Alert!! Please, if you see this wagon/hearse...

Hi Everyone!!
As several people know I really have a "thing" for wagons and for Pro-cars!! There was a 1976 Buick EstateWagon at CoPart (insurance auctionhouse) in Pa. that just ended yesterday. This wagon is one of 36 that were built by Armbruster/Stageway for Superior Coach. Basically the hearse conversion lengthed the body by one foot (this one was after the rear side doors and before the rear wheel) and it had a taller (2"-3") fiberglass cap roof and still retained the clam shell tailgate. I have 2 of these cars (I think I have a few pictures posted here??)myself and this one is one of the 5 that I know of. Yes, maybe it's an odd looking car but that's what "I" really like and yes, I do get a bit enthusiastic about them!!

This particular car has some roof damage due to part of a building collapse (roof fell in due to heavy snow) but was certainly repairable. I was not able to buy the car because it simply went for more money than I had. Also the person (CW Coach, a hearse buyer/dealership, very nice guy) who was bidding on it himself was outbid.

IF POSSIBLE, do you think you all could keep an ear to the ground for this car?? I would greatly appreciate this!! I would just like to know what might become of this vehicle??!! No, I can not afford to buy it (not today anyways, but once I get a driving job again??!!)but I am very interested in knowing what will become of this particular vehicle. It had 32,494 miles on it and was to be very solid and clean!!

I am thinking that most likely it will end up being bought by a derby driver and derbied. I know it IS their car and they can do with it as they please but personally THIS car car I think would be a shame to derby. IF a derby driver did buy it I hope they will consider if the car is worth saving before it gets torn apart.


I would hope that the group I am posting amongst understands why I would post this. To "ME" this is a very nice looking vehicle, I really like the lines and the clamshell tailgate!!

Thanks everyone!!
Dana Bennett
Forestville, NY

 

Yup, I understand, I like it also

 

which copart location was this at? i live near one of them. (like less than a mile).

 

Dana, of course we can understand why'd you post this. it does look to be a very rare and unique wagon and I'm sure we all join you in your hopes that it doesn't get "derbyized". It surely merits a much better fate than that.
I'll keep an eye out for you. Good luck.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what did you and the other guy bid? I can't see someone spending a lot of money and then destroying it.

 

usually the local boneyards buy cars from copart.
ill have to look at feezles when i go this weekend. ....if the car went at the ellwood city (or park gate) location.

 

If it was bought to derby it must have gone cheap.

Most derbys are not big spenders.

You have 2 lets hope someone else enjoys that one.

 

Thanks everyone!

The car was at the CoPart in West Mifflin,Pa., CoPart-Pittsburgh South.
I do not know what the car sold for as I have dialup and was not able to watch the live online 1 hour auction that comes at the end of week or so long regular online auction. The last I was able to see was that the car was at $1,650.00. I do not know what the top bid from CW Coach was but when I told him what the last price I knew of I was told that their bid was still more than that, so what ever his high bid was the car went for more than that. Mind you there is also a CoPart fee of probably $250.00 or so ABOVE the winning bid!!
I do HOPE the car went to someone who will fix and enjoy it but have heard of derby drivers willing to spend over $2,000 for a derby car, especially if it's a clamshell or an imperial!! I don't know how often that would happen though???
Thanks for keeping an eye out!!!! I really appreciate that!!

Dana Bennett
Forestville, NY

 

I have to say...as hearses go...that is the nicest looking one I have ever seen. Very nicely designed.

 

im gonna try to go to feezle auto wrecking this weekend. ill keep an eye out for it. the only other place it could have gone... as far as boneyards go would be seachrist...(i dont know what its called now) and millerstown pick-a-parthttp://www.picapartyard.com/CAR_inventory.aspx. those are the only two i know of that buy older rigs.

 

well i got to Feezles today and asked the guy at the counter about hearses and he thought for a min and said...."oh yeah we just got a white one in...its in the upper lot". so i ran to the upper lot and there was a hearse...just not the one we are looking for!!! the one that was there was a 1993 miller meteor. sharp car for sure, but not the armbruster stageway.

perhaps the yard in coriopolis. got it. ill try to get them next weekend.

 

I'm confused. Why would a junkyard spend at or around $2000 to buy a car to put in their yard? More than likely a private owner got a hold of it. I don't know any derby people, but I suppose they could be crazy enough to spend that much on a car to smash it up, but it seems pretty silly to me.

 

they get weird with wagons. they usually can get a few derbys out of a large wagon. and they get all giddy when they can get one!!! the worst part is they try to find the same wagons we do. clean, good running, creampuffs.

 

Thanks for looking at the yards!!! I appreciate it!! Hope to just be able to find out what will become of it!!

and yes!!, sad to say, cream puffs are used in the derbies!!


http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq208/sirenguy/buicks012.jpg

here is (if this works) a photo posted at the PCS site by a fellow PCS member about one of the cars he had. We were discussing a nice looking '68 Cadillac hearse that was derbied. Here what he said:

"I have to agree with Chris I think it is the same car. Isn't it time the demo people move up to newer cars instead of reliving the stories they have heard from past demo people. I had a very nice rust free example of a 1974 Buick clam shell wagon that was previously a corner's car out west. When I sold the car it drew 4200.00 on EBay. I figures it was safe from the demo people. After the guy payed me for the car and loaded it up, he told me he bought the car to demo. I was sick!

 

Dam Dana, thats a harsh story if it is the same car...sadly it does sound like it.