John Belushi's 64th birthday...
- Thread starter Charles E Snyder II
- Start date
Bill Marcy
PCS Member
It is a 1964 for sure, but I can't identify the coachbuilder from the nose alone. Somehow it feels like an S&S, but I am probably wrong.
Jeremy D. Ledford
PCS Volunteer Chapter President
Looks like an M-M to me. Note no S&S trim on hood of over windshield. Roof looks to have M-M lines to me. Wonder where this coach is today?
Wayne Krakowski
PCS Member
is it my poor eyesight or does it look like someone is sitting in behind the passenger?
Jeremy D. Ledford
PCS Volunteer Chapter President
Think it's just a reflection. If you look closely you can see the reflection/shadow of the rear view mirror as well against the partition glass.
Bill Marcy
PCS Member
Yes, I noticed that there was no S&S hood trim and I figured I was probably wrong too.
just one more killed himself ingesting stuff he new was bad for him. everything to live for and all the money necessary to kill himself. once again we act like it was OK.
Charles E Snyder II
PCS Member
Unfortunately, this seems to be the most popular photo of his funeral. I can not seem to find any other pictures of the procession. Several pictures of the casket leaving the church and pictures of his grave marker, but non of the hearse. 
I remember reading years ago that Dan some how obtained that hearse for John's funeral. I don't remember if it was owned by him or a friend.
Dan Aykroyd is a car buff and is knowledgable about pro-cars, so it's possible.
Off topic, did you notice the unusual typewriter used to type the caption of the photo? It uses small 'capitol A's and small 'capitol E's in place of the lower case letters. Odd.
Off topic, did you notice the unusual typewriter used to type the caption of the photo? It uses small 'capitol A's and small 'capitol E's in place of the lower case letters. Odd.
Charles E Snyder II
PCS Member
I did not notice that at first, but now that you mention it, it does look really odd. I wonder what purpose it serves having the small A and E just smaller sized capital letters.
If the hearse was privately owned, I doubt that it would have Massachusetts "HEARSE" registration plate on it.
I'm guessing it's a 1964 S&S Victoria, which would have been in service for about 18 years at the time. I say S&S based on the extra chrome strip above the headlights.
Abe
Steve, it's probably the original UPI teletype, which is how news bulletins were issued back then.
I read that article some 30 years ago and my memory is alittle fuzzy. Even back at that time I clearly remember it talking about the "classic hearse" that was used. I thought it said it was owned by Dan but, it may have just been used at his request. Don't recall.
Gregg D. Merksamer
PCS Life Member / PCS Publicity Chairman / PCS Ele
While there's not enough in this image to identify a coachbuilder for this '64 Cadillac, how many hearses like this could have served on an island as small as Martha's Vineyard? Whether it's still in service or not, it wouldn't surprise me to hear the car might still be on the island. There's also the possibility it handled the funeral of some other promiment person (or even locally-prominent person) who lived on the island, after which its photo might have appeared in the island's newspaper some other time. If anyone in our circle vacations there and gets tired of the beach against all odds, we're counting on them to check the microfilm at the library or the archives at the newspaper!
Years ago I saw another photo from the funeral.IIRC(and I think I do) it had the MM roofline.