If funeral directors want a Cadillac coach with an oval window they'd better hurry. Production of Cadillac car-based hearses will cease in the next six months. End of an era.
DTS on the way out
- Thread starter Tony Blair
- Start date
If funeral directors want a Cadillac coach with an oval window they'd better hurry. Production of Cadillac car-based hearses will cease in the next six months. End of an era.
Mike Stevens
PCS Member
no more Cadillacs
No more Cadillac hearses? What then, only Lincolns? Or ?
It would be my thought that if you have a flag draped coffin it is best displayed in a limo style hearse. I think others share that idea.
One question...How do we know there will be no more Cadillacs after six months? Has Cadillac let out a notice or have the makers made a statement?
Mike
No more Cadillac hearses? What then, only Lincolns? Or ?
It would be my thought that if you have a flag draped coffin it is best displayed in a limo style hearse. I think others share that idea.
One question...How do we know there will be no more Cadillacs after six months? Has Cadillac let out a notice or have the makers made a statement?
Mike
Bye, bye halo business
The Lincoln Town Car chassis will be available through 2011. Possibly it could go into 2012 if the Canadian Auto Workers are able to renegotiate their contract with Ford. So, yes, Lincoln will probably have a monopoly on car-based hearses in the US during the next couple of years.
GM will be shutting down the Hamtramck, MI factory (Cadillac DTS & Buick Lucerne) in the coming months to retool for production of the Chevrolet Volt. Volt production starts in 2010. Cadillac has announced that it will be without a big flagship chassis for at least a couple of years. The replacement flagship will be called the XTS. The Cadillac Design Director has stated that the new XTS chassis won't be conducive for stretching for use as a limo or hearse. He also stated that Cadillac is ready to walk away from that type of halo business and let other car manufacturers have it.
The Lincoln Town Car chassis will be available through 2011. Possibly it could go into 2012 if the Canadian Auto Workers are able to renegotiate their contract with Ford. So, yes, Lincoln will probably have a monopoly on car-based hearses in the US during the next couple of years.
GM will be shutting down the Hamtramck, MI factory (Cadillac DTS & Buick Lucerne) in the coming months to retool for production of the Chevrolet Volt. Volt production starts in 2010. Cadillac has announced that it will be without a big flagship chassis for at least a couple of years. The replacement flagship will be called the XTS. The Cadillac Design Director has stated that the new XTS chassis won't be conducive for stretching for use as a limo or hearse. He also stated that Cadillac is ready to walk away from that type of halo business and let other car manufacturers have it.
Jonathan Murphy
PCS Member
Probably Toyota will develop a professional chassis for US use... 
Rick Franklin
PCS Member
Tony, WHERE exactly do you get this information?
Probably Toyota will develop a professional chassis for US use...
and they will most likely build it in the USA.
Jeremy D. Ledford
PCS Volunteer Chapter President
I'd say it won't be long before Cadillac goes down the tubes itself.
Jeremy D. Ledford
PCS Volunteer Chapter President
Sometime else if this is to become true is I think that alot of funeral homes will start having their Cadillac hearses refurbished and or upfitted with new paint, tops, interiors and gone through mechanically after so many years so that they can keep a Cadillac hearse in service. I know that Eagle Coach already does this some at their plant in Cincy.
XTS is the DTS and STS replacement
I believe I found the XTS info in Automotive News or The Detroit News (Autos Insider) a few weeks ago. As for the demise of the DTS and STS, that's old news which has been in various automotive publications over the past year.
I believe I found the XTS info in Automotive News or The Detroit News (Autos Insider) a few weeks ago. As for the demise of the DTS and STS, that's old news which has been in various automotive publications over the past year.
Death march begins for Lincoln Town Car
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2009/09/68498413/1
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2009/09/68498413/1
Jim Staruk
PCS Member
I think I'll order an S&S Cadillac Masterpiece and store it in my new garage for 25 years. Think it'll be worth something then?
Jim
About $4500 in the 2034 "Cash for Clunkers" program.....
Kent Dorsey
PCS Member / Funeral Director
Rumor mill from a dealer, the coachbuilders will buy enough 2010's to serve the market for 2010 and 2011... Cadillac will unveil something for 2012 that will serve the professional car market...
The 2010's will have to be paid for up front by the coachbuilder, which can cause a problem, as well as having to estimate a two year supply.
This is just what I'm hearing, it could be wrong...
Don't shoot me, I'm just the piano player...
The 2010's will have to be paid for up front by the coachbuilder, which can cause a problem, as well as having to estimate a two year supply.
This is just what I'm hearing, it could be wrong...
Don't shoot me, I'm just the piano player...
What's next?
Buying extra chassis in 2010 seems plausible. I agree, the financing aspect might be difficult. Protecting the chassis from the elements is also a consideration.
I'm skeptical that Cadillac will have a replacement chassis for the coachbuilders in 2012. I'll bet Cadillac hasn't made any promises to Accubuilt, Eagle and the others. It's my gut feeling the Master Coachbuilders halo program is history after the DTS ends production next year.
Buying extra chassis in 2010 seems plausible. I agree, the financing aspect might be difficult. Protecting the chassis from the elements is also a consideration.
I'm skeptical that Cadillac will have a replacement chassis for the coachbuilders in 2012. I'll bet Cadillac hasn't made any promises to Accubuilt, Eagle and the others. It's my gut feeling the Master Coachbuilders halo program is history after the DTS ends production next year.
Kent Dorsey
PCS Member / Funeral Director
The issue about the 2012's does sound odd, doesn't it Tony? Most of these designs take years in the making...
Oh well, we'll see what happens...
Oh well, we'll see what happens...
Jeremy D. Ledford
PCS Volunteer Chapter President
Wouldn't be suprised that Cadillac is next on the ole GM chopping block!
Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020
September 12, 1971 - November 2, 2020
My sources say...
According to my credible source (in the coachbuilder industry), Cadillac and Lincoln have yet to financially commit to any chassis beyond the current DTS and Town Car. As was stated above, Lincoln appears to be ok all through 2010 and at least partway through 2011.
Production of the Cadillac DTS as we know it ceases December 2010, with the next replacement not being coachbuilt until March or April of 2012. The "rumor" Kent stated above is credible; the coachbuilders will be forced to make a forecast of how many Cadillac DTS chassis they'll need for all of 2011, the first part of 2012 AND pay for those chassis up front.
I'm not so sure Cadillac would soon be axed from the GM lineup. The new models (CTS, STS, Escalade, etc.) are finding popularity among the younger buyers. The new CTS is good competition against import marques.
According to my credible source (in the coachbuilder industry), Cadillac and Lincoln have yet to financially commit to any chassis beyond the current DTS and Town Car. As was stated above, Lincoln appears to be ok all through 2010 and at least partway through 2011.
Production of the Cadillac DTS as we know it ceases December 2010, with the next replacement not being coachbuilt until March or April of 2012. The "rumor" Kent stated above is credible; the coachbuilders will be forced to make a forecast of how many Cadillac DTS chassis they'll need for all of 2011, the first part of 2012 AND pay for those chassis up front.
I'm not so sure Cadillac would soon be axed from the GM lineup. The new models (CTS, STS, Escalade, etc.) are finding popularity among the younger buyers. The new CTS is good competition against import marques.
John Burchfield
PCS Life Member
A few years ago when Cadillac was no longer building a RWD sedan, Lincoln more or less ran away with the limousine market and a larger part of the hearse market than it has today. Cadillac may say they'll walk away from this business, but in a few years if GM has things in better financial shape, they may think again when they see Lincoln (or someone else?) dominating this market. Though small volume, the livery and funeral vehicle market is certainly a high visibility one. Through many years of Cadillac commercial chassis, the average person probably has it in their mind that a hearse is always a Cadillac!
Re: My sources say...
The lack of commitment by Cadillac would tend to confirm that the new XTS chassis won't be compatible for limo and hearse conversion.
How could DTS production continue until December 2010? The Hamtramck factory has to be retooled for the introduction of the Volt in Fall 2010. That's a process that would probably have to commence in late Spring 2010.
The STS will also be discontinued in 2010. Sales were lackluster even before the recession hit.
The lack of commitment by Cadillac would tend to confirm that the new XTS chassis won't be compatible for limo and hearse conversion.
How could DTS production continue until December 2010? The Hamtramck factory has to be retooled for the introduction of the Volt in Fall 2010. That's a process that would probably have to commence in late Spring 2010.
The STS will also be discontinued in 2010. Sales were lackluster even before the recession hit.