1976 Buick Estate Wagon

Deteriorated hearse conversion.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1976...0939321?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3f299aa139

 

The rust proofing on most of these conversions is severely lacking. Hearse, ambulance or whatever the vehicle they almost always wind up looking like this one. I don't believe for a second his claims that most of the brown is primer. If it was some close up pictures of the areas would be included. Also it wouldn't be leaving rust trails down the side if it was primer.

 

Looks pretty rough in the back.

 

this Buick would make a great awesome Ute (pickup) with not to much effort

 

Somehow I find it difficult, as well, to believe that only 53 clamshell hearses were built in the 6 years of clamshell wagons! He is a wee bit out to lunch, I'm afraid. This one needs a LOT of work. The rust is pretty far into those rear quarters and that roof. The roof is a custom piece, too, so not an easy or inexpensive repair. With the limited market for a hearse to begin with, I have a terrible feeling this one does not have a happy future.

 

Well at least we know the time of it's death!

 

Agreed. This Buick clam has serious rust-out damage.

 

Rare!!.. Thought board member Dana Bennet was looking for a 76 EW hearse

 

Was this designed to carry a casket? The interior looks like it. Would the clamshell tailgate allow room for a casket? Or was this a junior hearse (for first call duty)?

 

well actually, (and I can't currently see the photo but guessing I KNOW what car is being talked about) it is said there were only 36 built!!! That means 36 of this particular specific coach conversion. These (as you can see in my profile photo that I OWN one!! well, actually own TWO!!!! LOL!!) conversions were done by Armbruster/Stageway FOR Superior coach. Conversion was of new 1976 Estatewagons, cut in half and lengthened one foot either between the doors or after the rear doors and the steel roof removed and a taller fiberglass roof cap in its place. Pretty interesting cars!! (yes, there were many other '71-'76 GM stationwago hearse conversions made but those were basically unaltered bodies with the rear side windows either covered or filled in. I would love to have one of those someday!!

 

I was going to get an old hearse from texas it was a plain old roundback
roof was rotted bad tho

 

Cool!! Do you recall what year it was or if it was Buick/Chevy/Olds or Pontiac?? Back in '99 I think I was very interested in a silver '74? Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser with red interior that had the hearse conversion. It was at that time in maybe Ohio? And owned by a derby driver. He had just brought it home from Texas and it looked very very nice!! I do have pictures still but did not buy the car (although I really wish I had!!) because he was asking $3,000/$4,000 for it and I decided for that price that I would keep looking for a full size hearse. I wonder what became of it?? Maybe I'll find and share the pictures sometime!!

 

74 olds roundback. It was black and the car was free. I didn't have the cash at the time to get it shipped. So I hooked up some guys in a state next door with it. It was abandoned in a flood plain area down there. the man contacted me on the IDDA derby chat room. He was in charge of clearing the area and wanted someone to get it and put it to some kind of use. The Vinyl top was split down the middle stitching and rusted pretty good underneath. And it had some dog poop in it.(someone used it for the dog for a short time).

 

This Buick wagon was used a hearse. It's been posted here before, but could a casket fit in back? https://dennishouse.tv/2014/10/09/the-houses-have-a-hearse/