Olds Professional Cars - Do you own one?
July 12th, 2012, 11:10 AM
#1
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Olds Professional Cars - Do you own one?
Being involved with Professional Cars (hearses, ambulances, limousines, and flower cars) for many years, I know that there were a vast number that were build on the Oldsmobile chassis. Unfortunately, many of these cars were not saved, and for many years, they were not looked upon as a collectible car. I am certain that there are still many out there, in the hands of collectors that go unrecognized for their uniqueness by the mainstream collector clubs in general. Do you own such a automobile, and if so, could you please post a picture of it, and tell us about it? It is time that these magnificent automobiles move into the sunlight and be recognized.
Thanks Junk...
Thanks Junk...
July 23rd, 2012, 09:24 AM
#3
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
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The closest I have come was finding a 1970 hearse in a salvage yard in NC a good ten years ago. The yard owner would sell neither parts nor the car. DK what the situation with it was. Another yard had a 1968 Toronado Jetway and that yard also would not sell parts or car. They have both probably rusted into the North Carolina red clay by now.
In many years of attending OCA National Meets, I don't remember ever seeing a professional car at one.
In many years of attending OCA National Meets, I don't remember ever seeing a professional car at one.
July 24th, 2012, 08:43 AM
#11
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Oldsmobile's have been used for many decades as the base vehicle for Professional Cars, and it is quite surprising to me that they haven't been well represented in the Oldsmobile ranks of the collector car hobby. They were the less expensive alternative to the more expensive Cadillacs. I was hoping that there would be some members of these forums that were owners of these magnificant vehicles. Thanks Junk...
July 24th, 2012, 10:44 AM
#12
"me somebody" site member
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Don't own one myself, but this one has shown up on occasion at local shows here in NJ:
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...r-abe-lincoln/
TONS of photos of Oldsmobile professional cars in this thread / site:
http://www.professionalcarsociety.or...ead.php?t=3683
From the same site, my FAVORITE hearse of all time (no not an Olds), which I used to see locally 20 years back, and enquired about, getting this photo response within hours (the power of the internets):
http://www.professionalcarsociety.or...1&d=1296670055
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...r-abe-lincoln/
TONS of photos of Oldsmobile professional cars in this thread / site:
http://www.professionalcarsociety.or...ead.php?t=3683
From the same site, my FAVORITE hearse of all time (no not an Olds), which I used to see locally 20 years back, and enquired about, getting this photo response within hours (the power of the internets):
http://www.professionalcarsociety.or...1&d=1296670055
Last edited by aliensatemybuick; July 24th, 2012 at 10:52 AM.
September 11th, 2012, 02:17 PM
#13
Lansing built
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Grand Ledge, MI
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September 16th, 2012, 10:47 AM
#14
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 5
Jetway
Being involved with Professional Cars (hearses, ambulances, limousines, and flower cars) for many years, I know that there were a vast number that were build on the Oldsmobile chassis. Unfortunately, many of these cars were not saved, and for many years, they were not looked upon as a collectible car. I am certain that there are still many out there, in the hands of collectors that go unrecognized for their uniqueness by the mainstream collector clubs in general. Do you own such a automobile, and if so, could you please post a picture of it, and tell us about it? It is time that these magnificent automobiles move into the sunlight and be recognized.
Thanks Junk...
Thanks Junk...
December 9th, 2012, 11:21 AM
#17
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Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 18
This is my '59 Olds, built by the Comet Coach Co. in Blytheville, AR. It is the only '59 Olds landau funeral coach known to still exist. It has been in a local restoration shop since April getting totally redone, and will remain factory stock in every respect. It should completed within the next few weeks.
Unlike their Cadillac counterparts, the Olds professional cars of this era were converted from stock 4 door sedans by the coachbuilder. The conversion required custom craftsmanship from the front clip on back, and incorporated a 24" stretch on the original wheelbase and body. I recently found out that the front door windows are actually the rear door glass from the original Dynamic 88, which were reversed to incorporate the downward slope towards the windshield, rather than towards the trailing edge of the roof on the stock unit.
Here are a couple of shots of the car before the restoration started.
Unlike their Cadillac counterparts, the Olds professional cars of this era were converted from stock 4 door sedans by the coachbuilder. The conversion required custom craftsmanship from the front clip on back, and incorporated a 24" stretch on the original wheelbase and body. I recently found out that the front door windows are actually the rear door glass from the original Dynamic 88, which were reversed to incorporate the downward slope towards the windshield, rather than towards the trailing edge of the roof on the stock unit.
Here are a couple of shots of the car before the restoration started.
December 9th, 2012, 11:40 AM
#18
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Location: Dover, Ohio
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There were at lest two coach companies in Ohio tha i know of that put hearse and ambulance coaches on Olds, Cadillac, Pontiac, and Lincoln chassis. I have a friend here in town that owns an Ambulance Service and has a collection of about 7 or 8 old restored car/ambulances. One of those is a 70 Olds with a 455. He uses them im parades. It was in our Christmas parade just last saturday. I dont have a pic right now but I will see if i can get one and post it! Its a sweet unit!! Another friend here in town has a 1954 PACKARD Hearse/Funeral car. Its all original unrestored and the siren still works. He takes it to shows too! Even though its not an Olds its so "unique" it deserves a pic posted.
December 13th, 2012, 05:09 PM
#19
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December 13th, 2012, 05:17 PM
#20
Sammy70 455 Supreme
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December 13th, 2012, 05:21 PM
#22
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Toronado Limo
that my friend is an AQC Jetway 707.
You can a read a little about them here - http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/a/aqc/aqc.htm
You can a read a little about them here - http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/a/aqc/aqc.htm
December 13th, 2012, 05:21 PM
#23
http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/a/aqc/aqc.htm
Interesting reading...
Interesting reading...
December 13th, 2012, 09:07 PM
#25
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That is one of the strangest airport limousines that was ever built. They are quite rare today, but they were real workhorses when they were in use. I remember seeing them back in the day, and thinking that was a lot of steel to stop quickly. Can't wait to see the next set of pictures.
December 14th, 2012, 06:35 AM
#26
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
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The NC junkyard that had one was White's Auto Sales & Salvage in Germanton NC, a little north of Winston-Salem. I would guess that AQC came from Piedmont Triad Airport.
http://www.whitesautosalvage.com/ If this website is anywhere near current looks like they still have some older iron. I sure would love to have some time to go up there again.
January 10th, 2013, 06:26 PM
#27
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AQC Jetway
I called the folks at Whites last spring when I was looking into these vehicles. The guy I talked to said they had two of them at one point but they had been sold sometime in the previous year. So there may be two more of these getting ready to hit the road.
The one I have originally came from Dallas.
The one I have originally came from Dallas.
Just wondering how long that flatbed was!
The NC junkyard that had one was White's Auto Sales & Salvage in Germanton NC, a little north of Winston-Salem. I would guess that AQC came from Piedmont Triad Airport.
http://www.whitesautosalvage.com/ If this website is anywhere near current looks like they still have some older iron. I sure would love to have some time to go up there again.
The NC junkyard that had one was White's Auto Sales & Salvage in Germanton NC, a little north of Winston-Salem. I would guess that AQC came from Piedmont Triad Airport.
http://www.whitesautosalvage.com/ If this website is anywhere near current looks like they still have some older iron. I sure would love to have some time to go up there again.
April 2nd, 2013, 05:03 AM
#29
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Posts: 1,612
Never saw or heard of one of those. Not sure it is an illusion, but the roof seems uneven above the middle door in the second shot.
Did find this on Ebay, interestingly it only mentions Buicks and Caddys, surely the Olds body was essentially the same?:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1975-CADILLA...8f#ht_54wt_892
Did find this on Ebay, interestingly it only mentions Buicks and Caddys, surely the Olds body was essentially the same?:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1975-CADILLA...8f#ht_54wt_892
April 2nd, 2013, 05:09 AM
#30
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 207
Never saw or heard of one of those. Not sure it is an illusion, but the roof seems uneven above the middle door in the second shot.
Did find this on Ebay, interestingly it only mentions Buicks and Caddys, surely the Olds body was essentially the same?:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1975-CADILLA...8f#ht_54wt_892
Did find this on Ebay, interestingly it only mentions Buicks and Caddys, surely the Olds body was essentially the same?:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1975-CADILLA...8f#ht_54wt_892
July 13th, 2013, 06:32 PM
#32
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Location: Deland Fla.
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In 1973 when my Dad died he was carried by a Oldsmobile hearse and we all rode in Oldsmobiles and that was all that Ott Laughlin funeral home used for decades. Beautiful cars kept immaculate. He always had dark blue hearses and Limo Oldsmobiles.
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