Barrett Jackson 1956 Hearse

Darryl Thompson

Darryl Thompson

PCS Life Member
Sold tonight for 40k.

:stop: I could of sworn this coach was pre-advertised with a stolen picture of Tom Hoczyk's 1956. Lmao!

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what the hell is wrong with BJ ? are they even car guys anymore or Money guys ??
watching these shows every year is a joke I have a friend who goes to these things every year and he says he buys on Thursday and Sunday late afternoon before and after the camera's are gone ....... that he say's is when the real deals show up.

its all about ego's I guess ?? pretty sad world we live in sometimes !
 
I looked at this '56 on the Barrett Jackson website, the rear had been customized with big screen TV, bar etc. Why do that to a hearse? Wouldn't that be more appropriate in a limo?
 
The make a limo. Out of a Hearse seams to have a following. A number have been treated this way. But. BJ has only been about the money. Reality TV before there was any.
 
J C Knapp said:
I looked at this '56 on the Barrett Jackson website, the rear had been customized with big screen TV, bar etc. Why do that to a hearse? Wouldn't that be more appropriate in a limo?
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It seems lately that almost every day I see another hearse hacked up and at least a rear seat installed. At the rate its happening, in another 10 years they will all be tore up. :mad:
 
Four of us went to B-J on Tuesday, which is the first day that cars start crossing the auction block. None of us saw the '56 hearse, and I don't think all of us wandering around independently for over 7 hours all missed seeing it. My plan was to take some pics for this site, but I guess the car in question did not arrive till later in the week.

We also took in Russo & Steele on Wednesday, RM Auctions on Thursday and the Silver Auction on Friday, as well as a huge turnout at the Pavilions car show today, so it was a good week for us classic car fanatics. Plus, it has been in the mid to high '70's all week.
 
I seen it go over the block for a short period of time I think Tuesday, or Wednesday. It looked like it was a combo, windows all around. Actually looked to be done pretty well. Had a new CTS-V drive line in it. The back limo done up pretty well. Usual stuff bar, seats headliner that lit up. It sold for 40,000 if I was there and had the money, I might of actually bought it. Because I know how much money they had in it to do body paint and drive line conversion. Hell im almost half way there in my 58 and had not even thought about chrome paint interior and stuff.
 
I am very familiar with this car, as I sold it to the fellow who "limousined" it. It was a 1956 Meteor end loading coach. It originally had the trim down the sides that was similar to what Ford did on their 50's victorias.

The coach was very solid to begin with, and in my opinion, should have been left as a functioning coach. I do not object to the driveline modification, but to have deleted the side trim was a crime, and the tan limo interior is nothing short of hideous.

I have spoken to the owner, and he may decide to add the side trim at a later date, as the car was essentially a non-sale, even at $40K.
 
Just so everyone understands, I am not against modified cars. In the case of this '56, at least it is no longer sitting in a field, and is now a running, driving car, and will be of some use to someone.

To the owners credit, the body and paint work are slick, and the chrome plating is high quality. This fellow is no stranger to old Cadillacs and has restored many to correct standards.

I can not however justify putting a '90's style party limo interior into a car which was as complete as this one was.

I think that with the side trim, correct interior (burgundy mohair) and curtains, this coach would have found a FD buyer who would have put it back into service.

The good news is that nothing was thrown out, so the car could be returned to a more original configuration in the future.

To me, the ultimate example of originality, and driveability might be something like what Rocky is creating with his '58. He will be able to use it, and trust it, instead of having to leave it on the side of the road when the original engine decides to lose oil pressure. From what I have seen, it will look stock externally, and still be able to perform the service it was originally intended for.
 
Joaquim Delima said:
To me, the ultimate example of originality, and driveability might be something like what Rocky is creating with his '58. He will be able to use it, and trust it, instead of having to leave it on the side of the road when the original engine decides to lose oil pressure. From what I have seen, it will look stock externally, and still be able to perform the service it was originally intended for.
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I just got to say it. I'm a firm believer in it's your car do with it what you want. the work Rocky is doing on his 58 it top notch. but lets not hide behind drive ability and reliability. in 1958 I would have been proud to have driven that car in speeds in excess of 70 mph cost to cost border to border. I'll quarantine you it would not have been sitting along side the road. properly restored to factory specks in 2014 the car would preform the same. so lets just say it's my car, this is what I want to do to it and I can. that works for me.:thumbsup: the only thing I hate to see is a project stated on any car and dumped. thats the shame. but as this man has started to under stand once you do major modifications you may not get your expenses back out of it. unless you keep to stuff like pony cars and Impalas. saving all the pieces, and saying it can be put back together:rolleyes:. once you made that first cut and altered the body or chassis. it will never go back. but changing the drive train is nothing new we have a 57 in the club with a northstare in it. it's back in service. a man does with his car as he wants. me I have a few things I want to do with a car of two also. I don't want to spend the money. but about one more trip in one of these late modal cars and I think I can convinced myself I can do better then GM ;)
 
John,

The Cadillac 365 engine had oiling issues, particularly at the rockers/valve train. While today's oils might alleviate this problem, it remains an inherent flaw in these engines. Most guys upgrade to the 390 engine, which looks the same, but does not have the oiling problem.

A modern engine/transmission combination means that you will be able to drive the car, anywhere, without the fear of needing a part that would not be stocked at any AutoZone or Napa store. Try getting a fuel pump for a 331, 365 or 390 Cadillac off the shelf when the car breaks down... Unless you happen to break down in front of Kanter auto, or the like, you will be at the mercy of UPS or the USPS to ship you one.

Yes, this car belongs to someone else now, and yes, it is his to do with as he wishes. Even though he was provided with a freshly rebuilt 390 Cadillac engine, he chose to go late model.... his choice, his right.

I do not hesitate to drive my old cars anywhere, at anytime, but I do take an obscene amount of "just in case" parts with me, and even then, something, anything can go wrong.
 
I gotta go with Jaoquim the 58 Cadillac motors were poor at best. When I first started in the junk business in 1962 a prize car for the yard was a 58 Cadillac wrecked you could be sure of selling the motor and trans (not to same buyer) within a week. Power Steering box and brake drums were next in short order. Then if you got a core motor back you pulled the heads sent them out to be magnafluxed if no cracks another sure quick sale. When the 59 and 60s started to hit the yard the motors were wheel chocks they did not go bad. Rockey has got the right idea.
 
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