They go around...and they come around

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

Back in 1992, just prior to my going to work for my friend Will Nye at T&N Coach Sales of Minneapolis, he took in trade a 1968 Superior Cadillac 3-way from the funeral home in Sargent, Nebraska (population about 600.) This car was gold with a white top and ended up on the "old coach lot." This was the residence of a gentleman named Neal Tusler, who lived on Hwy. 65 in Bethel, MN. Neal would display the old cars near the road and receive a commission when he sold one. After I went to work for Will, Neal and I shared the selling of the old coaches, since I had many people who were interested in them. Remember, this was in the days prior to the internet and email, so much of this was by word of mouth.

Anyway, the gold '68 got sold off Neal's lot. It disappeared for many years, only to resurface about the time I met Matt Mahutga, who is now a PCS and Northland Chapter member. Matt found this coach and is now providing it with a more loving home than it had since 1992.

Last night, Matt called me to say he'd located another '68 Superior Cadillac hearse, all-white. The first car that came to my mind was a black over white Sovereign landau endloader that I took in trade from Peterson Mortuary in Nebraska City, NE in the fall of 1993. I told Matt this car would be easy to recognize because it had factory air and tilt/telescope wheel. Other than that, it was a basic Sovereign with no frills.

That car was also sold off of Neal's lot to a guy intending to pull a camper out of state with it. Sure enough, I got a text from Matt this morning stating the car has a black top and was used to pull a camper. I'm waiting to hear back to see if this is the Nebraska City car, but we're pretty sure it is.

I've attached photos of both '68s. Amazing how they have resurfaced after all these years. Now, I wish I could find a few of the cars we had at the funeral home when I was a kid!

(Karsnia collection photos)

 

[Matt Mahutga]

I am going out this afternoon to take a look at what I bet is the white coach pictured under my gold 68. Its sad, but the gold 68 was pretty well shot prior to my buying it....it's a bondo buggy as well and doesn't look nearly as good as the picture anymore. It is still a possible resto-candidate as it has a solid underbody and frame, but will require a lot of work in the 1/4's....my 64 MM combo comes first, then my 68 MM landau, then maybe the gold one.

The White 68 was in the process of being stripped and turned into a mud truck when I happened upon it, so I hope it's not too far gone, but it may be a good parts car if nothing else. If this keeps up, I will end up being the new French Lake Auto as my yard is starting to look a lot like the old pro-car row they used to have. I am so happy to have an understanding wife!!

 

[Matt Mahutga]

Neal's lot

I used to go to Neal's lot all the time when I was a kid.....just prior to being old enough to drive....I used to love going there to look at all of them waiting to be of age to buy my own. By the time I was, Neal's lot was pretty much done and gone......what's so cool (Thanks to Tony for having a spectacular picture archive and a wealth of coach history) is that I found out where my gold coach came from. I was so happy to know that I had a car off of Neal's lot after thinking I had missed the boat all those years. Now maybe two?

Kudos to you Tony!! Thank you!!

 

[Ken Novak]

Back in 1992, just prior to my going to work for my friend Will Nye at T&N Coach Sales of Minneapolis, he took in trade a 1968 Superior Cadillac 3-way from the funeral home in Sargent, Nebraska (population about 600.) This car was gold with a white top and ended up on the "old coach lot." This was the residence of a gentleman named Neal Tusler, who lived on Hwy. 65 in Bethel, MN. Neal would display the old cars near the road and receive a commission when he sold one. After I went to work for Will, Neal and I shared the selling of the old coaches, since I had many people who were interested in them. Remember, this was in the days prior to the internet and email, so much of this was by word of mouth.

Anyway, the gold '68 got sold off Neal's lot. It disappeared for many years, only to resurface about the time I met Matt Mahutga, who is now a PCS and Northland Chapter member. Matt found this coach and is now providing it with a more loving home than it had since 1992.

Last night, Matt called me to say he'd located another '68 Superior Cadillac hearse, all-white. The first car that came to my mind was a black over white Sovereign landau endloader that I took in trade from Peterson Mortuary in Nebraska City, NE in the fall of 1993. I told Matt this car would be easy to recognize because it had factory air and tilt/telescope wheel. Other than that, it was a basic Sovereign with no frills.

That car was also sold off of Neal's lot to a guy intending to pull a camper out of state with it. Sure enough, I got a text from Matt this morning stating the car has a black top and was used to pull a camper. I'm waiting to hear back to see if this is the Nebraska City car, but we're pretty sure it is.

I've attached photos of both '68s. Amazing how they have resurfaced after all these years. Now, I wish I could find a few of the cars we had at the funeral home when I was a kid!

(Karsnia collection photos)

Thanks , I remember the "old Coach Lot" north of the twin cities...lot goodies parked there over the years..

 

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

For those not familiar with it, Hwy. 65 is a four-lane that runs north out of Minneapolis and is often heavily-traveled, especially in the summer months as people head up to their lake places. Neal's place was highly visible and a good place for a line of old hearses.

Neal had quite a few cars up there over the years. Here are photos of some I had handy in photo albums:

1975 Superior Regal

1971 Superior Pontiac (from Wisconsin...had title issues)

1976 Superior Cadillac 3-way. This car was a nightmare mechanically and barely made it back from the FH in southern Minnesota that traded it in ca. 1993.

(Karsnia photos)

 

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

More

Here are some more of the older T&N trades that went up to Neal Tusler's lot.

(Joe Klein photos)

1972 M-M Cadillac limousine combination

A pair of Cotner/Bevington Cotington landaus

1976 M-M 3-way electric from Furey FH, Frazee, MN.

This all came to an end in 1995 when Will Nye sold his dealership to Larry Yarger. That was about the time dealer websites were popping up and Larry would just sell his own trades via internet.