2014 vehicles at NFDA Convention

C

Chad Oolman

PCS Member
Butler Coach Company of Indiana is doing a nice job of keeping his Facebook followers informed about the 2014 coaches and limousines being shown at the NFDA convention.

https://www.facebook.com/butlercoachcompany

Looks like Accubuilt did some redesigning of the Medalist, lower roof line, better proportions.

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Although I have to say that I am one of the few that like the new Masterpiece with the large limousine style rear window.

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Chad

Thanks for the photos ! ...I think. :rolleyes:

Do you think the hearse collectors of today will ever grow to like these ?

Only time will tell,
Darren
 
It's hard to tell, but it looks like Accubuilt also changed the door hinge on the Medalist to a traditional set up. I will have to see pics from a different angle to tell. Bravo for Accubuilt for altering the design on the Medalist. It looks more "proportional" along the roof line.
 
The Accubuilt engineers I talked to today at the NFDA convention admit that the 2013 design was a horrible mistake and they are making corrections. The traditional rear door is no standard on the new design with the lower roof (as seen in the first picture) This new design is a decent looking car in person, compared to the other hearses on display. The Armburster Stageway hearses with the 1960's Superior style round corner windows in the rear end do not look as good in person as on pictures. Trim is crooked and looks poorly constructed. The Eagle coaches also look cheap with poor trim and plywood.

While Accubuilt had the worst design with the high roof line, I believe the new lower roof is a nice looking car considering what Cadillac gave them to start with.
 
One other thing that I found out today. Cadillac is developing a new rear wheel drive car that will be larger than the XTS. They are calling it a Marij (but who knows what the actual production car will be called) This car will be designed to compete with the Mercedes Benz and will be priced high enough that it will not be a reasonable option for a commercial chassis ($80,000+ for a base car). As such, the director of marketing from Cadillac that was at the convention said they will NOT make a commercial chassis for the larger car.
 
Thanks for the information. I agree that the new Accubuilt design is a decent looking car considering the constraints the new chassis has put on the coach designers.

Did they make any other changes? I'd really like to see some pictures of the backdoors.
 
Bill wrote:

One other thing that I found out today. Cadillac is developing a new rear wheel drive car that will be larger than the XTS. They are calling it a Marij (but who knows what the actual production car will be called) This car will be designed to compete with the Mercedes Benz and will be priced high enough that it will not be a reasonable option for a commercial chassis ($80,000+ for a base car). As such, the director of marketing from Cadillac that was at the convention said they will NOT make a commercial chassis for the larger car.

:( :thumbsdown: :rolleyes: :eek: :confused: :mad: :blahblah::4_11_9:

SHAME ON CADILLAC !!!!!

They should drop the name before they bring down GM and what little dignity they have left.

Jerks,
Darren
 
Are you talking about the El Miraj?

Bill Carlin said:
One other thing that I found out today. Cadillac is developing a new rear wheel drive car that will be larger than the XTS. They are calling it a Marij (but who knows what the actual production car will be called) This car will be designed to compete with the Mercedes Benz and will be priced high enough that it will not be a reasonable option for a commercial chassis ($80,000+ for a base car). As such, the director of marketing from Cadillac that was at the convention said they will NOT make a commercial chassis for the larger car.
Click to expand...
 
Bill Carlin said:
The Accubuilt engineers I talked to today at the NFDA convention admit that the 2013 design was a horrible mistake and they are making corrections. The traditional rear door is no standard on the new design with the lower roof (as seen in the first picture) This new design is a decent looking car in person, compared to the other hearses on display. The Armburster Stageway hearses with the 1960's Superior style round corner windows in the rear end do not look as good in person as on pictures. Trim is crooked and looks poorly constructed. The Eagle coaches also look cheap with poor trim and plywood.

While Accubuilt had the worst design with the high roof line, I believe the new lower roof is a nice looking car considering what Cadillac gave them to start with.
Click to expand...

Bill ( or anyone else who is there) can you take some pictures of the poor workmanship that you talk about ? all we see is how nice the cars look. It would be interesting to see how they are really put together !

thanks
 
Ugh. I still can't stand it. Roof is the biggest improvement though. Side windows are way too narrow, like the Chrysler 300 hearses that Krystal came out with. But now the rear looks hideous, like some one-eyed monster.

It's all Cadillac's fault. They built and designed a car with never a moments thought about hearses or limos. I would've almost rather seen S&S shut their doors than make garbage like this. :mad:
 
NFDA

I also just returned from the convention... I was very glad to visit with Joe B. and everyone at Accubuilt... As well as the other manufacturers and dealers...I would have to agree that the new SS prototype won my heart. With very few modifications... I would proudly bring a set of these home! I was sorry to miss some PCS members... But the coach builders are moving the right direction !!!!:applause:
 
I don't think that the 80000.+ for a true Cadillac flagship is too much this day and age. especially when Hyundai Equis is 70000.+ and loaded Ford F250 is 65000.
 
The new lower roof S&S is being referred to as the "Victoria". As far as taking pictures of the problems with some of the cars, I didn't think that was a good idea. Some of the quality issues involve things that can not be photographed, such as closing the side door of the hearse and the entire side of the car vibrates. Trim is lifting off in places. The interiors look slapped together and odd. Overall, I think all coach companies could step it up a few notches and offer more quality without costing them more. Quality control seems be to lacking.
 
I have been following the pix pn Facebook, and I have to say I love the new lower top on the S&S. I also think the Binz Mercedes is nice, but way over priced (I think he told me about $170,000+. The old hot rod looking coach from Mexico coachbuilder Veca? would be a beauty if the landau bows were much smaller. Its nice to finally see some different styles and builders than the same stuff we are used to seeing the last decade.
I liked the Armbruster in the beginning when the prototype pix were going around, but now not sure about the look. Anyone know the price on them?
 
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