So Cal Metro caught this recent-vintage Cadillac limo ferrying patients to the exclusive Jerusalem Hospital in Tijuana from the San Diego Airport. It caught my eye, because this three-seat, six door style of limo is not as common as it once was, at least no for anything other than funeral parlor use. Or maybe it’s just that this is not something I would expect to see in Eugene.
That almost looks like the current Presidential limo with the weird custom body angles in the front and rear.
+1
Except the President’s limo is a truck that looks like a car and shares little with an actual vehicle.
Definitely not the standard of the world…
the Presidents Car is even uglier… Art & Science doesn’t make a good style for a limo…
Its not the vehicle, its the security requirements, why don’t people understand that? Trying to make an APC look like a limo that results in some pretty odd styling.
Isnt the POTUS limo based on a 3 ton truck?
That’s the Commercial Glass option, it gives you a higher roof. This looks like it was a funeral home “family car” at one point, which makes it seem kind of ominous for a hospital to use.
Here’s a Commercial Glass hearse. Commercial Glass used to be very exclusive option, not commonly seen.
Interesting. When I first saw it I assumed it was a bulletproof package, which didn’t make sense for a hospital.
Not a looker, although the hearse looks OK.
Thought the same thing about the bullet-proof, was even gonna ask Carmine about it.
I agree with everything you said about the looks, or lack of. It does appear to work on the hearse though.
If a limo conversion is customized to the point where it looks quite ungainly and unflattering proportion-wise, would an SUV version simply not make more sense to the designers of these? Or is attractiveness and properly proportioned styling even a consideration to most clients? I find this limo has that homely ‘high forehead’ look that plagues the Airbus A380 IMO. A stretched Escalade would be so much more appealing in terms of looking more natural in this role. I appreciate that the limo might be more affordable to purchase and operate.
The thing about this limo with this particular combination is that it serves a very particular purpose. This isn’t a party limo, the main purpose of these 6 door Pullman style limos is to carry the deceased’s family while following the hearse from the funeral home, to the interment and back to the funeral home.
Looks aren’t really that important, and I imagine that using a standard Escalade for example to seat the bereaved isn’t going to work that well because someone would have to be sent to the rearmost seat, these limo work well because everyone gets a door, so its easy to get in and out.
Thanks for your thorough reply Carmine. Makes complete sense.
That’s why I suggested a stretched Escalade, if maintaining an aesthetically pleasing exterior was important to the designers. This limo almost has London Cab-like proportions.
“Not a looker” is the understatement of the century.
Those particular Cadillac chrome wheels are a bit unfortunate, as they tend to look like cheap wheel covers from a distance.
Those are the heavy duty wheels that came with the commercial chassis up-fitter package. The limo badly needs some white walls. The stubbier DeVille commercial chassis doesn’t lend its proportions to commercial glass that well, it used to be available on the RWD Fleetwoods too, it looked at little better on those.
Not much better, but a little…..
I personally never cared for this year body-style Fleetwood, or the Buick sister, (I do like the Chevy, but only in black SS pckg), but you are right, this style does handle that greenhouse much better.
And the aluminum wheels here are very nice, what a difference they can make.
It might be a whitewall if you look closer.
I think the Fleetwoods more upright hood makes the commercial glass on the Fleetwood look better. Those aluminum wheels where the commercial wheels for the Fleetwood’s, they were also the base wheel, Some Fleetwood based hearse/limos did have a heavy duty steel wheel with a hubcap.
The DeVille wheels look much better upclose, they are like a beefy version of the DTS’s 17 inch wheel.
Believe it or not under that cap, there is a heavy duty 8 lug center, like a 2500 truck.
Thanks Carmine, learned something new here today, yet again. Had no idea that those wheels were hiding that lug setup.
No problem, they trend continues even today, the B9Q XTS commercial chassis has a 6 lug wheel heavy duty wheel while the regular XTS has a 5 lug.
What would an XTS be used for that would require 6 lugs?
I could only maybe see these as airport livery drivers as the last Town Cars are required to exit service. (I think its 5yr limit, time not mileage) Although the company we use has switched to those god-awful Lincoln MK-whatevers the huge front-end is bad enough, but that rear end, one of the worst designs to ever make it to production. What an ugly, ugly car. Think its MKT
Anyhow, that type use, especially with the limited luggage capacity wouldn’t require that.
Is there a specific use that you know they had in mind when building it out for that B9Q commercial package? I could only guess that it’s for any potential stretch mods. Thanks.
They’re built for what the majority of Cadillac commercial chassis cars are built for, hearses.
This one in the pic is most likely destined to become a hearse, hence the lack of rear doors, trunk and etc.
Lots of state limos are still converted out of Cadillacs, the government is still a big buyer of these Fleetwood 75 style limos that have the “old style” stretch with a rear quarter glass as opposed to the standard stretched sedan.
The Veep usually rides around in one of these 75 style limos compared to the Presidential Limo.
There is also an extended mini stretch of the XTS available as the XTS-L.
OK the, thanks again Carmine,it is built for a stretch as I thought.
Either way, I’d take the one you pictured here, or even an extended XTS any day of the week over that Lincoln MTKZX2 monstrosity they’re pushing these days.
And… as a footnote: after a couple Friday evening cocktails if I may say… I still, and always will believe that any Cadillac or Lincoln should have a REAL name. Leave the alpha-numeric stuff to the Germans (of which I am 50% so I’m allowed). Thank God Chevrolet and Buick still use them, I hope that doesn’t go South as well.
Everything in our lives seems to be quite cyclical, so I can only hope that in my life-time, I will once again see a brand new shiny Fleetwood (new rear drive flagship), Eldorado (easily could already be on CTS coupe) and maybe even a Seville (current XTS), as I just don’t consider the XTS a replacement for the DeVille or DTS, too squatty and no hood at all for that.
Continue improving the handling, interiors, drive-trains, etc. as you have and have done well (true competition & quality), but… bring back the iconic names. please. Real German car buyers will never come over to this side with their $$ just because Lincoln calls it an MKTSZ or Cadillac calls it a CXTSV.
Keeping up with the changing times does not justify, (nor require) sacrificing Iconic Heritage.
The back tire kind of looks like it may be a whitewall. Unless it’s some sort of photographic artifact.
Yes, those wheels do give the look of PepBoys bargain-bin specials.
But, the tacky chromed wheels are the least of this car’s problems where looks are concerned.
yeesh.
Very cool but it lacks the walk in feature of the Daimler but it doesnt have the back breaking low roof of most stretchies
It was made by S&S Commercial Glass…
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47″ Commercial Glass Limousine
Your image is paramount to S&S. Every professional car we develop is designed with you in mind. S&S was the first to give you a standard 47” wheelbase extension. S&S was the first to give you a Commercial Glass limousine that imparts a truly stately image. S&S was the first to give you the ability to customize your own limousine. No matter which of our vehicles you choose, S&S limousines continue to provide the distinctive image your firm deserves.
Sayers & Scovill has earned its preeminent reputation in the funeral vehicle industry through time-honored dedication to quality and durability. Since 1876, Sayers & Scovill coaches have integrated unparalleled comfort, peerless structural integrity and an uncompromised commitment to safety.
Standard 2011 Limousine Features Partial List of Limousine Options
▪ heavy-duty chassis
▪ die-stamped galvanized steel doors
▪ full vinyl top
▪ Cadillac leather seats(with matching vinyl center seat)
▪ full-size spare tire
▪ low-profile floor
▪ rear-passenger air vents
▪ rear seat tissue dispenser
▪ power center door windows
▪ heater under seat
▪ lower chrome rockers
▪ directional lighting
▪ vanity mirrors
▪ flag staff holders
▪ stainless steel applique area
▪ door edge guards – black
▪ cornering strobe lights
– clear or amber
▪ dual front strobes
▪ wig-wag flashing headlights
▪ Sonic Sentinel back-up sensor
▪ engine block heater
▪ lower chrome molding
▪ chrome mini hood cap
grille enhancement
▪ custom paint
▪ Comfort Plus rear seating
Dimensions
Overall length
Overall height
Overall width
Overall extension
Wheelbase
Front headroom
Center headroom
Rear headroom
Front legroom
Center legroom
Rear legroom 248.0″
67.0″
74.4″
47.0″
162.3″
42.0″
41.0″
41.0″
42.5″
35.0″
35.5″
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Well it is classier than using a GMC Savanna, but I would have thought the windows would be tinted darker. What is up with the clouds, I thought it was always sunny in Southern California.
Image may be paramount, but something so funereal is the wrong one for a hospital. Get a van.
Being a funeral home limo makes me think that the medical practices of that hospital might be questionable
Its a one stop shop.
No doubt some of the patients & family members would feel the same as you do, if they knew ‘what’ they were actually being…
…’caddied’ around in. <~ pun intended 🙂
“The day I get outta prison, my own brother picks me up in a *police* car!”
–Jake Blues
The vehicle is very nice great for tours and funeral work easy to get in and out I have a 2003 65 ” 6 door S&S with a center flip seat commercial glass limo , Greg Coleman , Coleman Limousine Sydney N S Canada