Toronto based Eureka Thread (Pre 1989)

[Keith Snyder]

According to Tom McPherson, the silver flower car photo posted by Tony is actually a 1982 Concours Classic. In fact, it's was the first Eureka flower car and was photographed by him in a Boston, Mass., cemetery. It was unvieled at the NFDA convention in Boston in the autumn of 1981 - that's why Tom photographed it there. This car reportedly caught the competition off guard - they never suspected the up-start Eureka could produce something this sophisticated and up-scale. According to Tom, they went on to out-sell Superior in this market segment (and others as well) and later were the first to introduce a FWD flower car...which also sold extremely well. The 1988 two-tone red Concours Brougham d'Elegance Landaulet was an NFDA show car at the 1987 Salt Lake City convention. Tom doesn't remember where it went. Thanks for posting these photos, Tony.

 

[Dwayne Brooks]

Available & as it looks today.

I took a couple pix of the "cutaway Eureka" at Carl's cookout last fall also. Keith, do you know if this was Tom's personal vehicle for a time before it was made into a cutaway display? That's what i've heard

 

[Keith Snyder]

Dwayne.....From what I'm given to understand, the base car was a 1986 Buick LeSabre coupe that had been a GM prototype. Buick gave the car to Eureka who made it into a hearse - painted it bright red and displayed it, along with a number of other FWD models, in Minneapolis at the NFDA convention in 1985 - the launch site for the Eureka FWD hearses. After the convention, it was loaned out to Eureka dealers for display at state conventions and then brought back to the plant in Toronto. Because the ca had no serial number and could never be licensed, Tom decided to up-date it with 1987 trim and appearance components and cut it apart as a display vehicle. It was first shown in this form in October of 1986 at the NFDA in Orlando, Florida. After that, the car was shipped to the various Eureka dealers for use at state conventions. The car was eventually sold to Charlie Butler - a Eureka dealer in Indiana. Tom thinks that Carl brought the car from the Butler Coach Company.

 

[Mike Boyer]

Thanks Keith for the info....you would know better then I

 

[Mike Boyer]

Here are two more Flower Cars

1987 Eureka Cadillac Concours Classic Flower Car Fwd

1988 Eureka Cadillac Concours Classic Flower Car Rwd

Tom McPherson Photo's

 

[Keith Snyder]

Mike.... according to Tom, the lower flower car image is a 1982 Concours Classic that was custom-built for the Griffin Funeral Home in Chicago. He says that it was "7-Up bottle green" and that the crests on the side doors were supplied by the funeral home and were magnetic. The white 1987 Concours Classic photo you posted was the industries first FWD flower car and was photographed fresh off the 1986 Orlando, Florida NFDA display floor and was still loaded with the flowers that it had throughout the convention. If I remember correctly, he said that the photo was taken outside the convention center in Orlando.

 

[Gus Boucher]

Is it me or do these photos of the cutaway looks like it has damage on the lower right side from the bumper, inner fender, rocker and quarter at the lock post. The showroom photos do not show any damage. No matter still great stuff.

 

[Mike Boyer]

Mike.... according to Tom, the lower flower car image is a 1982 Concours Classic that was custom-built for the Griffin Funeral Home in Chicago. He says that it was "7-Up bottle green" and that the crests on the side doors were supplied by the funeral home and were magnetic. The white 1987 Concours Classic photo you posted was the industries first FWD flower car and was photographed fresh off the 1986 Orlando, Florida NFDA display floor and was still loaded with the flowers that it had throughout the convention. If I remember correctly, he said that the photo was taken outside the convention center in Orlando.

Again I apologize for the misinformation, when I was reading Tom McPherson email it did say 1983 and I typed in 1988......my apologizies.

 

[Mike Boyer]

To Celebrate 30 years, here are three 1983 Buicks

#1 1983 Eureka Buick Centurion Landaulet

#2 1983 Eureka Buick Centurion Limousine Style Funeral Coach

#3 1983 Eureka Buick Premier Landaulet

 

[Mike Boyer]

Inside the Eureka Coach Company of Toronto Factory

March 1985

#1 and #2 Various stages of production for both Hearses and Limousines. At this point Eureka were only making RWD Coaches, but were making FWD and RWD Limousines.

#3 Final assembly line in March 1985. Note the two yellow and gold Concours D'Elegance Landaulets that went to Alabama are on the line.

Tom McPherson Photo's

 

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

Some Minnesota Premiers

1. 1988 Eureka Buick Premier landaulet: Mattson FH, Forest Lake, MN

2. 1988 Eureka Buick Premier landaulet: Hamlin-Hansen FH, Moose Lake, MN

3. 1988 Eureka Buick Premier landaulet (one of two identical): Schad FHs, Sauk Centre & Melrose, MN

(Karsnia photos)

 

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

A couple more Buicks

These Buicks were popular around here, partly due to the front-wheel-drive aspect, but mostly due to being well-marketed by Will Nye of T&N United Coach Sales. Many of you know that Will was a dear friend of mine. Tom McPherson has agreed that Will did a fine job of selling Eureka coaches in this area.

1. 1988 Eureka Buick Premier landaulet: Mueller Mortuary, St. Paul, MN

2. 1987 Eureka Buick Patrician landaulet: Carlson FH, Cambridge, MN. This was one of two identical cars delivered new to Gearty-Delmore FH, Robbinsdale, MN

(Karsnia photos)

 

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

A couple of Cadillacs

1. 1988 Eureka Cadillac Concours landaulet RWD (with extend table): Morris Nilsen Chapel, Richfield, MN.

2. I managed to grab this shot of a 1988 Eureka Cadillac Concours landaulet FWD pulling into Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis one winter day in 1992. The car was owned by Evans-Nordby FH, Brooklyn Center, MN.

(Karsnia photos)

 

[Ken Novak]

Tony, Will Nye did sell alot of Eureka's in MN during the 80"s, and to surrounding states. I will try to find my photos over those years.

 

[Mike Boyer]

How about a couple of Buick Limousines

1981 Eureka Buick Empire 4-Door Lomousine

1981 Eureka Buick Empire 6-Door Limousine

Tom McPherson Photo's

 

[John ED Renstrom]

notice the crown on the 6 door roof. something you don't see in the rest.

 

[Mike Boyer]

How about the VERY FIRST Eureka Oldsmoble in the 1980's

1982 Eureka Oldsmoble Regent Landaulet. This was photographed at the Vehicles Introductory showing at a dealers meeting held at the Eureka plant in Toronto in the spring of 1982

Photo by Walt McCall

 

[Mike Boyer]

1985 Oldsmoble Carlton Landaulet

1985 was the last year Eureka built the RWD Oldsmoble and Buick Pro-Cars. Although Eureka had introduced FWD Oldsmoble and Buick 4 & 6 door Limousines in 1985, the FWD Oldsmoble and Buicks were not introduced until the 1986 model year.

This 1985 Oldsmoble Carlton went to Foster Coach Sales in Sterling, Illinois. Having been a former Miller-Meteor and Cotner/Bevington dealer, Foster sold alot of Oldsmoble- based Funeral cars and limousines for Eureka in the 1980's

Tom McPherson photo

 

[Mike Boyer]

and while we are on a Oldsmoble "subject" today

how about a 1983 Eureka Oldsmoble Regent Tiara Landaulet and a matching Eureka Oldsmoble Mayfair 4-door Limousine.

Tom McPherson Photo

 

[Mike Boyer]

A couple more inside the factory photo's

#1 A 1985 Eureka Concours Classic Flower Car during its final days at the Eureka plant. This car went on to Boston Mass. Summer of 1985

#2 Eureka's Funeral Coach Final Assembly line March 1985

Walt McCall Photo