1949 S&S Victoria Floor

[Tom Hoczyk]

Friday evening we dined with new friends (soon to become PCS members) Stephane and Dep Langlier, of Kendallville IN. They have a collection of 4 hearses, 3 being 1949 and 1 being a 1964 M&M combination. One '49 is a Miller combination, another is a very rusty and barely-useable-for-parts Eureka landau, and the 3rd is a well-worn but restorable S&S Victoria.

The big question I have is regarding the back compartment. It appears to be an endloader, but what's with the cutouts in the floor, and the slightly raised cutout up front, which has a hinged lid? Were there hinged doors over both of the side cutouts? Was the entire floor replaced? Was the car oriiginally a 3-way? Let me know what you think, because I really have no idea. Tom

 

[John Royark JR]

Tom, thanks fr the pics. If you can get me the info off the data plate I can help more, I have the list and numbers for the models that year. Due to the lack of door posts it was once a 3 way. Also the rollers are not even from a 49 S&S endloader or combo. Not sure what they looked like on the 3 way table though.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

it does have the appearance of being built by some one other then S&S. the man that has the research on them is the one in the know. but to me just at a glance in the pictures there is not enough trim on all the right angles. that and everything being carpeted say re done. sharp car will worth redoing again or just finishing up on were they left off. hope you can talk them into joining our group.

 

[Bill Carlin]

I also think the interior has been redone. Given the extra material on laying inside the door. The red sidewalls look to hooker red for a hearse. Usually maroon was used, blue or someother subtle color. The cutouts on the sides could be missing the hinged covers that go over them. One side holds a church truck and the other would be the spare tire carrier. We removed the doors on our last several new hearses because the church trucks we use are hard to get into the tight spaces. Church trucks used in the 1940's and 1950's, when this car was new, were much smaller than the big Ferno church trucks made today. All that being said. I would vote that this car was once a beautiful 3-way hearse. The fact that there is no solid "B" pillar and the "suicide" doors on the side along with the high and low areas of the current floor. I would guess that after this left funeral service, someone removed the 3-way floor from the car and put seats back there. Then, another person purchased the car and attempted to restore it. All in all, this has caused a great deal of pain and problems for the current owners. I would be happy to take this poor hearse off their hands. I would do this out of the kindness of my heart and wouldn't charge them for doing this for them!

 

[Tom Hoczyk]

Good observations, everyone. Due to lack of divider, I too, gravitate toward the car having been a 3-way. The current owners have barely driven the car at all, largely because of not being able to drive a 3-speed well. I drove the car with the owner, just around the block. There seems to be a problem with either the linkage or transmission, as it grinds when I try to put it into 3rd, and never goes in.

The car was purchased via eBay, and came from Idaho. Papers in the car, however, indicate that it was once in Lancaster Ohio. It has been converted to 12 volt system, and I'm not sure what engine is in the car, but I don't think it's original. There was no typical S&S plate anywhere to be found in the car. The plate shown, from the firewall, is the only plate with any numbers on it.

I'll attach a picture of "Rusty", Stephane's '49 Eureka. Maybe someone can get a better ID on the engine too. Tom

 

[Dwayne Brooks]

The engine is a 331 Cadillac, probably backed with a LaSalle 3-speed tranny. Air cleaner may have thrown you... it's from a much later model car. The steering columns are notorious for breakage within the shifter mechanism. They are pot metal and brittle, the one in my '51 Superior was broken. Took it into work & welded/machined it and it worked great... then the shipping company in Australia shattered it trying to yank it into gear. Here's a shot of the 331 in my '51 for reference:

 

[Rocky Fluegge]

Great cars thanks for posting the pics. I would ageee with the three way as said before with it not having the b pillar.

 

[John Royark JR]

I'll attach a picture of "Rusty", Stephane's '49 Eureka. Maybe someone can get a better ID on the engine too. Tom

I know that 49 Eureka well!!! It was my first pro car when I was 16. I wrote an article in number 136 of TPC about this coach, along with a pic of when I had it and how it appeared when I finally found it again in 2009. I had to fight back the tears when I saw it in its current condition. The 49 S&S has the 331. The 49 Eureka has a 455 from a Pontiac trans Am in it.
Please keep me updated and in pics of my first love getting restored (if thats the plan). If you look on the rear window you can still see my blue high school parking permit.

 

[Tom Hoczyk]

A couple more '49 Eureka pics

Very interesting that you know this car, John. The engine has been pulled and rebuilt by Stephane. I'd love to see some pictures of how it looked when you owned it. It's pretty rough now, as you can see. Tom

 

[John Royark JR]

Tom,
The article I mentioned earlier has the complete story as to how I found the car and my search for it ever since, to its present condition. So this thread is not hijacked into an Eureka thread I will post the article from TPC, (I hope its ok), along with some pics of when I owned it in 1990 and when I found it again in 2009.

 

[John Royark JR]

Tom,
The article I mentioned earlier has the complete story as to how I found the car and my search for it ever since, to its present condition. So this thread is not hijacked into an Eureka thread I will post the article from TPC, (I hope its ok), along with some pics of when I owned it in 1990 and when I found it again in 2009.

New thread titled first love 49 Eureka

 

[Russ Austin]

Curious about the 64 M&M wiper arms. My 63 M&M came with standard Cadillac wiper arms. The wiper attach lugs are the type with the 59-60 wiper arms, where the arm turns on a cam. My 63 Superior has the turning arms also. Is the standard arm actory for the 63, 64?