I'm wondering if the Landau Bars used on these cars were supplied by the same vendor to Meteor, Superior, etc - or were the bars different between the builders? Looking for a pair of bars for a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville - it's a combo, but my friend the owner wants the look to lean "more hearse". I'd leave it alone, but it's his car! If someone has a set for sale or has pictures of what they should look like, that would be very helpful. Thanks!
Landau bars for mid-60s Superior
- Thread starter Lonny Waddle
- Start date
Nevermind - I actually found a picture of one, and those bars are way to large to fit on his since his combo has a window there! Are there smaller versions about half the size?
Surprisingly those do fit and I can verify that. They're made from pot metal and break easy. If you have some shipped, make sure they are packed well and get insurance on them.
One of mine was broken on my 66 Pontiac short wheelbase consort. My car is a landau style combo. The replacement I got came off of a long wheelbase 68 superior Cadillac. If you're going to do it, get superior landau bars. They will differ by coach builder. Superior landau bars will look the best. And make sure they are placed correctly. Too often enough people put them on upside down or on the wrong sides.
One of mine was broken on my 66 Pontiac short wheelbase consort. My car is a landau style combo. The replacement I got came off of a long wheelbase 68 superior Cadillac. If you're going to do it, get superior landau bars. They will differ by coach builder. Superior landau bars will look the best. And make sure they are placed correctly. Too often enough people put them on upside down or on the wrong sides.
I'm not sure where he plans to put them? There is only a small section of metal at the rear - maybe he should have some vinyl stickers made and put them inside the rear side windows. I don't know what he's thinking!
I was thinking your car was a consort also. That thing is a full size coach. I think the only good way to make it a landau is to remove the band over the roof and delete the window. I'm not a fan of full window coaches but I have to admit that the band over the roof makes that car. Hopefully he chooses to leave it the way it is I know that those cars have the same structure underneath. At least on consorts. I've had mine opened up. You can see the framework for another window.
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Please tell your friend not to alter that coach. If he wants to lean more hearse...buy a landau....and have two hearses
plenty of them out there. I don't do full window cars either, but even I could not bring myself to ruin that car. Looks to be very nice. These cars are rare.. they are only original once. Too many survivors have been lost to such endeavors. Please tell your friend to leave that car as it sits. Tell him, for a full window coach it looks plenty hearse...great looking car....I think the rear pillar with a small landau would look crowded for space.
plenty of them out there. I don't do full window cars either, but even I could not bring myself to ruin that car. Looks to be very nice. These cars are rare.. they are only original once. Too many survivors have been lost to such endeavors. Please tell your friend to leave that car as it sits. Tell him, for a full window coach it looks plenty hearse...great looking car....I think the rear pillar with a small landau would look crowded for space.
That limousine style coach as a combo would have removable panels that the bars would be attached to. On the super they attached to the molding with thumb screws. They would be painted body color. Easy enough to make a set out of at least 16 gage sheet steel.
The removable panels certainly sound like a better option - if he can find a set of Superior landau bars.
Is it an end loader or a combo with jump seats?
I have a set of Superior Bars, I believe they are late 60, s early 70, s. I ,ll post some pics if interested.
Yes please! And let me know how much you'd need to get for them, and I'll pass it on.
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Pics 52 and a1/4 center to center on the mounting bolts.
Good Lord, those are huge! They must weigh quite a bit as well. Thanks very much for the pictures! What does a pair sell for?
$75 + shipping. Thanks
Cheap at twice the price!
Thats a great price....however you will have to get full steel covers for the rear windows to mount them to for it to be proper. Those will not mount in any way to the D pillar.
Abe Bush
PCS Member
He said it's a combo, but the owner wants it to look more hearse-like than ambulance-like.
Abe Bush
PCS Member
I checked "Superior the Complete History" by Thomas A. McPherson (Copyrighted), and here are a few examples of smaller and/or removable landau panels on various coaches from 1965-1972. There were no Pontiacs with removable landau panels visible until the 1972 Pontiac combo, below. But it looks like there are much smaller Superior landau panels out there, if you can find them. I have no clue if the removable landau panels from the 1965-? Cadillac Superior combinations would fit a 1965 Pontiac Superior combination.
Thanks very much - I've sent you a direct message with the particulars.
Excellent pictures! Thanks - I'll be exploring how to make the side panels this summer.