Fine Tuning...
actually it's a panel truck. but hay that's all splitting hairs. what does intrigue me is the glass top molded for the bus lights. something never seen before or since. we have seen all manner of tail lights used in a wide variety of cars and trucks for marker lights with housings made of steel. anything else cast in glass was always fitted for the unity lights. Superior just cast flat spots and screwed there lights to them.
First of all, Thanks for all of you chiming in. The 'auctions' are in town and we are absolutely buried here. So...no time to answer some of the questions. I am leaving again, right now, but, wanted to give a courtesy answer and observation to some of the comments.
1. At Kurts suggestion, I took pix (post later) of the lenses. They clearly spell out "Superior Coach Corporation, Lima Ohio" and I (cringe) removed the lenses and took pictures of the cans. They are mounted with a flat pod face with a bulb receptacle.
2. The Size, and Pattern of the Miller Sideglass is 'similar' but, does NOT match. This glasspattern comes to an arrow point and the shape is totally different.
3. The TOP of the rear cab is metal. The sides and front 'wraparound' encompassing the lights is what appears to be fiberglass (magnet does not stick). It occupying the side panels as well down to the beltline on the cab.The 'cans' are metal!
4. When I get time, I have the original factory color brochure (not airbrushed pix, Ed) I can send. There is only ONE cab offered. I took pix of the sides of the cab and you can compare to the brochure pix and this cab is much higher.
5. There are holes in the engine bay firewall-no Superior plate. The interior firewall has a metal plate that appears school bus-like worthy with a plexi-glass panel. I had called around Superior parts houses and they said it was installed on School Buses to hold the registration...dashing my hopes of holding the Superior ID. Also have pix -no time to load
6. Steves observation about "PALCO could afford a Cadillac Hi Top Ambulance" is covered in my thread about mountain logging roads. A 6000+ lb. beomoth would bottom out within a mile of transversing such roads. Not to mention have the lights knocked off by low hanging branches. No way Jose.
7. My entry on the Superior Cargo Cruiser had a typo- Superior built those in 19
59. Apparently, another 'one-off' displaying their ability and desire to 'experiment' in the same time period with different projects.
8. Seems most are overlooking the fact - this coach carries a one-off motor installation with a "K" code motor. Proven by orig. VIN and title. . Any help on that would be appreciated. Im using the Standard Catalog by Ford and the original factroy brochure. ALL of which only offer the 6cyl and basic V8 as being available. This is the most important clue to the fact- SOMEONE? had clout to get this unit built and it was special. We may never know who but, it is indeed unique.
9. The orig. comment on "Superior never built on a truck chassis" is now being morphed into something different but, I have a volley of brochures showing Superior built for years on a Ford Chassis in Econolines and even on Chevrolet. Buses (1954) and Vans (which IS a truck) .
I have more but, my wifes screaming at me- gotta go to her party. Sorry