Buick hearse with cherubs

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

Talk about a coach that needs saved. Very nice photography by Sotiris Michalelis.



Blog post with 10 more shots here.

Earlier this year multiples of a vintage b/w shot of this coach when still in service were available on eBay. (Long enough that searching completed auctions no longer pull any up.) Venturing a guess, I'd say Visser, which built on Buick chassis while also utilizing roof windows. Come to think of it, I've only seen Visser ambulances which may be why the above example differs from their norm.

[Daniel Scully]

That is cool looks like 56 Chevy tailights and 57 Pontiac trim? On the 1/4 Panel?

[Bill Marcy]

There are several things to ponder; 1 Location of the VentiPorts 2 The spear shaped stainless on the front half and 3 The back seems more modern than the front. I would say the front is 1952-ish and the back 1957-ish. Is there any info on this coach? It really should be saved!

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

Originally Posted by Attila Bethlenfalvy

Earlier this year multiples of a vintage b/w shot of this coach when still in service were available on eBay. (Long enough that searching completed auctions no longer pull any up.) Venturing a guess, I'd say Visser, which built on Buick chassis while also utilizing roof windows. Come to think of it, I've only seen Visser ambulances which may be why the above example differs from their norm.

2 corrections: Inadvertently typed Visser while thinking of Smit-Joure. Also located vintage eBay photograph mentioned which is '58 Fleetwood based. If memory serves correctly, this coach was located in South America. (Adam or Jim?) Not much commonality between them after all.

[Steven Plummer]

Originally Posted by Attila Bethlenfalvy

Talk about a coach that needs saved. Very nice photography by Sotiris Michalelis.



Blog post with 10 more shots here.

Earlier this year multiples of a vintage b/w shot of this coach when still in service were available on eBay. (Long enough that searching completed auctions no longer pull any up.) Venturing a guess, I'd say Visser, which built on Buick chassis while also utilizing roof windows. Come to think of it, I've only seen Visser ambulances which may be why the above example differs from their norm.

agree it should be saved, not sure i would want it tho

[John Royark JR]

Definitely needs saved!! Imagine this pulling up at an International meet. Im amazed the cherubs are still there.

[Mike Burkhart]

If I could get that car to the U.S. , I would restore it in a heartbeat!! Very cool.....

[Dave Hopping]

When I first got on the old board,someone had posted pics of hearses in Greece.Newer,but looked like that Buick.

[Ryan Burman]

That has got to be a 46-48 Buick front end. 47-48 were only years that Buick had full fade away fenders with the spear style hood latches. 49 and later Buicks did not have the 48 and earlier v style split windshield, they had a more curved glass windshield like most other gm cars.49 was the first year for the portholes so this probably has a lot of additions from later on.

[Dan Brintlinger]

This Buick showed up in a recent "Mourning News", the newsletter of the British "Classic Hearse Register" ...................