1963 Cadillac Miller Meteor Hearse
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- In this video Steve examines Cadillac’s fascinating Commercial Chassis program, revealing why Cadillac used rear leaf springs instead of coil springs plus much more, including what a “Guide T-3” headlamp is.
And today I learned what T 3 meant, truly enjoy this channel and your work sir. Thank you.
Yeah, that was some cool trivia! My 57 Pontiac came with one of its original T3 bulbs. Still works.
I love listening to someone who has such a reserve of knowledge that he can rattle off facts in machine gun fashion. Take a breath, Steve.
I've always been fascinated with old hearses. They were usually better cared for and as a result lasted a lot of years. I know a local funeral home owner and they have kept every hearse that their business ever purchased. Their collection spans nearly 70 years
Yes that's a lot of Caddies,
@@scoobyroorogers And a rather unique theme for a collection. I don't know if I've ever heard of someone having a collection of hearses - at least a collection of nice ones...
Neil Young's "Long My You Run" was about his Packard hearse.
@@seed_drill7135 who cares about that woke clown.
They did get good care, except for all the idling. Rarely did they get a chance to speed. even rarer is the flower cars--people would pick those up as pickups
I was amazed to see the dual master cylinder, also that double U-joint on the drive shaft. That junk yard seems to like to drop rear axles onto the windshields and leave them there for all eternity !
I saw recently on YT a Caddy Camper similar year, and Steve talk about the rare '67 Caddy Wagon.
I owned one of those 163,174 caddies back in the mid-1980's. Pulled a fine old 1963 Sedan de Ville from the back of a junkyard in Connecticut, got it running, and drove it all over the U.S. looking for car parts and having a blast. The hardest item to find was the passenger side bumper end that invariably got dented when the car was pulled into a diagonal parking place and the bumper end scraped the sidewalk. Even back in those days the bumper ends were hundreds of dollars.
Back in the early 70's a guy moved into the neighborhood and had a 1958 Caddy hearse along with other cars. We thought this was kind of odd until we found out he had been hired by the school board to teach auto shop. He used the hearse to haul his motorcycle trailer and boat trailers around. He explained you could pickup a good, well maintained and low, easy milage hearse pretty cheap because there was hardly any secondary market for them. The only down side was his girlfriend refused to ride in it.
Got to get them drunk first !
He should have changed his girlfriend quickly.
That sounds like a win. Nag free zone.
As always Steve Mags starts my day off with his amazing wealth of knowledge. I am VERY grateful for the Junkyard Crawl, and absolutely love Steve's theory of the junkyard being a classroom. Hope the Junkyard Crawl is here to stay forever and always respect and look up to you, Steve Magnante. Thank very sincerely for sharing your knowledge and having such excellent enthusiasm doing so!
My 1963 Eureka had a levelizer on the rear suspension. My car was a side service car which utilized suicide doors.
When you load a full casket it put a lot of weight on the side of the car. if the doors were over, let's say, a curb, you were able to lift the side of the car so the doors would be able to be closed.
That made for solid rear suspension so going over bumps wasn't too smooth, but it was still a Cadillac.
Do you still have your Eureka?? Also your buick wildcat I saw in one of your thumbnails, one of my relatives has a relative who has a 64 wildcat, but in "robin blue" (which isn't it's original colour, apparently after a rust spot was found, that was when they decided to paint it)and the wildcats I have seen so far here on CZcams, all are white. Seems they only had limited colour selections
1959 Was a Mile Marker Year for the Cadillac Family The Funeal Coach work Has Class & Art Thankyou for your Careing review of this article..It Shows Reverence of its service to Familys in their time of need "May it Rust in Peace 🙏"(Feb.25.2023) 🇨🇦
Why does his voice remind me of Dan Aykroyd? He knows so much about these cars and its quite entertaining to learn even more about them, especially from this guy's wonderful voice.
Holy Smokes, Dan Ackroyd is a legend...and a serious car guy. He made sure the Blues Brothers movie contained factually correct dialogue because he couldn't do it any other way! THANKS for writing, Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante hay how are ya? Dan Ackroyd was in a film called THE ARROW. Canada's supersonic jet circa 1958ish. If you have chance check it out. There are engineers in my community in Canada still alive. Very cool, political and economic heartbreak.
Take care
AVRO Aviation.
Dan Aykroyd is in ghostbusters and this video is of the ecto 1? Coincidence I think NOT!@@SteveMagnante
I always drove the old hearses in the late seventies, thru the eighties . They were great beach vehicles and yes , that was me many times getting busted for doing doughnuts on Daytona Beach .
Ok Boomer
@@samholdsworth420 I'm not sure if he's a boomer but he was the bomb 💣
@@samholdsworth420 Settle down JR and take yer adhd meds.
@@waytostoned I can't take my ADHD meds because I snorted them all in one day
@@samholdsworth420 well you can have 2 beers outta the fridge but don't tell mom.
Steve, always appreciate the tidbits of information you give us with each video. It’s not always on the vehicle you are spotlighting, which makes the content always valuable to everyone. Thanks again for your daily digest from the museum.
love the new intro with the manual weed whacker...it just works perfect for your show
The commercial chassis was shipped with cowl and front sheet metal in place, the dash and quarter panels were strapped flat on the rear frame. The dash was in a box that doubled as a place to sit while moving the chassis around. I've seen some earlier chassis that had the windshield frame and dash in place (50's) There are some good photos of this on the web.
My Grandpa would drive bare chassis trucks like that, from the factory to the a lot someplace, or the upfitter's shop. He used a crate to sit on. This would've probably been in the late 1920s or early '30s.
The T3 history was a lesson for me too. If you're not careful you might learn something. Love the "classroom".
I am 62 years old, back when I was a kid, all ambulances were Cadillac's. But I did see a few Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser's in late 60s. In early 70s all I saw were, Chevrolet Suburban's and GMC Suburban's. About late 70s all I saw was the Ford Econoline. Dave...
Not all. I had a 1967 Superior Pontiac high top back in the '80's.
Thank you Steve and Bernardston Auto Wrecking Co of Bernardston Massachusetts!
A dealer ad from the 1970s showed a huge hearse with the caption "Don't let your first ride in a Cadillac be your last". It's my favourite ad ever
I would normally skip a video about a hearse but Steve makes it so interesting I had to watch it through. Another brilliant video Steve!
Excellent walk-around. I met you in Auburn when I drove in with my 1965 Cadillac Limousine. Great Job!
Man and you wonder how many souls took their last ride on that puppy! Great stuff Steve! We definitely learn a whole bunch with you man!👌😎👍thanks for sharing!
Great video Steve....I started collecting Johnny Lightnings 23 years ago and have about 10K of them, all new on their cards....thanks again.
We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon
One of my fav channels! I feel I know a lot about cars…until I watch your channel. Then I realize I know nothing.
Awesome video. I used to own a '66 Pontiac Bonneville Hearse/Ambulance. By Superior. 1 of 102 made. Had mine for 23 years.
Thank you Steve Get well soon
Steve, it also said "DIVCO," as in the old milk delivery trucks, on the Miller-Meteor tag!!
I've always heard it pronounced "Pick-Wuh." It's just up North of Dayton, where the T3s were made.
Didn't know it was "pick-wuh"
Thanks Steve, as always great info. Love those big ol cars.
Wow. AM/FM radio in 63. That's pretty cool
That is not Am/FM, it is city and country settings.
@@mexicanspec uhh. Maybe look @ 6:00 in the video and then you can edit your comment.
@@foreignautomobiles You are right. Sorry about that. I can't remember when I have seen an early '60's coach with any radio let alone AM/FM. I am going to say it was installed with original parts after the fact, just like the wood grain sticker that is there.
Some cities had a radio station. But not FM.
In some small rural areas, the funeral home's professional vehicle would double for ambulance duty to save the town money. Down south, a few of these professional cars in the junkyards got robbed of their OHV V8s, tank tough four speed Hydros, and multi-pack rear leaf springs for use in "shine runners".
Great episode for me. This made me think about my '68 M&M and '59 Eureka I owned. Bone stock and no goofy stuff on them. The '68 was great for hauling small back drops around Hollywood.
Let me guess... that you mean Ecto-1s and ghoulish Halloween decorations when you mean "goofy stuff"
I remember watching someone being loaded in a Cadillac ambulance in the late '60's .The paramedics were dressed in white uniforms and shoes
Another great history lesson.
SIR (dude) you rock....I am learning so much from YOU!!!! Thanks !
I love the intro of you hacking away at the scrub. Silent humor
Take care
Live not far from Piqua , knew a few people who worked at MM.Keep up the great videos.
You can't be a car guy without loving commercial cars. They are hand made one of a kind cars. That is what cars guys are looking for.
I like your new "gardening" intro.
Thanks, gotta burn some calories. I'm looking a little rotund in these videos! THANKS for writing, Steve Magnante
Keep em coming when you're videos show up I stop everything and watch . your channel is growing my muscle car guru ✌️
*Let the Sunshine In.*
1956 Fleetwood Sixty Special.
I added ya to my list, "Cadillacs".
When you mentioned Wayne on the tag first thing that came to mind is the Wayne school bus body’s especially when you were looking at those aluminum side trims they look exactly like the trims used on their windows
Love them long roofs! I had a friend back in the day that had a 88 Caddy , and a 68 Caddy commercial roof, combination hearse! Very neat with the jump seats and flipping rollers in the back!
I had a 1969 Superior Sovereign. With that big, beautiful 10.5:1 compression 472! What an absolute beauty of an engine, 375 HP & 525 lbs/ft @ 2200 RPM. I bought it in '03, from the 2nd owner. It had been registered to a funeral home from '69 when they bought it new, until they went out of business in '01.
Mine had the leaf springs from a GM 1 ton truck in the back, with a 14 bolt rear.
Another great automotive history lesson. Well done Steve. And thank you!
I hate yard work but I would gladly help Steve clear out all those beauties at the junkyard!!!!
The series 75 Limos with the dog leg commercial glass windshield were built through 1965 using the same basic inner structure from 1959. The all new Series 75 Limos came out in 1966 but the commercial chassis was updated in 1965 with the full boxed perimeter frame and '65 Cadillac styling.
My 68 Ltd had FoMoCo head lights when I rescued it 15 years ago 👍 I still have jo.han ambulance box and instructions..
Where I used to work I packed out parts for Miller meteor in the early 70s
Wow!
Great channel Steve!! I watch a few every day.
Steve, thank you for sharing your years of accumulated knowledge and experience. I just love watching as you identify the general history of a rusty, beet to crap vehicle and also give it some honor for what it was.
5:35 the 1959 windshield was actually used till 1965 on the series 75 limos and professional cars not just till 63.
5:17 1961 was when Cadillac went away from the wrap around windshield on their lower cars.
If you want to include the Eldorado Brougham, 1959 and 1960 had the almost flat windshield.
That's some serious American steel there. 200lbs front grill and bumper. Lol
Very cool.
Good stuff, Steve! You deserve more subs. And thank you for your vidjayos, I do enjoy them!
They make great fishing vehicles. They can tow pretty heavy boats, they have a lot of room inside for your gear, and you can sleep in it if need be.
as long as you wake up 😢
Sleep like you're dead
We had a local funeral home who doubled his hearse as an ambulance. It was a 63. There was a dealership in St. Louis that sold used hearses. They were in rows by price. Along with the old limos a number of local bands would buy one to haul their equipment in. One such band named themselves “ the morticians “.
Hi Walter Johnson, YES, I also remember seeing an old hearse in a junkyard that was last owned by rock musicians. At the now-defunct Stevens Auto Wrecking in Charlton, MA, a '56-ish Caddy hearse wore a painted on band name that read: "The Midniters". How cool....I can hear strains of "Louie Louie" right now! Anyhoo, THANKS for writing, Steve Magnante
My junior high school band director once told us that hearses were ideal for musicians because they hauled as much as a truck, but could be licensed and insured as a car.
@@SteveMagnante was it The Midniters or *Thee* Midniters (spelled with an extra e)? The latter actually were kinda famous , but they were on the other coast out of LA Calif
Very KOOL Steve I have a 48 Caddillac Herase
Wayne built street sweepers in Pomona Ca. Then they were FMC, then Johnston Sweeper and currently Global Environmental Products in San Bernardino. So the Wayne legacy lives on!!
It's pronounced Pic wah Steve.
My favorite DJ on WXRT Chicago is from Pique Ohio!
T3, never would have guessed. Great post Steve
Worked for a company that sold Miller Meteor mechanical sirens.
I bought a drove a 79 Caddie hearse from a used car lot in South Carolina and drove it home to Maine back in 1999 but didn't keep it long. It had a 425 in it I think. Had plans to convert it for traveling and sleeping in but plans changed.
1979 would be a 425, yes.
There's some scrap cash in the back of THAT Hearse :-O
The bright work is always incredible on coach build cars, the use of Stainless mouldings is awesome and as I detest pot metal I can really appreciate the use of this over the usual nastier cast items or worse Anodised alloys for drip rails etc as my older (70's) Mercedes collection has in comparison to my 70's Chrysler (Aus) stuff which is stainless and gloriously available new from the US's aftermarket still showcasing ironworker craftsmanship today.
Back in the early eighties a friend traded a couple of '71 Impalas for a '62 Cadillac similar to this one, we used to ride around and had a blast freaking people out with it, also my dad in the late forties hauled coil steel to a place near Bellefountaine,Ohio that hand built bodies on Cadillac commercial chassis, this was all handformed panels using wooden molds and wooden mallets,I don't know what the name of the company was except Dad said it was on a former dairy farm.
Ohio was just huge, in the vehicle upfitting business back then! I'm from Dayton, and looking through the newly released 1950 census, a large number of people in my township were employed in automotive component manufacturing, at places like Delco Moraine and others. Both the Mercury Meteor conversion and the T3 headlights were from Ohio.
That's Miller-Meteor, as they were based in Bellefontaine. I wonder if Meteor were based in the same area, as I know that AJ Miller were in Bellefontaine, before they merged?
@@aussiefurbymogwaifan6621 thanks for the answer,all that I knew was where it was located,this was in the late forties or early fifties when Dad was still driving truck.
Another awesome video Steve! Perfect for us gearheads and car nerds. Keep up the good work!
good review
When I first started with the fire department, we were just replacing our '63 Cadillac ambulance with a 1975 Dodge van ambulance.....(yes, I'm old lol)
I’m damn near in tears at the condition of that beautiful hearse, it was probably pretty nice when it came in but back then it was near worthless. Really hope someone strips all the trim, badges etc before it completely collapses. Funnily enough I’m about to start building an original issue Jo-Han Haulin Hearse - the front engine uses a front wheel drive Eldorado / Toronado transmission.
A commercial chassis would be complete up to the firewall with dashboard, then the windscreen, rear fenders, taillights and rear bumper were strapped to the floor and the coachbuilders did the rest.
Hello CycolacFan...wow an original issue JoHan Haulin' Hearse!!! Only the Roarin' Rambulance is as cool. I also noted how "the Wizards of Moran Ave." (home of JoHan in Detroit, MI) managed to put 1964 Chrysler Hemi "K" heads (flat ends) on the OLDSMOBILE TORONADO short block! And speaking of that Olds block, isn't it a marvel with its little cylinder bores? Almost a shame to cover them with any kind of heads. One closing thought....Round 2 has been "cloning" vintage kits from existing examples of old plastic kits. The recent 1963 Nova wagon is an example and the rumored 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T convertible kit is another. If Thom Lowe and the Round 2 "Wizards" can conjure kits from a remaining relic - with NO NEED for the original and expensive tooling - can "cloned" JoHan kits be far away??? With Haulin' Hearse kits like yours trading for $400 and up today, I'm betting Round 2 is looking into this. If not, somebody needs to! THANKS for writing, Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante great to hear from you Steve. I managed to pick up a Haulin Hearse as part of a collection from a mate recently, it was missing the tyres and exhausts so that’s my excuse to build it 😉 it’s an interesting mix of parts even box stock. “Shove some Hemi valve covers in, the kids will never know.” It’s a FWD Hemi… Yes retooling and 3D printing advances mean we might see anything in future and limited production runs are more possible. My sources strongly suggest that ‘68 Coronet droptop will be followed by a ‘68 coupe in ‘23.
Keep up the great work, we all are really enjoying your videos.
Excellent info, as always Steve! And here I thought Wayne Corp. was only in the comic books and movies lol.
I remember seeing Wayne school buses.
Actually it has a factory AM/FM radio (available after the "mid year" changes) EXTREMELY RARE. And to see a hearse with factory A/C in 1963 is ALSO a rare item. I would love to know where it was sold. My thoughts would be deep south, AZ, NM, CA or TX. I do remember a 1954 Packard Clipper that was bought new in Phoenix for a funeral home and kept in service until I want to say 2000's and it had factory air. Beautifully maintained original. The earliest hearse I remember seeing with A/C was a 1965 way back when I was in high school in 1972 and my parents FLAT OUT REFUSED to allow me to buy it. I had friends who had a band and we wanted to use it to haul band gear. Sigh.
Just what I was looking for ...
Buick offered the Roadmaster Estate wagon as an "incomplete vehicle" in the nineties for the conversion market. I don't know how many they sold; I never got to see one.
I also seen Oldsmobile hearse cars.
Awesome episode thank you Steve
I learned a lot. I have a 67 Caddy hearse with the 500 engine. I haven't looked at it in several years but I don't think it has side windows except in front. I has what we called "death rails" like the model but it's blue on blue. I bought it 32 years ago for a work truck while the engine was being changed in mine. I was adding on to a nursing home at the time. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.
If it is the original engine, it would have a 429. The 500 didn't come out until 1975 in the commercial vehicles.
@@mexicanspec You may be correct. I bought it in about 1992. I have no idea of it's previous life. It wasn't being used a a hearse when I bought it. I'm just going by what NAPA told me when I ordered a carb and gave them the casting numbers.
@@lazyhoundracing9621 what coach builder is it?
@@aussiefurbymogwaifan6621 I have no idea. I bought it 30 years ago to use as a work truck while mine was getting a new engine. I was building a nursing home at the time. Maybe not the best choice looking back. It's been sitting back in the woods at a friends every since.
Steve's extensive expertise and appealingly positive personality are refreshing when comparing him some automotive youtube characters who traffic in sarcasm and scant knowledge
Thanks, I always say "respect the subject matter" and I THANK you for writing. -Steve Magnante
Nice video and info. man...been working on a 60 caddy flaptop for a customer that is in pretty good shape,getting parts is getting tough,but I wondered about the commercial stuff when you go to get parts.Thanks!
What a great grill, what a piece of art!
Great video thank you.
Thanks for clearing up the A pillar question for me, years ago there was a '63 Hess and Eisenhardt landau hearse ( no rear quarter windows ) listed, I thought it was a leftover '62 chassis that had been sold as a '63 . Now I wish I had bought it .
All commercial Cadillacs had the wrap around windshields until 1964. By Hess & Eisenhardt, do you mean Sayers & Scovill? H&E was never used as a maker of hearses directly.
@@mexicanspec Their full name is Sayers & Scovil Hess & Eisenhardt.
1st. two names being the original team from the 1800s and H&E came later I believe.
@@UberLummox Yes but the H&E name was never used on a car. They were the parent company.
@@mexicanspec I had a '63 3-way Landau. From what I've seen neither name was visable on the outside of the car. I don't remember how their data plate read however.
@@UberLummox If you had an S&S, the name was everywhere on the car even down to the centers on the wheel covers.
What coach company did you have?
Get well Steve.
A very dear friend had a 63 Olds hearse that he painted Christmas red for his pawn shop and mini mall.
Man, this dude has Esso extra "High Test" running in his veins! I'm pushing 70 and when I grow up, I wanna be able to hold my own talking old car, motorhead, car talk like Steve. I feel like I won Jeopardy anytime I can pick out one of Steve's, very few, gaffs. For instance, the antique car club that handles Flower Cars, Limousines, Ambulances and Hearses is called, "The Professional Car Society", not "...Association" / Hey - Happy Motoring!
Have to give a shout out to Ecto One, it is a Miller Meteor Ambulance. There are older Cadillac Wagons and even a El Camino builds, but they are all outsourced Coach builds. LIke with a 1978 Eldorado Caribou Conversion. (A Caddimino.)
I didn’t know 1953 was the last manual. That means that Johnny’s “one piece at a time” Cadillac could have been a stick. The engine was a 73 so the engine coulda been a 500. 500 with a stick would be sweet.
I’ve seen flower cars used for trailering in old drag racing photos and videos. Big strong engine with a pickup bed in back, think big el camino.
Miller Meteor built hearses where I grew up in Piqua Ohio.
Always informative and interesting. Thanks Steve!
Steve,
Cool vid as always! For reference's sake, "Piqua = Pick-wah". 😉
Steve, It is my understanding that Elvis special ordered a Cadillac station wagon from the factory to pick up guests at the airport and deliver them to Graceland. I love your scholarly reports on these forgotten treasures.
Cadillac never made station wagons. They were converted by outside companies.
@@mexicanspec heard of 3 units caddy built
@@bdi11000 How do you think they did that with no infrastructure nor parts to do so? The Cadillac wagons were made with roofs from Chevy wagons. I can't imagine Cadillac themselves doing it.
Great video Steve! Sad to see that hearse in a car graveyard.
Love this intro.
I wish I had my VIN decoder from days at Pontiac Roadside Assistance. It would identify the Cadillac incomplete used for making hearse and ambulance.
In this year the Z tells you it is a commercial chassis.
I'd also be inclined to add "I wonder what a miracle worker, and a good welding (media blasting) job might achieve.
Wayne used to make school buses back in the day also
As did Superior.
wayne is also well known for school buses they do alot of pushers [engine in the rear]
You can take me to my grave in one of those. I'll also go in the back of a pickup truck, or on an old hay wagon pulled by one of my antique tractors, or a horse-drawn hearse. But I'll be damned if I go in an electric hearse.
Not sure about Studebaker, but RAMBLER made dual circuit brakes standard equipment on all of thier models beginning with the 62's. Cadillac used the same structure and windshield for thier 75 and commercial models from 1959 through 1965.
That 'knee-knocker' A pillar architecture actually survived well into the 1970s, on the Dodge Big Horn conventional semi tractors which still used the late '50s-early '60s pick up cab.
@@DanEBoyd yes, I know the ones you mean!
Oh man you’re killin us…..
Notice there's no luggage racks on that old Hearse. 😉
At least one gets to take their coffin and the clothes they're wearing...