1987

Superior (USA) as usual, Cadillac delivered its highly successful commercial chassis to a number of independent coach builders who continued to design ambulances,. hearses and combination vehicles. One of the Superior cars is shown below:

 

Texas Armoring Corporation USA] - http://www.texasarmoring.com/process.html - This armored Cadillac was recently [6/2002] acquired by French Cadillac enthusiast and friend, Christophe Barat. He kindly supplied the photos and information for this entry. Christophe has been in contact with the customizer; he got this reply (in summary): This is one of one of seven bullet-proof Cadillacs that were sold in 1987 to Rafat Assad, the brother of the President of Syria.  The 110 volt system is for electrifying the door handles to electrically shock anyone attempting to enter the vehicle. The black box with the two red covered switches with the small key is the tear gas deterrent system. This system has four tear gas grenades hidden inside the four fenders, two front and two rear to fire or disperse tear gas at assailants. The
buzzer is to warn occupants that tear gas may also enter the vehicle. The protection level is "4", to protect against the M 16, AR 15, AK-47 high powered rifles and automatic weapons. We have produced more than 1,000 such armored passenger vehicles since 1977. This Cadillac was one of an order of twelve vehicles (7 Cadillacs and 5 Chevrolet Blazers), all of which were for Rafat Assad and his family members residing in France at the time;  they were all shipped to Marseilles, France, as I remember. Mr. Assad is Syria's exiled ex-Minister of Defense. The cost of armoring such a vehicle was (and still is) approximately $65,000. The engine is the standard engine supplied by the General Motors factory. The roof, floor, firewall, gas tank and battery were all protected. Christophe says the car window glass is 2 inches thick ...yet all windows operate! The small rear vents also are armored with 1-inch thick polycarbonate similar to that used in jet fighters. Doors, radiator, firewall, roof, floor, seat backs, wheel wells and hood all are armored. The central console has switches for a multi-tone police horn, a PA system; there are six more unidentified switches. There is a tank in the trunk that holds oil to create an oil lick in the path of any pursuing vehicles. In the trunk are: a second battery, an oil reservoir to slick up the road in case of pursuit (it is controlled from the driver's seat), a 12V-110V power inverter feeding the outside door handles (there is a 110V power feed there too but it is possible that a piece of equipment is missing). Microphones allow conversations to be heard clearly at a distance of 150 feet. A smoke screen can be created, through the exhaust system. Two alarm sirens controlled from the driver's seat are loud enough to scare away any would-be assailants. Individual hinged openings in each door allow occupants to fire weapons from inside the car. The bumpers are mounted solid with the chassis and would be helpful in ramming the car free if closed in by other vehicles. Two high-powered searchlights are mounted behind the grill; two others are integral with the rear bumper to blind the drivers of any vehicles in pursuit. A receptacle mounted under the trunk, opened up from the driver's position, will release mails in the tracks of pursuing cars.

   
Armoring is not noticeable until you get close to the vehicle

       
The control box to the left of the steering wheel controls the ejection of tear gas shells from four tubes (one at each
corner of the car); of the six switches on the center panel, all but one have been identified; these control (a) the box of nails,
(b) the smoke screen, (c) and (d) the front and rear projectors and (e) the loud siren; although they appear thinner,
the small vent panes also are armored (1 inch of polycarbonate); center console is by the Federal Signal Corporation

   
Rear door with armor-plating in place and removed

   
Two-inch thick glass in doors; the smaller vent panes also are armored    

       
Left: on each rear fender is located an orifice/tube for ejecting tear-gas shells
Center: the 12VDC/110VAC power inverter feeding the exterior door handles (!)
Right: the oil tank for creating an oil slick in the path of pursuing cars

     
Seen from the exterior,  orifices on front bumper and rear fenders
for ejecting tear-gas shells to disperse assailants

 

1988

Eureka (USA) continued to make professional cars for the ambulance and funeral trades

This used hearse was on sale on the Internet in August, 2004

 

[Unknown, USA] Special edition Trump limousine

   

 

1989

American Custom Coachworks (ACC)  (USA) custom, stretched Cadillac Brougham limousine (70" stretch). This is the Van Cleef  IV Edition. It is presently (2008) owned by professional car and limousine enthusiast "Bob" from Louisiana; it has just 24K miles on the clock. Check out his home page for more pics of this car ...and others!

   

   

   

 

Allen Coachworks (USA) built this stretched Porta Lunga, long-door limousine in the late eighties (I am assuming 1989 from the ad that appeared in Limousine & Chauffeur magazine that year).

 

Executive Coach Builders (USA) built this Executive Elite series limousine

 

Hess & Eisenhardt (USA) a stretched 1989 H&E limousine was sold for $8,100 at a Kruse auction in Fort Lauderdale, FL, in January 2000 [lot #18]

Superior (USA) Cadillac continued to deliver commercial chassis to a number of independent coach builders, including this one.

   
This used model was offeed for sale on Internet in August, 2004

 

Moloney (USA) Stretched limousine [photos below]

[Unknown, USA] Stretched limousines (unidentified)

 

1990

[Unknown, USA] as usual, Cadillac delivered its highly successful commercial chassis to a number of independent coach builders who continued to design ambulances,. hearses and combination vehicles. One of these is shown below:

 

Eureka (USA) various commercial vehicles for the ambulance and funeral trades, like the model below

   

   

 

1991

 

1992

Eureka (USA) various commercial vehicles for the ambulance and funeral trades, like the S&S model below

 

Unidentified (USA) hearse

 

Unidentified (USA)

 

     

 

1993

Hess & Eisenhardt, Inc. (USA) special modified (stretched) Fleetwood presidential limousine used by the Clinton administration.

   

   

 

Hess & Eisenhardt, Inc. (USA) hearse; this one is owned/operated by the McSwain & Evans funeral home in Newberry, SC

Johan, Annet and Daphne Geerings on vacation with the Saunders, October 2001

 

Krystal Koach Corporation (USA):  Various commercial vehicles for the ambulance and funeral trades, like the model below:

 

[Unidentified] (USA):  Hearse

 

Various manufacturers (USA):  as usual, Cadillac delivered its highly successful commercial chassis to a number of independent coach builders who continued to design ambulances,. hearses and combination vehicles.  A couple of these are shown below:

   

 

1994

[Unknown, USA]  Stretched limousine.  The photos below were found on the Internet.

 

1995

Eureka (USA)  Various commercial vehicles for the funeral industry, like the model below

Funeral landau limousine by Eureka

 

Hess & Eisenhardt, Inc. (USA) special stretched funeral limousine; this one is owned/operated by the McSwain & Evans funeral home in Newberry, SC

 

Krystal Coach, Inc. (USA) Various stretched limousines for commercial use, including the "Bristol".

Limousine Werks (USA):  Aas above, various stretched corporate limousines.

 

1993-1996

Eagle Coach Corporation (USA) Eagle started building hearses in Cincinnati, Ohio, after the S&S company (Sayers and Scovill) of Hess & Eisenhardt was sold and the factory relocated.  Eagle Coach still builds hearses in Amelia, Ohio, and S&S is now part of the Accubuilt Corporation.  Accubuilt builds hearse and limousine bodies under the names of S&S, Superior, Eureka and Miller-Meteor (M-M) in Lima, Ohio.

   
Typical Eagle Coupe de Fleur flower car on Cadillac Fleetwood chassis

 

Yonezu Kobo (Japan) Custom hearse on Cadillac chassis

[ Photo:  Internet:  Courtesy Ingo Marx, German Funeral Archives ]]

1993, Japanese professional car (hearse)

 

1996

Chicago Armor Co. (USA)  Stretched limousine, seen advertised for sale on e-Bay (Internet) in 2001.

Miller Meteor (USA)  Various commercial vehicles for the ambulance and funeral trades, like the model below

     

 

1997

Yonezu Kobo (Japan) Custom hearse, Ocean type A, on Cadillac chassis

[ Photo:  Internet:  Courtesy Ingo Marx, German Funeral Archives ]

 

1998

Various manufacturers (USA):  as usual, Cadillac delivered its highly successful commercial chassis to a number of independent coach builders who continued to design ambulances,. hearses and combination vehicles. One of these is shown below:

 

1998-1999

Eagle Coach Corporation (USA): Various custom vehicles for the funeral industry, like the example below:

Coupe de Fleur,  flower car by Eagle

 

Superior (USA)  Based on the DeVille platform, the Fleetwood Limited is being converted by Superior Coaches of Lima, Ohio, and sold through authorized Cadillac dealers. Essentially a six-inch stretch edition of the DeVille, the Fleetwood Limited sits on a unique 119.8-inch wheelbase, six inches longer than the standard one. The trunk is also lengthened by six inches, so the overall length of the Fleetwood Limited is a foot more than that of the standard DeVille. As a result, rear seat leg room is increased by six inches to 49.3 inches, while trunk capacity rises from 20 cubic feet to 23.5. In addition to stretching the existing Cadillac platform, the Fleetwood Limited benefits from a number of strengthened components. Included are heavy-duty suspension and steering systems, special heavy-duty ABS, and heavy-duty cast aluminum wheels of a design unique to the Fleetwood Limited. The new model, which is intended as a replacement for the rear-drive Fleetwood that was discontinued after the 1996 model year, was designed by Earle Moloney, a long-time figure in the custom conversion industry. Cadillac approached Superior, however, for actual manufacturing.

A total production run of 340 is planned for the 1998 model year. Production for 1999 is anticipated at about 800 units and sources at Superior say that molds and dies are already being planned to continue the model into Cadillac's next major body change in the model year 2000.  The 1998 Fleetwood Limited carries a base price of $49,995. The full Cadillac warranty applies, while Superior warrants the body components it is manufacturing.

 

1999

Cadillac (USA): This Cadillac Press Release is submitted courtesy of CLC member, John Fleming:
FOR RELEASE: January 25, 1999: CADILLAC PROVIDES VEHICLE FOR POPE JOHN PAUL II'S VISIT TO MEXICO MEXICO CITY -- Pope John Paul II will ride in a specially designed 1999 Cadillac DeVille when he greets a crowd of 100,000 people today at the Estadio Azteca. The Pope will be escorted around the stadium in the one-of-a-kind DeVille before delivering his end-of-the-millennium "Address to All Generations." "It's a privilege to create this special vehicle for the Pope, and it's an affirmation of Cadillac's high quality, high prestige image that we have had for more than 95 years," said DeVille Brand Manager Patrick Kemp. "This is a continuation of Cadillac's long history of providing vehicles for world leaders. Cadillac provides 90 percent of Americans' diplomatic vehicles at embassies and consulates worldwide." The DeVille has been modified into a convertible and is specially equipped with an elevated platform for the papal chair, extra-wide doors, easy-entry steps, and the official seals and flags of the Vatican. GM de Mexico Design Studio undertook the project's initial stages of converting a Cadillac DeVille into the papal car. Cadillac then contracted two of its Master Coach builders, Eureka Coach and Roush Technologies, to complete the conversion. Adaptations include stretching the vehicle by 30 inches to allow for a widened rear door for the pontiff's entry and egress; steps leading to the rear door for ease of entry; An elevated platform for the papal chair to enhance touring and viewing. The platform contains a hydraulic pneumatic lift that can be raised up to 12 inches; a security handrail surrounding the platform; Rear seat elevation for enhanced viewing by seated dignitaries and VIPs. The Cadillac DeVille offers a distinctive blend of comfort and control, a combination that has made it the best-selling luxury car in North America for the past 14 years. Standard DeVille features include the powerful Northstar V8 engine, one of the most powerful in its class; StabiliTrak, designed to improve the vehicle's stability on all surfaces at all speeds; and Magnasteer, a speed-sensitive steering system that varies the amount of steering effort in proportion to vehicle speed.

  
[ Photos: © 2001, Yann  Saunders ]

Hess & Eisenhardt (USA) continued making various commercial vehicles for the ambulance and funeral trades, like the model below from then McSwain funeral home in Newberry, SC.

   
[ Photos: © 2001, Yann Saunders (below: Masterpiece logo plate and coach lamp of this gorgeous series) ]

 

Krystal Enterprises (aka Krystal Koach), USA of Brea, California are builders of a number of fine conversions on the modern Cadillac chassis. A couple of them are shown below. You can visit their Website at: http://www.krystalkoach.com/home.html.   There you will find a photo of other stretched Cadillacs as well as their all new, 2001 Cadillac hearse.

Hearse (1999?) by Krystal Coach of Brea, CA on Cadillac chassis
[thanks to Robert Keltz of Scottsdale, AZ, for identifying this one]

Looking at the background in this photo, I am guessing that this
stretched limousine too is a product of the Krystal Koach company

 

Various manufacturers (USA):  as usual, Cadillac delivered its highly successful commercial chassis to a number of independent coach builders who continued to design ambulances,. hearses and combination vehicles.

 

2000

Classic Limousines (USA) one more stretched job (airport limousine)

 

Eagle Coach Company (USA)  Database visitor, Robert Keltz, helped identify this car as a funeral coach built by Eagle Coach Company of Amelia, Ohio. It is viewable also at the Web page of  the hearse dealership of W.R. Bennett Funeral Coaches (http://www.hearse.com/eagle.html).   The Eagle Coach Company too have their own Web page at this URL: http://www.eaglecoachcompany.com

   

 

Superior (USA) various professional coaches for the ambulance and funeral trades, like the examples below:

   

 

[Unidentified, USA] The custom job below has yet to be identified:

 

Unidentified (USA) custom, stretched Classic limousines

 

   
The Mirage, stretched limousine, for 2000

 

Yonezu Kobo (Japan) Custom hearse, Ocean type A, on Cadillac chassis

[ Photo:  Internet:  Courtesy Ingo Marx, German Funeral Archives ]

 

2001

New Presidential limousine [2001]:

In the Washington Post for January 16, 2001, there was a 3/4 frontal view of the new presidential limousine on a stretched FWD Deville chassis of a more conventional appearance than the "glass palace" of the RWD '93 Fleetwoods. The roof is higher than the current production sedan and the side windows are not as shallow as the production car.  However, the side windows seem far from being as deep as they are on the current Limousines, and more like those on the '89 Lincoln limousine that the '93s replaced. 

This info was not to be released to the press until January 20, 2000; however, the car was delivered a few days early and the President, a man not famous for keeping his impulses in check, insisted on taking it for a spin on Monday, hence the photo in the Post.  The cat being out of the bag, the Post story was published earlier than intended. Below is the official release from Cadillac [info from ZTV, Washington]:

Cadillac Limousine Arrives at White House

WASHINGTON  ¤  The White House represents the pinnacle of power, prestige and elegance. Cadillac embraces these qualities and is proud to have built a state-of-the-art limousine for the first chief executive of the new millennium.

The 2001 Cadillac DeVille Limousine was delivered to the White House for initial use in the Presidential Inaugural Parade, January 20. It is the first  Cadillac to adorn the division's new wreath and crest emblem.

"Cadillac is an American icon and we have had a long association with the U.S. government," said General Motors President and CEO Rick Wagoner. "Over six decades, we have served our country in a unique way by providing special vehicles and limousines for U.S. diplomats and foreign dignitaries."

The new limousine has the exterior appearance of the 2001 DeVille production models with all new and unique construction under the skin. Handcrafted and dressed in a black clearcoat finish, the limousine is considerably longer, wider and taller than the production models. To maintain national security,
the limousines are equipped with state-of-the-art protection and communication systems. Cadillac's patented Night Vision infrared object detection system is also installed in the vehicle.

The vehicle interior boasts seven-passenger seating with improved comfort and visibility for all occupants. Many of the interior cues  including the instrument panel and trim -- are the same or similar to the 2001 DeVille. Wood accents and rich blue leather and cloth complete the executive interior. A rear seat executive package featuring a concealed, foldaway desktop can be deployed when conducting affairs of state. The rear seats have an adjustable reclining feature and Cadillac adaptive seat system for added comfort.  Moreover, rear seat passengers can enjoy their own premium sound system complete with a 10-disc CD changer.

An embroidered presidential seal is positioned in the center of the rear seat back panel, as well as on each rear door trim panel. Presidential seals are also affixed to the exterior rear doors. The U.S. flag is placed on the right front fender, and the presidential standard is located on the left front fender. Flush- mounted spotlights located in the fenders illuminate the flags at night.

The new 2001 Cadillac DeVille is the ultimate automotive accomplishment. Cadillac General Manager Michael J. O'Malley states, "Just as Air Force One is a flying Oval Office, this new Cadillac provides the same amenities for our nation's leader while traveling on the ground."

Most prior presidential limousines had some eye appeal;
in the opinion of this writer, however, this one has none;
dig those ugly "A", "B", "C" and "D" pillars!

 

New 'First Caddy' on Duty at White House

DETROIT--A new mailing address wasn't all George W. Bush got with his  inauguration on Saturday. The new president also received new wheels--a   brand new stretched 2001 Cadillac DeVille full of high-tech gadgetry. The seven-seat presidential limousine was hand-built by the GM  Specialty Vehicle Group. Aside  from its length, it looks at first glance pretty much like a production DeVille. This one, however, is taller, wider, heavily armored and bristling with communications gear. It even has Cadillac's patented infrared Night Vision system, although the camera lens is hidden and doesn't peek out from the center of the grille as it does on ordinary DeVilles. Cadillac says the new presidential limo is the most technologically advanced car in the world.  The car maker won't give details about bulletproofing and other capabilities, "for security reasons," said Cadillac spokeswoman. Cindy Kamerad. But Cadillac General Manager Michael O'Malley said that, just as Air Force One is a flying Oval Office, the new limo "provides the same amenities for our nation's leader while traveling on the ground." So assume that President Bush has enough satellite communications technology at his fingertips to wage war from the back seat.  Inside, there are wood accents similar to those in production DeVilles,  and rich blue leather and cloth upholstery. A 10-disc CD changer and premium stereo system will let Bush relax to classical music or the country sounds he is said to favor.  The presidential seal is embroidered on the center of the rear seat back and emblazoned on the outside of the rear doors.  Cadillac won't say how many of the specialty limos were delivered to the White House, but U.S. presidents typically have at least two, so that one can be sent ahead and be waiting for the chief executive during travel stops.  The new limousine replaces the Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham delivered to President Clinton upon his inauguration in 1993 [shown on this page] and is one of a long line of Cadillacs pressed into presidential service. (The new president's father, George H.W. Bush, used a Lincoln limo during his 1989-93 administration). Woodrow Wilson was one of the first presidents to use a Caddy--he rode in one during a World War I victory rally in 1918 [shown in "Cars of the Stars" section, Part 2].  President Calvin Coolidge used a lavish 1928 Cadillac town car [photo(s) needed]. And in 1938, two Cadillacs were put into service and lasted through the presidencies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman and into the first term of Dwight D. Eisenhower [shown in the "V-16" section, survivors of 1938-1940]. In 1956, a pair of Cadillac convertibles joined the White House motor  pool [lots of photos in the section on "Dream Cars", 1956], which over the years has also included a number of Lincolns.  GM's next new presidential limo was a 1984 DeVille used by Ronald Reagan during his second term [shown in the "Dream Cars" section, 1984].  George H.W. Bush's Lincoln came next, replaced in the Clinton White House in 1993 by a Caddy Fleetwood [shown on this page].  Cadillac pioneered the use of GM's OnStar wireless navigation, rescue and entertainment service, which is now available in a variety of GM vehicles.   But the company is mum on whether the new presidential limo has OnStar.   So no word yet whether, as with Batman in the Batmobile, there will be any OnStar commercials featuring the Prezmobile.

Empire Coach, USA  [stretched Escalade, white, US flag]

[Unknown, USA] These stretched limousines was found on the Internet in 2001:

 

[Unknown, USA] Here is another wild custom Cadillac Escalade.  Everything is big in Texas; here's the living proof!

[Photo:  Internet, 2/2001]

 

[Unknown, USA] And if you think that is bad enough, how about this?

 

 

2002 [...Cadillac's 100th Anniversary Year]

 

Unidentified late model professional cars

 

2003 [...just for the hell of it!]   

   

   
2003 Cadillac Attitude interiors

   

 

~~~ The End ~~~

 

THE CADILLAC-LaSalle CLUB INC. AND YANN SAUNDERS, COMPILER OF
THE CADILLAC DATABASE ARE SEEKING QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS TO BEGIN TO
DOCUMENT THE SECOND CENTURY OF CADILLAC PRODUCTION, FROM  2003 UP.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT

Pick one   >

WW2 years