Cadillac Commercial Chassis
Encyclopedia
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 ambulance
s. 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 coachbuilder
s 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.
Cadillac Fleetwood
Lawrence P. Fisher was the Fisher brother most closely involved with Cadillac in its early years. In 1916 he joined the Fisher Body Company which had been formed by two of his brothers in 1908. Larry was one of four of the seven Fisher brothers who brought Fisher Body Corporation under the General...
limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
frame intended to carry the extra weight of the bodywork, rear deck and cargo area of funeral coaches
Hearse
A hearse is a funerary vehicle used to carry a coffin from a church or funeral home to a cemetery. In the funeral trade, hearses are often called funeral coaches.-History:...
and ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
s. Specifically designed for professional car
Professional car
A professional car in modern times is an automobile that has been modified with extensive coachwork for service in livery transportation or in funeral home operations...
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 coachbuilder
Coachbuilder
A coachbuilder is a manufacturer of bodies for carriages or automobiles.The trade dates back several centuries. Rippon was active in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, Barker founded in 1710 by an officer in Queen Anne's Guards, Brewster a relative newcomer , formed in 1810. Others in Britain included...
s 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
Van
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people.In British English usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon or sedan car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs...
-based units seen today throughout North America.