:agree:I think Eureka nailed it as far as styling goes for the 50's through erly 60's.
Josh
Who made the best cars?
- Thread starter Jim Staruk
- Start date
Josh
John ED Renstrom
PCS Member
don't blame the manufacture for the owner failing to replace a top that was bad. the rust is water trapped between the top and the steel. had the vinyl been taken care of and replaced when it got old a brittle the top would not look like this. none of the manufactures painted under there tops. none of the seams were sealed either. so either S&S used a poor grade of vinyl or the rest of car out lasted the top. had this top been taken care of 10 years ago this car would be on the road still. your blaming the car because some one did not take care of it.
that's 500 bucks worth of glass no one has tried to remove. before rolling the car to get a 50 buck rear end out.
that's 500 bucks worth of glass no one has tried to remove. before rolling the car to get a 50 buck rear end out.
I took out the glass before it was rolled on that side! If I am allowed I will try to take out the windshield as well as the other glass. That is all that is not rotten on that car. The frame somehow has very little rust on it as well. I am going to ask if I can swap my frame for this because it will not change the scrap value for the guy.
Thank you
Thank you to those who took the time to respond to my question. I posted this question specifically to see if there was one manufacturer who would bring a better re-sale as compared to another one. I understand that the condition of each automobile determines its value, but if there happens to be two similar cars in pristine condition, I think the consensus is to go with the S&S (if, of course one of them is an S&S).
My question stems from a Krystal conversion offered on Ebay right now (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadillac-Fleetwood-KrystalKoach-1996-Cadillac-Krystal-Hearse-White-Excellent-Condition-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem27b70ce49aQQitemZ170574800026QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks). It’s the correct year and mileage I’ve been looking for but I’m undecided whether to purchase this one or wait for a ’96 S&S. Unfortunately, no one mentioned Krystal cars.
Jim
Thank you to those who took the time to respond to my question. I posted this question specifically to see if there was one manufacturer who would bring a better re-sale as compared to another one. I understand that the condition of each automobile determines its value, but if there happens to be two similar cars in pristine condition, I think the consensus is to go with the S&S (if, of course one of them is an S&S).
My question stems from a Krystal conversion offered on Ebay right now (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadillac-Fleetwood-KrystalKoach-1996-Cadillac-Krystal-Hearse-White-Excellent-Condition-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem27b70ce49aQQitemZ170574800026QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks). It’s the correct year and mileage I’ve been looking for but I’m undecided whether to purchase this one or wait for a ’96 S&S. Unfortunately, no one mentioned Krystal cars.
Jim
Daniel Scully
PCS Member
On the 1993-1996's I think the commercial glass coaches are the way go. They to me have the correct look all the others have that pinched look to me where they the top of the windshield meets the roof. I am looking for a 93-96 S&S Victoria if any one knows of one for sale. Most of the ones I have seen are from the rust belt area and they seem to be more popular back east. I guess I should have kept my 93.
I am not 100% sure the Victoria was offered with commercial glass in 93 but 94-96 for sure.
Here is how a Krystal Koach looks after it's been stripped, stripped Kyrstal
It could have been fixed only had front end damage. My friend bought it with no motor, transmission, or rear axle off craigslist. We went to Ga and stripped it.
It could have been fixed only had front end damage. My friend bought it with no motor, transmission, or rear axle off craigslist. We went to Ga and stripped it.
Keith Snyder
PCS Member
From what I've seen, Krystal conversions, like those from Federal, feature horrid construction and quality. They're glued, screwed and scotch taped together in a manner that would frighten most automotive engineers and feature lackluster me-too styling displaying absolutely no original thinking.
Mike McDonald
PCS Member
Quality
During the (Kenneth Howe Hosted) PCS Convention at Lebannon, MO some years ago we visited a strech limo builder (don't recall the company name), but I thought the same thing then.... the padded vinyl roofs and "fish plated" sectioned frames covered up a lot of quick production sin! MM
During the (Kenneth Howe Hosted) PCS Convention at Lebannon, MO some years ago we visited a strech limo builder (don't recall the company name), but I thought the same thing then.... the padded vinyl roofs and "fish plated" sectioned frames covered up a lot of quick production sin! MM
Brad Ross
PCS Michigan Chapter President
Mike,
It was the 2001 International meet and we visited DaBryan Coach Builders in Springfield, MO.
During the DaBryan tour, it was mentioned that the main reason for the full vinyl top was to disguise wrinkles in the metal that are caused by twisting of the body.
As part of that tour, we were also treated to a video presentation regarding safety of these stretched vehicles. At the time, a big concern was new SUV stretch limos that were being built by other companies using standard equipment items (such as brakes), making the large vehicles unsafe.
It was the 2001 International meet and we visited DaBryan Coach Builders in Springfield, MO.
During the DaBryan tour, it was mentioned that the main reason for the full vinyl top was to disguise wrinkles in the metal that are caused by twisting of the body.
As part of that tour, we were also treated to a video presentation regarding safety of these stretched vehicles. At the time, a big concern was new SUV stretch limos that were being built by other companies using standard equipment items (such as brakes), making the large vehicles unsafe.
Keith Snyder
PCS Member
A number of years ago, I had the opportunity of touring the Krystal production facilities in California. I had seen a number of their vehicles in service around California and was not impressed at what I'd seen - especially a few limousine style coaches with oddly placed rear quarter windows - but, when I toured the plant, I was apalled at the lack of structural components installed in the bodies. These cars would never have passed any of the mandated government crash or roll-over tests. Their construction really appeared cheap when compared to what I had seen at Superior, S&S, Miller-Meteor and Eureka. In addition, the funeral cars were all assembled on one short line down the side of the building with the rest of the facility used for stretch rock-star style limos, airport buses and other mass-transit type vehicles. It was not impressive by any means. But, the funeral car business was just a minor side line to them anyhow.
1980s era Canadian Eurekas may fall apart, but I think they had the most attractive shape, FWD and RWD, of that era.
Want a crap coach, get a Collins...we had several 1981's??? that rusted and paint kept falling off, even when they were brand spanking new.
A firm where I used to work had a 93 RWD M-M and a 95 Superior Crown Sovereign, there was a WORLD of difference. Just the primitive rear bumper bar on the M-M and the crude door hinges told the tale.
I haven't been around anything older than about 1980, so I don't have an opinion on older cars.
Want a crap coach, get a Collins...we had several 1981's??? that rusted and paint kept falling off, even when they were brand spanking new.
A firm where I used to work had a 93 RWD M-M and a 95 Superior Crown Sovereign, there was a WORLD of difference. Just the primitive rear bumper bar on the M-M and the crude door hinges told the tale.
I haven't been around anything older than about 1980, so I don't have an opinion on older cars.