Classic DREAMCARS Mount Dora, Fla. (352) 385-1945 www.classicdreamcars.com

                     
 
ORIGINAL OWNER : JACK HAGI TAKES DELIVERY OF HIS NEW HEARSE AT THE SUPERIOR FACTORY

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1962 CADILLAC SUPERIOR 'CROWN SOVEREIGN' BROUGHAM ENDLOADER HEARSE

SOLD- SUPER NICE FUNERAL DIRECTORS FROM S. CAROLINA

THIS MODEL HEARSE IS KNOWN AS THE "CROWN SOVEREIGN BROUGHAM LANDULET", NAMED AFTER THE BODY STYLE WHICH CARRIED A CHROME BAND OF METAL ACROSS THE TOP AND BECAUSE IT HAD EXTRA CHROME EMBELLISHMENTS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. DIFFERENT FROM THE STANDARD MODEL...THE CROWN MODEL HAD THE #3 BODY PILLAR SLANTED FORWARD TO FORM A TAPERED ARCH THAT COMPLETELY ENCIRCLED THE CAR. THIS ARCH FORMED THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STEPPED-UP REAR ROOF PANEL. THE EXTERIOR ALSO CARRIED AN ADDITIONAL DRESS-UP ROCKER PANEL MOLDING, REAR FENDER TREATMENT AND CROWN EMBLEM ON THE BACKDOOR, PLUS A MEDALLION ON THE UPPER REAR QUARTER PANEL. OUR CAR WAS FINISHED IN SABLE BLACK WITH DARK NAVY BLUE MOHAIR INTERIOR. IT WAS DESIGNED AS A REAR LOADER WITH TEN CASKET ROLLERS AND FORMAL DRAPERIES. EACH CAR WAS FITTED WITH A 390/325 HP V8, 4-SPEED HYDRAMATIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HEATER, POWER STEERING & BRAKES. SELDOM ORDERED OPTIONS INCLUDED 4-SEASON AIR COND., CRUISE CONTROL, E-Z EYE TINTED GLASS, POWER WINDOWS, AM RADIO AND REMOTE LOCKS. THIS MODEL CARRIED THREE COMPARTMENT LIGHTS THAT COULD BE SWITCHED ON / OFF AT THE REAR DOOR OR FROM THE DRIVERS CABIN. IT WAS ALSO FITTED WITH OPTIONAL WIDE WHITEWALLTIRES, RADIO DELETE, (2) ETCHED FLOWER VASES, CHROME WREATH PACKAGE, THE ORIGINAL 'SUPERIOR' DEALER TAG AND FULL LEATHER. IT COST AN AMAZING $10,969 PLUS OPTIONS (DOUBLE THE PRICE OF A SIMILARLY EQUIPPED '62 COUPE DeVILLE). . THIS COACH HAS CLAIMED MILEAGE BY THE LAST OWNER AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 24,406 MILES IN 47 YEARS (AV. 516 MILES PER YEAR). THIS CAR HAS BEEN ON DISPLAY IN OUR MUSEUM FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS AND WAS PROUDLY ADDED TO OUR COLLECTION OF CUSTOM BODIED, DOCUMENTED CARS.
$45,500 FIRM*  SOLD

* ADD $3000 IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE EXTRA PARTS AND OPTIONS WE HAVE PURCHASED OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS OR FURTHER RESTO. DONE

THE STORY

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT APPRECIATE THE CUSTOM BUILT, SOMETIMES WELL-MAINTAINED CONDITION OF THESE GREAT OLD CLASSICS- YOU'LL ESPECIALLY RELATE TO THIS STORY: WE HAD SPENT WELL OVER 2 YEARS TRYING TO PURCHASE THIS COACH. THE OWNER HAD HIS OWN LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CAR AS WE BOTH SHARED A MUTUAL ADMIRATION FOR THIS PARTICULAR CUSTOM BODY. TO GIVE YOU A FULL PERSPECTIVE: CADILLAC MOTOR CARS BUILT 88,282 VEHICLES IN 14 DIFFERENT MODELS THAT YEAR. ONLY 2,280 WERE BUILT ON THE FLEETWOOD 75-6890 COMMERCIAL CHASSIS FOR FOUR PRIMARY BODY BUILDERS. THE SELLER AND I AGREED THAT OF THE 2,280 COMMERCIAL CUSTOM FRAMES BUILT ON BY THE FOUR, THE MOST DISCERNING FUNERAL COACHES OF THAT TIME PERIOD WERE BUILT BY EUREKA AND SUPERIOR. SUPERIOR COACH BUILDERS ONLY MADE 239 OF THIS MODEL(SDL 604). THIS, OUT OF TOTAL PRODUCTION BY SUPERIOR OF 1,468 AMBULANCES, HEARSES AND FLOWER CARS (AT BOTH PLANTS : LIMA OHIO AND KOSCUISKO, MISS.) THAT WOULD MAKE THIS PARTICULAR CAR EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO THE FUNERAL CAR COLLECTOR AS THIS IS KNOWN BY OUR RESEARCH TO BE ONLY ONE OF TWO IN THIS CONDITION STILL ON THE ROAD. SUPERIOR AND EUREKA ASPIRED TO BUILD VEHICLES OF UNQUESTIONABLE QUALITY & CHARACTER. DESPITE THE FACT THE OTHER 3 BODY BUILDERS HAD EARNED LONG TERM OUTSTANDING REPUTATIONS FOR QUALITY ....LIVERY SERVICES AND PRIVATE OWNERS USUALLY AGREE EUREKA AND SUPERIOR COACHES WERE INDEED.... SUPERIOR.


WE FIND THIS YEAR MODEL PARTICULARLY 'STRIKING' AS CADILLAC HAD DONE AWAY WITH THE HUGE FINS AND GAUDY LOOK OF THE 1959, SETTLING THEN INTO A MORE 'TUB-LOOK' FOR 1960. BUT, STARTING WITH THE 1961 DESIGN, CADILLAC ENGINEER'S OFFERED A WHOLE NEW DESIGN ON PRODUCTION MODELS, A 'SMALLER-LOOK' WITH CRISP ANGULAR LINES, AND, FOR THE MOST PART, THIN PILLARS AND SHORTER DECKS. CADILLAC'S SHED ALMOST 200 POUNDS, ACQUIRED MATCHING ROCKER 'SKEGS' AND GAINED A NEW CARBURETOR BY ROCHESTER, INSTEAD OF, CARTER. THIS RESULTED IN BETTER GAS MILEAGE, AND A MUCH FASTER CAR THAT HAD A GORGEOUS 'NEW' LOOK CONSEQUENTLY INHERITED BY THE COACH BUILDERS.


 
HISTORY

THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD BY PALMER SUPERIOR SALES IN BLOOMINGTON, ILL. AND WAS DELIVERED 'NEW' ON TUES. FEB. 13, 1962 TO HAGI FUNERAL HOME IN STREATER, ILL. (JACK'S NAME IS STILL EMBLAZONED ON THE DASH). AFTER YEARS OF PERFECT SERVICE, THE ORIGINAL OWNERS SOLD THE CAR TO FRED C. HUB FUNERAL CHAPEL IN CHICAGO IN 1986. HE USED THE COACH FOR REGULAR SERVICES UNTIL 1997. AT THAT TIME IT WAS PURCHASED BY KURATKO FUNERAL DIRECTORS IN NORTH RIVERSIDE, ILL. WHERE THE CAR WAS KEPT AS MORE OF 'A COLLECTOR'S PIECE' UNTIL 2001. IT WAS THEN PLACED IN A PROFESSIONAL FUNERAL CAR COLLECTION IN INDIANA. AFTER TWO YEARS OF NEGOTIATION WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND LAUNCHED INTO FURTHER RESTORATION.








  

THIS IS YOUR 'TYPICAL' '61 HEARSE- THIS ONE FOUND IN KANSAS - NOT OUR CAR