Now that the professional car touring season is almost in full-swing, many enthusiasts will be stopping by the funeral coach manufacturing plants for tours and to see the latest offerings.  Northland Chapter member, the late Bernie DeWinter IV, a frequent visitor to the Ohio-based manufacturers, spotted this beautiful red 1992 Superior Cadillac Crown Sovereign landau awaiting delivery in the lot at Superior Coaches in Lima.  "They keep trying to 'Bernie-proof' those yards with chain-link fences", he'd say, "but I'll still gladly take a grab-shot when I can."

This is a 2009 Eagle Cadillac Ultimate hearse, custom built for Kramer Funeral Home in Trimont, MN.  It is gold mist metallic with crown top, oval windows with optional airline-style curtains, and a tan canyon rear floor.  Photographed by Tony Karsnia at Baines Professional Vehicles in Ramsey, MN prior to delivery to Kramer Funeral Home.    (March 2009)

Our February feature photo, depicting the Smith Ambulance fleet in the Hopkins Raspberry Festival parade generated so much discussion at the recent Northland Chapter Mid-Winter Warm-Up Meet, we decided to do a sequel!  This shot, taken from the opposite side of the street, shows Smith's 1964 Superior Cadillac Rescuer ambulance.  Mr. Dave Gibson, who attended February's Mid-Winter Warm-Up Meet, was employed by Smith Ambulance at the time and was driving one of the three rigs we've seen in these feature photos!

Two nearly new 1966 Superior Cadillac 51" Rescuer ambulances, owned by Smith Ambulance Service in Minneapolis, Minnesota, crosses the intersection of Mainstreet and 6th in the annual summertime Raspberry Festival Grande Day parade through downtown Hopkins, MN.  These ambulance twins had a roof-mounted Federal Q2B siren, tunnel lights, lighted signs on the front and sides of the roof bearing the SMITH name, a large rotating beacon on the roof, rear air conditioning, and door-mounted forward facing red spotlights.  The tall communications antenna is mounted to the left fender.  If you look very closely, you'll see  another probably older Superior ambulance on the passenger side of the second ambulance. Also, notice the well dressed (white shirt and cap!) ambulance attendant visible in the front passenger seat.  The unusual street lights are interesting, as is the tower in the background proclaiming downtown HOPKINS with lighted letters on all four sides.  The motel building and the "Direct Service" building next door are both still standing, however the nearby railroad tracks and Hopkins tower are long gone.  The Raspberry Festival, started in 1934, continues to this day.  Photo from the Tony Karsnia collection.

This may be the only Pontiac three-way funeral coach ever built. This was built by John Little on a 1954 Pontiac for the Milton R. Futher Funeral Home in Wellesley, Ontario. Note the large Eureka-style coach lamps.  The builder's photo was taken across the street from John Little's shop in Ingersoll, Ontario.  These photos are from the Walter M.P. McCall Collection, and are shared with you courtesy of Walt.

Many months ago, Robert Shepard entrusted his 1975 Miller-Meteor Cadillac Criterion Ambulance to the care of Ed Renstrom of Hot Springs, South Dakota for a complete restoration.  What was once a nice blue-and-white Criterion is now a stunning red and white Criterion in as-good-as-new condition.  Robert drove the Criterion home from South Dakota over the first weekend of November, 2008 and arrived safely at home on Monday, November 3rd.  The Northland and Miller-Meteor Chapters congratulate Robert on his dedication to this professional car and Ed Renstrom for his beautiful work on Robert's car.  For extensive restoration photographs, go to Ed's DropShots.com album here. 

This absolutely beautiful and perfect 1937 Sayers and Scovill Buick Byzantine Carved Hearse was formerly owned by Andre Pilon of Arnprior, Ontario, Canada.  The picture on the left is what Andre started with, and on the right is the finished project.  Amazing, isn't it?!   It takes a man with incredible vision and dedication to see that this could be transformed into a beautiful coach and to follow through with it in every detail.  You may have seen three of Andre's other classic funeral coaches recently on eBay, including a S&S horse-drawn and a Miller Packard carved-side hearse.  Photograph credits to Andre Pilon, along with our thanks for saving this rare coach.

This fleet was owned by Brenny's Granite City Ambulance Service in St. Cloud, Minnesota.  From left to right:  1969 Ford station wagon, 1961 Superior Cadillac 48" Rescuer, and 1969 Superior Cadillac 51" Rescuer.

Peter Adsten writes:  This 1957 National Pontiac was operated by Mac's Ambulance Service in Medicine Hat, Alberta from 1957 to 1967. The car then went to the volunteer fire department in the neighboring town of Bow Island. In 1990 we purchased the car at Crestline Coach, restored it a bit, and used it for public relations purposes. We would also borrow the car to ambulance services in the three prairie provinces, so they could display it in their local shopping centre or drive it in their main street parade.  The car is now owned by Peter Adsten of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 

1949 S&S Cadillac Knickerbocker combination coach, originally owned by Norman Funeral Chapel, Grand Forks, North Dakota and now owned by John Royark, Jr. of Elberon, IA.  These photos were taken at Elberon June 1, 2007.