coldwar

1961 Oldsmobile full size pick up/flower car conversion. Have seen plenty of 1960's hearse/ambulance jobs, but this one is a first for me.

Chased this car for years, finally got my chance. Don't know anything of it's distant past story, called the body shop that coach built this car and they are checking their files for me this week. Seems to be a 88/98/station wagon hybrid. Very tidy careful construction work. Can't seem to place the back window, mid 1960's GMC pickup? Looks like it had custom duals out of the back up light openings. Tailgate works great, sturdy even when in opened position. Will run with some short work.

Was afraid this might become a love it or hate it vehicle, so far everyone likes it, including my wife. Thanks Much

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2blu442

Wow! That's one rare car! I've seen photos of 1950's vintage flower cars but this is the first time I've seen or heard of one like this.

As long as you have parking space, you can't have too many toys

f85 rocket

Now that is cool. I have never seen one before.

oldstata

X3 on cool factor and I must agree on you never can have to many toys or as my wife says yard art

redoldsman

That can really be made into a cool and unusual car. It looks pretty solid. It is a good thing I don't have a place for more than two cars.

oldcutlass

Wow, great find. That rear window may be custom to that particular modification.

OLD SKL 69

Very nice. That would be a sharp car all minted out.

Professur

Wow ... just ... wow.


good luck with that wiring tho ... that's 7 different shades of ugly under there.

citcapp

what a cool car. What are your plans for it?

MDchanic

I'd love to hate, it, but instead, I hate to say, I love it.

- Eric

64Rocket

Looks very cool. I'm thinking it was a station wgn conversion. Maybe they used the glass and frame from the wgn tailgate.
Will make a nice driver and carry all.

Gene

Napoleon Solo

That is a pretty cool ride. Sorry but - what is a flower car? Never heard the term before. Definitely a wagon conversion and well done at that.
Keep us posted on the situation..

sammy

X2, never heard of a Flower car...

Cool ride..

64Rocket

After the funeral they carry the flowers to the grave site.

Gene

MDchanic

- Eric

Sampson

What a unique find that is. And appears to be in decent condition. This will make one cool ride!

tru-blue 442

Very cool.
Will you start a build thread?

Jamesbo

LOVE it

Eric please tell me that you're not related to those people who leave horse heads in beds.

brddg

Looks awesome. What was thae year of the conversion?

Kyle's 77 Cutlass

That is a and will be sweet ride.

Keegan

I've never seen anything like it. That is so sweet! Can't wait to see your progress.

MDchanic

Only by marriage...

- Eric

joe_padavano

You're right, it's a hate-it car. Let me do you a favor. I'll take it off your hands...

Seriously, that's waaaay cool. Nice find.

59-59-59

Well at least they left the vacuum canister on the firewall for the power trunk release!

barnfind

Very cool find, looks like its fairly solid and complete! You'll probably be the only one running one these at cruise/ shows, out on the streets. Looking forward to seeing this one completed. Ive seen the caddy flower cars, but not an olds. You can never have too many toys.

joe_padavano

Wouldn't that also be used for the A/C?

coldwar

Thanks for the positive remarks.

My loose plan is to get it running, up on the lift and see how good (or bad) it really is, and proceed accordingly. 1961 really isn't my year of interest, but the uniqueness of this car was irresistible.

All related to the charging system and the power windows. A orange extension cord was sacrificed in a hack solution. Power window switches bad in your car? the thing to do is cut the harness, run full time power from a battery lug with no fuse or switching and BBFFVVVTT the loose wiring at the switch point to raise and lower the windows. Why it was necessary to further hack the engine harness to cobble in a one-wire alternator is beyond me but all a part of the things guys do to cars.

I'll mix Yogi Berras' famous metaphor with car restoration: "It ain't apart 'til it's really apart, and once it's apart it's really apart." Nothing attractive to me anymore to take any car all apart. Who knows though, my mindset might change or evolve.

Waiting to find out, hopefully soon.

Thanks - CW

coldwar

Update - Got a call out of the blue today from one of the brothers from the body shop that built this car. He was shocked to receive my original call through the other guy to whom I first talked. Turns out it wasn't intended as a flower car at all, was built to display a motorcycle as part of a Shriner's parade display, and to haul the bike around otherwise at parades and functions. I have been promised some build and period photos and at least one magazine in which the car was displayed. I understand the owner of the car, now 94 years of age has a scrapbook, fingers are crossed. Built in 1966 and sold in a auction about 1977, as he recalled started with a 98 four door as the owner had a small garage and wanted the short front door to clear obstructions in the garage. Station wagon back half donor, same year, and he confirmed it is the same 1961 station wagon back window fitted to the new cab. What a story.

Professur

Oooo.... this is getting good....

Koda

Awesome. What's under the hood, looks like a circa 70 350.

Greg Rogers

Neat, Keep us posted...

Barry Jones

That is a great story! best of luck with your findings.

sammy

Great story!
So, one of one?

RAMBOW

Very neat car. Hope that you can get to see/copy some of those photos & scrap book shots!

This car will be awesome restored!

Eric Anderson

That thing is cool. Great find!

citcapp

As they say waiting for the rest of the story. Everyone loves a good story and hopefully pictures too

mike8162

This thing is very cool. You will have to come up with a name for it and splice some emblems.

Killian_Mörder

Those taillights make the car remarkable. You could always replace the interior with that from other years. If you're not going to convert it into a motorhome, it would make a nice surfboard carrier. But, then again, it'll be a long drive to catch a wave