Jon VanDermark
PCS Member
What was the last year Combination/Duplex cars were made?
Thanks!
Jon
Thanks!
Jon
What was the last year Combination/Duplex cars ...
- Thread starter Jon VanDermark
- Start date
Sarah Snook
PCS Life Member
Jerry Jacobson has a special ordered '82 Superior combo and I believe that Superior would make combos if specifically ordered through '84. I'd have to double check my Superior book. Those '80s Superior combos are pretty rare though.
Jon VanDermark
PCS Member
Rats! I lost an argument. I forgot about Jerry's car. I was thinking 1977 was the last year. Thanks for the info!
r/ Jon
r/ Jon
Dan Herrick
PCS Life Member - Upstate Chapter President
Jon,
Miller-Meteor made combo's in 78 as well. I know as I have a classic limo style one sitting in my garage.
Miller-Meteor made combo's in 78 as well. I know as I have a classic limo style one sitting in my garage.
Nick Bliss
PCS Member
I believe I've heard the 1984 figure as "available in the catalog", but don't know if any were actually ordered/built. Jerry's is the most recent one I've seen from the major coach builders.
But "minor" coach builders did ones even more recently. Pat Martin has one of the two Bayliff Packard coaches. Those were commisioned because the major coach builders wouldn't do a combination. There were made out of a 1985 Buick chassis, but I am not sure what "year" they are classified as, as they were not finished until '87 or maybe '88. Pat can probably shed more light on this: I'm just going by memory, and now that I am officially a geezer, my memory may not be reliable.
But "minor" coach builders did ones even more recently. Pat Martin has one of the two Bayliff Packard coaches. Those were commisioned because the major coach builders wouldn't do a combination. There were made out of a 1985 Buick chassis, but I am not sure what "year" they are classified as, as they were not finished until '87 or maybe '88. Pat can probably shed more light on this: I'm just going by memory, and now that I am officially a geezer, my memory may not be reliable.
Jim Tighe may also be able to answer questions about the Bayliffs. He owned one of the two as well (maybe the same one) and I love listening to him talk about it. Last time while visiting he told about how a tree had fallen on the roof during the Xenia tornado disaster... and I didn't ask what happened to it after that because the sadness that came over him just talking about it was... well you know, a guy knows when to shut up.
MIller-Meteor Combinations
Miller-Meteor built 10 Combinations in 1977 and 1978. Ten were scheduled to be built in 1979. However, with the sudden closer of the M/M Plant, only 5 Combinations were built. 3 Classic Limousine Style Combinations and 2 Landau Traditional Combinations. The 5 remaining sets of attendants seats were sold and shipped to Superior. This information was shared by Tom Caserta and a couple of former M/M employees at the 2004 Piqua Reunion.
Miller-Meteor built 10 Combinations in 1977 and 1978. Ten were scheduled to be built in 1979. However, with the sudden closer of the M/M Plant, only 5 Combinations were built. 3 Classic Limousine Style Combinations and 2 Landau Traditional Combinations. The 5 remaining sets of attendants seats were sold and shipped to Superior. This information was shared by Tom Caserta and a couple of former M/M employees at the 2004 Piqua Reunion.
Jon VanDermark
PCS Member
Thanks for the information guys. Seeing John Burchfields latest aquisition has caused this strange itch to start in my brain. I think I am developing Combination Syndrome.
Peter Jennings
PCS Member
Remember my old 1980 S&S Landau style that I got from Ron Devies! Danny Ryder had it for a very brief time. I believe it now has a blown engine. I'm sure Danny will chime in if its still with-in the PCS.
Jon VanDermark
PCS Member
What can I say Pete? I turned 50 and my memory started leaking.:bonk: I forgot it was a combo.
Ron Devies
PCS Ohio Chapter President PCS Past Vice President
I have heard up to 1985 but rumors of even a 89 hell they might make one now the way the market is just to get your business.
Danny Ryder - Deceased - 1962 - 2021
PCS Life Member
I dont believe anyone built one after 84 model yr. The car Ron, Peter, and I had I have not heard from since motor blew and owner wanted to sell as is. He was not PCS member at the time.
John Royark JR
PCS Member
Would this be the silver one with the Eureka upgrade? If so, it is currently owned by a PCS member who had the engine rebuilt and more.
Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020
September 12, 1971 - November 2, 2020
Miller-Meteor Combinations
If I read Chuck's post correctly, there are said to be three 1979 M-M Classic Limousine combinatons, along with two landaus. I'd love to see any of the three limo-styles, as I had always been led to believe none were built in '79. In fact, it was speculated - but never proven - that my former 1978 Classic Limousine combination (now owned by Dan Herrick) was the last limo combo built.
If I read Chuck's post correctly, there are said to be three 1979 M-M Classic Limousine combinatons, along with two landaus. I'd love to see any of the three limo-styles, as I had always been led to believe none were built in '79. In fact, it was speculated - but never proven - that my former 1978 Classic Limousine combination (now owned by Dan Herrick) was the last limo combo built.
Peter Jennings
PCS Member
Yes, John, that would be it. I am so glad to hear its still in the PCS. Apparently with a new devoted owner too.
To my knowledge, 1982 was the last year for a production combination by any builder. I know of several combinations built that year including Superior/Cadillacs (one in Oklahoma) and an S&S/Buick.
Byrd's ambulance and livery operations served Mansfield, Zanesville, and Cambridge, Ohio. This outfit bought 11 Sovereign Brougham Landaulets in 1982 that included a mix of combinations and endloaders in white, blue, and silver. The combination cars featured PA-15 sirens, single speakers, and clear-dome #175 beacons with two red and two amber bulbs. The endloaders each had a #17 with an amber dome.
(factory and SL photos)
Byrd's ambulance and livery operations served Mansfield, Zanesville, and Cambridge, Ohio. This outfit bought 11 Sovereign Brougham Landaulets in 1982 that included a mix of combinations and endloaders in white, blue, and silver. The combination cars featured PA-15 sirens, single speakers, and clear-dome #175 beacons with two red and two amber bulbs. The endloaders each had a #17 with an amber dome.
(factory and SL photos)
Attachments
The last combination built?
Sometimes I think that if I could only have one procar in my collection, this would be it. Why? I've always had a thing for combinations with panels, but mostly because it's unique. In her own way, she's even somewhat attractive.
The Miller F.H. in St. Marys, Ohio had this car built at a local body shop in the late 1980s. It was converted from a 1981 Impala station wagon, with a Caprice grille added. It looks very much like a B&B coach from the same era. She had a #28 siren, a casket rack, and a small partition behind the driver with brackets for dual oxygen bottles. The original station wagon single folding seat (curbside) was used for the attendant. When in service as a hearse, an amber dome was used on the beacon. When used as an ambulance, two red lamps were snapped in and a clear dome installed. Had it been mine, I would've had some sort of "ambulance" insignias on the rear side windows.
This car was traded in to Burgess and then imported somewhere in the Caribbean Islands.
Just when we think we've seen 'em all...
(SL photos)
Sometimes I think that if I could only have one procar in my collection, this would be it. Why? I've always had a thing for combinations with panels, but mostly because it's unique. In her own way, she's even somewhat attractive.
The Miller F.H. in St. Marys, Ohio had this car built at a local body shop in the late 1980s. It was converted from a 1981 Impala station wagon, with a Caprice grille added. It looks very much like a B&B coach from the same era. She had a #28 siren, a casket rack, and a small partition behind the driver with brackets for dual oxygen bottles. The original station wagon single folding seat (curbside) was used for the attendant. When in service as a hearse, an amber dome was used on the beacon. When used as an ambulance, two red lamps were snapped in and a clear dome installed. Had it been mine, I would've had some sort of "ambulance" insignias on the rear side windows.
This car was traded in to Burgess and then imported somewhere in the Caribbean Islands.
Just when we think we've seen 'em all...
(SL photos)
Attachments
John ED Renstrom
PCS Member
other then the flat planes on the front roof. this is one sharp car. had the shop known about Piner's using the roof out of every chevy panel wagon for 100 miles around she would have ended up a lot smoother looking the front. then the double cut add in the center that superior did to there Buick's would have giving it the length it needed for the room in back.
just goes to show you can build one if you want to.
just goes to show you can build one if you want to.
Tim A. Fantin
PCS Life Member
There was atleast one 1984 Superior Combination built. It was sold new to the Jagers funeral home in Athens, Ohio. CW Coach had the car for sale about ten years ago. It had a model 28 under the hood.
Jim Tighe - Deceased 1942 - 2012
March 10, 1964 - April 27 2012
The Bayliff Packard I had was the 1st of the 2, and was completed in '87. I believe Martin has the 2nd one, which took a long time to finish, but I don't recall exactly when it was completed. Bayliff and John Long had a big fight over the 2nd one, due to the delays and a large cost overrun. Both cars began as '85 Rivieras, and were rental cars at the airport in Atlanta. A very large tree fell on mine in the Xenia tornado of Sept., 2000. The following day an army of chain-sawers chopped up the tree and I drove the car away as tho nothing had happened. The only damage was some minor tears in the padded top and some small scratches. Bayliff built these cars with a rear roof structure that resembled a deck girder bridge on a railroad. Really substantial.