Classy Cadillacs

[John ED Renstrom]

just a couple more of the McDonald's cars. this car was one of the most non descriptive cars on the exterior I have ever seen. but the interior Eureka put in is second to none.

 

[Steve Loftin]

Very nice, was it rare for the gurney to be on the right side of the car? Paul can we grab a close up of the patient compartment for a reference?

This car was set up for two stretchers, which I've seen quite a few of over the years. The attendant seats are folded down on the passenger side, as normal.

 

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

Not that you haven't seen this girl before...

...but I do happen to think she's a very classy Cadillac, so here are a couple of recent photos, posed as though any of us had gone up to the funeral home and asked that she be pulled out for a picture.

 

[Brendan Martin]

Tony, she is VERY classy!

 

[Josh Horton]

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Abbie. The first I took at an old cemetery a couple miles down the road. The head stone in the background says HENRY. The last funeral home She worked at was The Henry Funeral Home in Lithonia Ga.
The second picture is of my grandma sitting in the back at a car show. It's my favorite picture.

 

[Steve Loftin]

Okay, LaSalles count as Cadillacs, too!

Bernardsville, NJ
1955 S&S/Cadillac
(seen here at a parade in Madison)

Westmont, NJ
1954 Superior/Cadillac

Port Monmouth, NJ
1953 Miller/Cadillac

West Long Branch, NJ
1938 Knightstown/LaSalle
(seen here at a Long Branch parade in 1953)

(SL collection)

 

[Steve Loftin]

Yadon, PA
1938 Flxible/LaSalle

Pottstown, PA
1940 Superior/Cadillac

Claymont Fire Co. (Claymont, DE)
1955 Superior/Cadillac
(Glenolden, PA parade - 6/9/56; note the Nash dealership in the background, along with the Henry J and Hudson on the street.)

(SL collection)

 

[Steve Loftin]

Reeb Funeral Home (Toledo, OH)

1968 Rescuer

(SL collection)

1973 Superior/Cadillac 54" (now collector owned; seen here at the 1988 PCS meet in Decatur, IL)

(Terry Lange photo)

 

[Steve Loftin]

Trego County A.S. (WaKeeney, KS)
1975 Superior/Cadillac 54"

Trego County A.S. (Collyer, KS)
1972 Superior/Cadillac 54"

Both are now owned by PCS members; the '75 in MO, and the '72 in TX.

(SL photos)

 

[Steve Loftin]

Parkwood, NC
1967 Rescuer
(ex-PA rig; note Dietz 211-WW beacon, dual Fyr-Fyter Penetrator siren speakers)

Key Largo, FL
1972 S/C 54"
(note unusual side roof sign location)

(SL collection)

 

[Anthony J. Rzucidlo - Deceased - 1953-2019]

Photos

Thanks for posting the photos as they are intersting to take a look back at how things were "Back in the day." However, some of those units have a little over kill when it comes to the overhead lights.

 

[Doug Watson]

Actually Steve, those "fresh air intakes" are non-functional dummy items, all '64 Eurekas have them, even the Flower Cars. This was Eureka's answer to mating the leading edge of the '64 quarter panel to the sloping belt-line of the doors, a shape that was basically carried over from the '59 for the following five years.

My 64 Superior combo has a fresh air intake. To take it off I had to go through the rear heater core. So you are saying that it is "false" and not needed for combos rear heater unit? I wondered why they ever had them to begin with - what was their function?

 

[Steve Loftin]

My 64 Superior combo has a fresh air intake. To take it off I had to go through the rear heater core. So you are saying that it is "false" and not needed for combos rear heater unit? I wondered why they ever had them to begin with - what was their function?

They are fresh air intakes. Martyn was telling us that the ones I mentioned on the '64 Eurekas were trim items only.

 

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

1974 M-M Cadillac Eterna 3-way

I took this car in trade from the Nuckolls-Meyer FH, Fairbury, NE in 1994. Black with an olive green interior, manual table and no radio. (Karsnia photo)

 

[Steve Loftin]

Kirk's Cadillacs

In addition to his Oldsmobiles, Kirk Kuykendall (Lawton, OK) had some "off brand" cars over the years:

1973 Superior/Cadillac 54"
(originally from Colorado)

1973 Lifeliner
(bought from the Cimarron Mortuary in Boise City, OK, who got it from Bob Dietz; I have no idea where she served originally)

(SL photos)

 

[Steve Loftin]

1961 National/Cadillac combination

I wonder how many of these they built? Had I been in the funeral business in 1961, I would likely have purchased one:

 

[Steve Loftin]

Miller-Meteor 48" hightops - Part I

These were built from 1957-74, and at various times called a Volunteer or a Classic 48. (If any were built in 1975-76, I'd sure like to know about it.) The 1963-up versions, my favorites, are some of the best-looking ambulances ever built:

1965
Fairfax Co. (Penn Daw), VA

1967
Leipsic, DE

1968
Frankford, DE (still there!)

(SL collection)

 

[Steve Loftin]

Miller-Meteor 48" hightops - Part II

Note that these two girls have the same lighting packages, including air horns:

1969
Oxon Hill, MD

1970
Burtonsville, MD

(from my collection)

1972
Carroll Co. A.S. (Westminster, MD)

(SL photo)

 

[Steve Loftin]

1967 Victoria endloader from Garner's in Kinston, NC

Jarman's, also in Kinston, had this 1967 Royale Landaulet combination

Loftin's (no relation; again, in Kinston) 1966 Royale Limousine combination had collision repair done to the left rear fender, which accounts for the missing fresh air vent.

(SL collection)

 

[Steve Loftin]

McHatton-Sadler F.H.
Warsaw, IN

1973 Superior/Cadillac 54"

1975 Chateau Limousine combination w/panels

(from my collection)