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The show was a blast yesterday! 23 hearses in the show officially. Here is avideo of some of it
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Didnt realize that one was removed, sorry.
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Very much enjoyed meeting new enthusiasts for the couple hours I managed to attend. Here's local CBS coverage in meantime including NHAA's own illustrious sgath92.
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Little late but finished images up nonetheless. Shawn did a fantastic time organizing. Tip of the tophat to him.
This '63 Superior Landaulet Sovereign lost me. This is one way to waste money. Don't know if owner didn't have landau irons or if upholsterer handling roof talked him into how he wanted to cover it, which didn't leave room for landau irons. Either way back end of roof = fail. Coach lacks soul without those beautiful landau irons and a pressure point capped with a little chrome doodad doesn't compensate. Poor treatment of a cool coach.
Same '63 Superior owner brought two identical models. This example is (allegedly) an untouched original (other than wheels obviously). See anything off..?
Yep. Rear wheel lips. No skirts.
Initially I assumed they had been radiused. According to owner he found coach in WI and drove it home (PA?). He maintains that they are factory Pontiac wheel arches that came this way from Superior and must have been custom ordered.
Meh. I'm willing to bet original skirt mounts rotted out up north by late '60s and this was an easier repair. Never seen another 'original' like this. Just doesn't look right. Certainly changing tires is easier though.
Alberter Buick belongs to sgath92. If you've ever read her posts, toy know that she's hella intelligent AND has a high mechanical aptitude. Pleasure meeting her and seeing this oddball coach in person.
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One of the more interesting coaches was this '69 S&S Victoria. Owner has been slowly improving it over last few years as time/money allow, so look past current condition. Neat features throughout. Landau irons were the thinner variety that S&S initially used on removable panels as well, once again proving that they used whatever was laying around. Yes, he realized once there that landaus were inadvertently replaced upside down when cleaning week before show...
White woodgrain in a '69 is latest I've seen S&S use. This Victoria also had a white woodgrain extend table. Check out that black brocade fabric, foregoing typical S&S black/silver fabric.
Stunning interior.
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Hadn't enough time to check out Laurel Hill Cemetery itself. Beautiful old place.
Had only seen pics of this coach online previously. Subtle personalization going on that was rather tasteful. Spider caps are a nod to kustom car culture. Rocker stainless had been painted.
Solid minimalistic, understated look achieved on a budget.
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'61 Superior Royale Landaulet endloader was hands down personal favorite.
Original + slight patina = best type of survivor. Note that it has short skeg moldings, which also make it look better in my book.
Takes a special sort of owner to not only appreciate the coach for what it is but maintain the discipline necessary not to muck with it and do "little cosmetic improvements" here and there.
Really perfect just the way it is and a coach to be quite proud of.
If you know where a decent original chrome '61 (or '62) passenger side mirror can be had, I'll put you in touch with owner. Coach doesn't need a remote mirror. The one on it is not correct and owner would like to rectify that.Comment
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Next fascinating coach to personally inspect was this original '78 Superior Sovereign Landaulet 3-way.
Note rear side door locks.
Yeah, I've seen downsized 3-ways before. With doors open and able to study detail differences to full size 3-ways though? Not that I recall.
Note short B pillar post enabling door lock.
Shawn's trophies. He should post winners here.
Lastly, the '24th' coach parked outside.
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Last year was our first year for numerous awards. The 3rd we had one and the first 2 it was ajust for fun show.
Laurel Hill pick (picked by LH staff member): 1988 Alberter Buick, the black one.
Best "beater" (a daily driver or one thats clearly driven a lot!): 1988 Alberter Buick, the white one.
Longest Distance: 1986 S&S Cadillac Victoria. 2nd year in a row. Owner drives 5 plus hours to be here from the Pittsburgh area.
Best custom: 1996 Federal Cadillac.
Best Stock: 1989 S&S Cadillac Victoria, the FWD one.
Best in show(people's choice) award: 1963 Superior Cadillac, the first, more custom.. landau-less one..Comment
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Also,the first of the 2 63 Superiors from what I understand, the owners bought it as is a couple months back. The 2nd one is for sale and if anyone is or knows someone that is interested I do have owners contact info. I understand he is in the process of buying a 3rd identical coach as well.Comment
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Was a great show, seems to get bigger by the year. Would not have been out of the question for it to approach 30 if more of the cars out there that are ~local to Philly had showed up. Shawn's flower car wasn't there this year, didn't think I saw the Dragula car show up, or the S&S owned by the couple behind My Parasite/Requiem. Also the horse drawn carriage maintained at West Laurel Hill was there a couple years ago but not last year or this year. That all would have pushed the count up to 27/28ish.Comment
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Yes, 4 coaches from last year werent there, but Im satisfied that it hit the mark I hoped for at 20-22 procars. The Cadraculac?? hearse which is an 81 S&S Cadillac is the one I believe you are referring to. It was sold shortly after the haunters convention, tried getting the new owner to come but he has been busy. The previous owner was there with his 97 Krystal Koach Lincoln. 83 S&S owned by the Requiem/myparasite folks wasnt there probably cos they moving or moved maybe, at least I did see something about that at some point, plus that hearse was for sale at one point and could have sold. 47 Superior Pontiacs owner was feeling quite ill that day so decided to pass. Sadly I cant drive more than 1 car that far.. And the horse drawn belongs to the funeral home at West Laurel Hill, so I can see how they might hesitate. It was never at our actual show, there was an event at LH it was there for and we made it a little show(which was something that helped them decide to help host our show I believe). I plan on trying very hard to get here for next years show, which should happen there.
Still a good time that flew by for me, but Im glad everyone who did came out and had a good time. Our total count is just set much higher for next year...Comment
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HEY SHAWN! We got the 3rd...hopefully we will have our other 63' for sale very soon...I guess according to "Atti's" critique on our "waste of money" car we need to got some landau irons so my Hearse can have "some soul".... Not even going to get into the "alleged" missing fender skirts controversy about our other 63'... Seriously.. does this guy have ANYTHING nice to say about either one??Originally posted by Shawn of the MPCC View PostComment
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Nice seeing pre-'65 coaches. (<---Happier?)
Superior is my favorite coach builder and as such I am more critical of them. I currently own (and have owned) more from '57-'64 than you have any inkling about (or your 3, congrats btw). As such, my knowledge and first hand experience in this specific period is unparalleled.
Superior did offer a landau delete option starting in '59. This was available on Royale models, not Sovereign (which were officially offered in '61). Anyone can tell you that I'm not a purist when it comes to coaches. However, Superior had a FAR better sense of design and flow than you do. Landau delete wasn't available on a Sovereign because it simply isn't balanced and doesn't look good with those huge slab sides from any angle. A Royale's corner windows broke up that monotony. Very few landau delete Superiors in this year range survive. There is a '59 Royale 3-way in Mexico and '62 Royale 3-way in SoCal.
Also, please do not twist my words newb. Waste of money comment was specifically about vinyl top - not your car itself. The quality of this coach's top is excellent. It's the design and execution that are horrible. Vinyl tops aren't cheap. Whether you or the previous owner paid to have this done, it should have been mandated to have redone. You see, on a landau hearse this area above wasit line between the C and D pillars IS the visual focal point on entire coach. It isn't wheel choice, ride height, or anything else. Unfortunately there is no balance with yours. Even more unfortunate that you don't see this and think there is some vendetta about you or the coach.
Onto other '63. $100 bet those wheel arches are not original. If those areas are media blasted you'll find older repairs converting them. Superior was too proud and classy of a company to use Pontiac parts on a Cadillac. Not only unheard of, but the opposite of dignified - especially considering Superior maintained a lower priced Pontiac line of offerings. They would not have placed themselves in a position of blurring distinction between each line. A FD would have ordered a Pontiac instead!
If I can be of any further assistance, let me know. Those missing landau irons are a mother to locate. They're longer than most on both Crown and Sovereign models to aesthetically fill larger space.
Hope to see you two again on the 7th!Comment
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Sorry to take some offense to your post however it did come off some what crass and callous...we acquired both vehicles in that condition...there is some things that we need to change, fix & work on yes, I agree...that's why we never attended any of MPCC's events/meetings previously because we ourselves were not happy with the condition of our car...we're going to be on a landau mission now lolComment
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