Windshield - '74 Cadillac Hearse Superior

[checkercab]

In addition to my fascination of professional cars I always want to own an Cadillac hearse. Now there is opportunity to buy one in quite good shape. This is not a real and rare classic like '59 but the price is very attractive.
The car is 1974 Hearse Soverign Landaulet (Superior). One of the main cons of this particular car is that the windshield is not oryginal. Someone replaced it from another car, overall quite good job, but this is not oryginal and not very aestetical to me. If there is possibility to obtain the right windshield I will buy this car and make a replace.
So my question is - was the windshields only hearse-specific or from other common model. I looked on pictures and it appeard that windshield from the same year hearse is more in vertial and taller than in regular Fleetwood. I cannot compare because I live in Poland, Europe and there is one Cadillac on 500,000 cars.

Best regards,

Maciek

'82 Checker A-11
'67 Land Rover SIIA 88

[mdeanr]

it is a commercial windshield so it will have to be from a hearse and not a regular cadillac fleetwood.

[checkercab]

This type of widnshield was it in use in this year only or thru some period of time?
I assume that it is almost impossible to find this kind of windshield in Europe... Too bad another beautiful hearse ends up on scrapyard :-(

[checkercab]

That's how it looks like:

http://www.glimpse.pl/hearse/200909052.jpg

http://www.glimpse.pl/hearse/200909052_1.jpg

What are your opinions?

Best regards,

Maciek

[mdeanr]

wow......i have never seen one shaped like that before. that may be from a standard cadillac but i'm still not sure. it is very interesting.

[checkercab]

Sadly, upper corners demistifique alternation. But this is nice car although.

[BIGEVIL]

Not bad considering.

[checkercab]

So if I want to go back to original - from where get the windshield? Only used are available or new can be obtained. Anyone have experience with replacing windshields in those hearses? Maybe a letter to Superior can help?

Best regrads,

Maciek

[spastic_chicken]

I know of a business in the states that may be able to help find a windshield, not sure of anything in Europe. Want it?

[checkercab]

Thank you. Pilkington Classics answered me that they have proper windshield. $500 + shipping $100 + tax. Now I quoted about shipping to Europe.
On next week I am going to inspect the hearse and eventually buy it!

P.S. I have read on Professional Car Society forum that windshields for professional cars were produced by Libbey-Owens-Ford (LOF) Company and its successor is Pilkington. One thead on this forum also discuss that the windshields was the same from 71 thru 76.

[checkercab]

...but the real problem will be with lack of weathersealing - I have had the same trouble with my Checker' restoration! :-(

[Guest]

the body shop claims they know a glass guy that could custom fabricate a new windshield for my coach. are they full of it, or is this really possible?

[checkercab]

This is possible, byt they must have got a pattern form existing windshield. I ordered a windshield to my Checker in small factory in Netherlanden, Europe. They cut the two pieces of glass, separaterly heated them, bent on a pattern and then laminated together with a plastic in the center. The costs were high. Although they have one pattern for Checker already done. If there were no pattern costs will be 10 times higher.
The shop who do the glass was small but full of technology and experience. And the windshield is better than oryginal.
What type of hearse have you got? Pikington Classic answered me that they can make a windshield to hearse I am intent to buy.

Best regards,

m+R

[Guest]

This is possible, byt they must have got a pattern form existing windshield. I ordered a windshield to my Checker in small factory in Netherlanden, Europe. They cut the two pieces of glass, separaterly heated them, bent on a pattern and then laminated together with a plastic in the center. The costs were high. Although they have one pattern for Checker already done. If there were no pattern costs will be 10 times higher.
The shop who do the glass was small but full of technology and experience. And the windshield is better than oryginal.
What type of hearse have you got? Pikington Classic answered me that they can make a windshield to hearse I am intent to buy.

Best regards,

m+R

mine's an 85 cadillac eureka. it's got a pretty bad crack in one corner

[checkercab]

You should email Al: Pilkington.Classics@us.pilkington.com
Regards,

Maciek