Projects 1950 Miller Cadillac Combination

Hi All,
Haven’t posted for a while as got side tracked on a non H.A.M.B. friendly car.
Here is my new project that was delivered yesterday. It’s a 1950 Miller Cadillac hearse/ambulance combination.
It’s pretty solid other then needing front floor pans and a hole by the rear loading door. I have been told 2500 units were built in 1950 between 5 different manufacturers. It’s built on a commercial chassis. Rear door glass is perfect, have the other glass for patterns.

I cleaned out around 10 lbs of leaves/twigs and nesting materials from the engine bay. The engine is complete but missing the generator. It’s stuck at the moment, I plan to soak it in mystery oil for a couple of weeks.
Only major issue is a power pole fell on the drivers side rear fender.

Should be a fun project.

 

neat car. Get it running, go on a road trip.

 

Great condition! Congrats..

 

That bright work on the front still looks great !

 

What do you think? Ambulance, hearse, or coroner?

 

Hydro in an 86 series chassis is unusual.

 

It’s a combination. Apparently the local mortuaries operated the ambulance service. The boards flip over in the back. On one side it’s to lock a gurney in place. Flip them over on the cantilevers and on the other side there are rollers for the coffin. Double duty.

Wife said I couldn’t have a station wagon as she grew up in one and road tripped from Alaska to Florida. She also said I couldn’t have a hearse. This bent the rules slightly.

 

Only 2 % were Hydramatic, rest were standard.

 

Paint it red and white , it's an ambulance

Sent from my Trimline

 

I was thinking that and then get a decent siren for it. But I’m going to keep it black and put back the dark blue mohair interior in the back. Freak out some people on Halloween.

 

Friend of mine used to have a 1970 Cadillac hearse, ran a vanity plate that read "NO BODY".

 

My dad had a 1938 Buick Hearse when I was a kid. Neat car.

 

Grinning to myself here, and I am surely not making fun of your admirable purchase. I know how addictive the firetruck and ambulance interest is. Seeing the pictures you have posted, surely brings back memories of the 1965 "Miller Meteor " Cadillac ambulance I bought years ago, I even had a custom vanity plate for it that read " BONEBUS ".

I bought it for $1200.00, it ran and all of the lights and radios, siren worked, it was owned by the local Shriner's here in Seattle. They advised me that if I ever needed to have it towed in, to have them bring the bigger truck, it weighed 8000 lbs. because of the lead in the frames. You have your work cut out for you indeed, but if you love the car, then you wont mind the work. I had fun with mine and sold it for $1200.00 about 12 years ago to a family in Oregon.

I still own the 46 IHC KB-5 firetruck and the 1966 IHC factory built Travel All ambulance. Its a collecting sickness not easily cured.

 

Yeah it’s definitely different. I did joke with the wife I wanted a fire truck. But it was an easy addition to the two caddies I already have. I have a 56 Sedan and a 55 Coupe project already.

 

Tell her you're going surfing...and you needed something to carry your Long Boards

 

that is an odd front windshield, is it stock Caddy glass?

 

looks like it. There seem to be two windshields used on 50 caddys, and this is one of them. The tall roof is what makes it look strange.

 

My brother ran an X/FD in the early 60's and used a hearse as the tow car, worked out great since it was cheap, big and had plenty of storage. The Buick in the background was the tow car at the time and later traded for a 55 Cadillac hearse, there was a dealer in a small town south of Kansas City that dealt in professional cars back then.

 

It’s a stock windshield DW-141 is the part number. Series 61 Sedan.

 

If I bought a hearse my wife would be happy to see me use it but I wouldn't be the one driving.

 

You know what? I’ve never seen a u-haul trailer on a hearse

 

Just got these rare window side panels.

 

I checked the bores this week of the engine with an inspection camera. Looks like it’s too far gone, I have located another engine and transmission for it.

 

I have the new engine and transmission for it now. A rebuilt 331.

 

You can really have a blast with them and not just on Halloween. But you got to get a casket and a buddy dressed in a dark suit. Then go find a car full of kids with frazzled looking parents. I still got the stretcher 35 years later.

 

Done some work on it this summer while I was on vacation. Rebuilt all of the brakes, installed the new engine and transmission. I’m now looking for a front driveshaft yoke so that I can install the driveshaft.

 

I admire your tenacity and focus, stick with it, it's a great project!

 

FWIW, back in 1973, I had a '51 Cad ambulance, standard shift. Those today forget the early cars were not large by current standards. It drove like a heavy Chevy.

jack vines

 

Great project. If youre not feeling the hearse vibe, another bench seat in the rear for a station wagon would be cool. The jump seats could be rear facing.

Post up as you dig into it.

 

Engine is now running and hood is back on. Just got to get a new gas tank now.