Cadillac Commercial Chassis
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The Cadillac Commercial Chassis was basically a strengthened version of the long-wheelbase Cadillac Fleetwood limousine frame intended to carry the extra weight of the bodywork, rear deck and cargo area of funeral coaches and ambulances. Specifically designed for professional car use, the rear of the Cadillac Commercial Chassis was considerably lower than the passenger car frame, thereby lowering the rear deck height as well for ease of loading and unloading. They were shipped as incomplete cars to coachbuilders for final assembly. As shipped from the factory, a Cadillac Commercial Chassis was little more than a complete rolling chassis along with front end sheetmetal with all lighting and trim, dashboard, air conditioning (if specified) and the main road controls. Rear quarter panels and sometimes the front door shells were shipped with the chassis for use in the finished coachwork.
Cadillac's adoption of unibody construction in recent years means that Cadillac-based funeral coaches are usually - though not always - produced from modified sedans. Motor vehicle standards of the United States and Canada which called for increased weight ratings as of the 1979 model year spelled the end of automobile-based ambulances and the beginning of the van-based units seen today throughout North America.
[edit] Pop culture
Former hearses and ambulances usually end up as collector's items and/or customized. They are often used during Halloween festivities and/or art cars.
The art car community is a haven for retired hearses; a Superior hearse is used as a daily driver in the Houston, Texas area for a hair salon. Other non-hearse Cadillacs have been converted into art cars.
The "ECTO 1" from Ghostbusters was a modified 1959 Cadillac hearse-ambulance combination.
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