3-Speed Wipers, Soft
Ray Tinted Commercial Glass, Special
M&M Side Coach Badging, Electric Windshield Washers, Vanity Mirror, Cigar Lighter,
Remote Control Mirrors, the Optional Valance Draperies, Radio Delete, Side & Cornering Lamps,
Auto. Parking Brake Release,
Front
Center Arm Rest, Dual Power Disc Brakes and 472 cubic inch V8. It retains 90% of
it's original paint and still runs and drives like 'new'. Tires are
Whitewall Radials, all in excellent condition. Restored with us over the last 7
weeks and
Ready for Service at $16,950.
THE STORY
Despite the fact the 1974 Commercial
Chassis did not receive many major alterations, the Miller & Meteor Coaches did
receive significant engineering innovations and Extensive Exterior Appearance
changes from the previous model year. Outside a bold Egg-crate Grille was
flanked by Square Headlights Bezels and large Parking & Directional Signals. The
newly restyled rear fenders were capped by a low profile, vertical chrome bumper
ends and small side marker lights. The Tail light units were mounted in Oval
Shaped Pods. The Cadillac Commercial chassis carried the 157.5 " wheelbase and
the 472 c.i. V8 engine. Inside the Instrument panel was completely redesigned as
a two-tier affair with a built in clock in the upper portion.
Though these changes were modest they did result in the 1974 as being
voted by many to be The
Most Attractive of the Early 70's Models.
With the Federal Safety Mandate being issued on the
new "the big box style" Ambulances Funeral Directors began fazing out the
smaller coaches and their Ambulance Services Nationwide in 1973. Hence, the
"Combination" Ambulance / Hearse 'Limousine' Models sold poorly while more and
more Funeral Directors switched their allegiance to the sales of the popular
Landau Style Models. Consequently, Miller & Meteor now offered five different body
styles: The "Olympia", "Eterna", "Citation", "Landau Traditional" and the
"Classic Limousine" windowed version, which allowed the flower sprays
to be seen through the glass. The Landau models were blessed with newly designed
Side Shields, Coach Lamps and Name Plates, repositioned on all body styles.
According to the factory brochure: The Interiors were "completely restyled to
include the lavish use of Upholstered Sidewalls and Landau Interiors, deeply
embossed with elegant sculpturing that was both Ultra-modern
and Classic in
motif. The whole dramatic effect was enhanced by exquisite new wall lamps that
were part of the design" (quote: M&M). This deep pattern was reflected on the
wheelhouse covers, partitions, doors and landau panels. The Sconce-Type Wall
Lamps were added inside along with Luxurious Drapes. Though the 2-piece drapes
were still available, the 1970's saw the return of the heavy, swag draperies
with deep folds as a popular option. By 1973, the choice of 'dingle ball'
Tassels were offered... which, to this day, are loved or hated (some were simply
'snipped' on arrival). Draperies with Valances, as seen on this Coach, were an extra cost option. The
floors were available in a wide assortment of carpet, "phenolic" or linoleum
coverings that harmonized with the upholstery. Endloaders carried 10 rollers set
in Deluxe Chrome Fixtures.
As word leaked that General Motors planned to
implement new, shorter wheelbases in the years to come,
Funeral Directors Nationwide kept, or rushed to snap up, the last of the Large
Coach Bodies (1974-1976). Hence this Coach was retained and with another Coach
available, used sparingly. It was then
coveted as a 'keepsake' or collectors item, all these years, by one caring
Funeral Home. ALL the records we have researched underwrite the low mileage
registered with the State of Virginia during yearly State Inspections and
license tag renewals. The mileage is real.
Miller and Meteor continued their
policy of building 'all steel' bodies in the effort to increase safety,
durability and trade-in value. They had a Gigantic one-piece steel roof that was
welded to rugged steel roof-bows. The Floor Posts, Partitions and every part of
the custom build was engineered to last.
M&M also Ziebart Rust- Proofed the difficult 'hidden areas' and even
padded the Windshield Posts. The Traditional Model carried an Extra-Large Chrome
Landau Bow and 'richly embossed" Landau Shield
"to accentuate greater privacy and the
Regal Character of the car". You could choose from Vinyl Covered Roof or
Stipple (Krinkle) Paint. The reason this car lasted 41 years is it
was optioned with the Stipple/Krinkle Painted Roof (the optional Vinyl Top often
attracted water like a sponge). At this time in Hearse History the Wayne
Corporation (Miller & Meteor) was owned as a Indian Head Company.
Only 2,265
Cadillac Commercial Extended Chassis' were built in 1974
and bare in mind, those were split between
4 different Coach Builders. It is written by
McPherson that Superior built exactly 1,000 Coaches that year..... that leaves
1265 between 3 other Coach builders (421 each?) Therefore, the fact that one of these even still exist in this
condition, with this low mileage, is indicative of the Quality of the Coach
Builder, Cadillac , and the caring Owner. It is fantastic shape for 41
years Old! The Classic Cadillac Miller & Meteor "Traditional Landau Model Endloader
Hearse.