1984 Hearse

1984 Superior Cadillac Crown Sovereign 3-Way Hearse

This sable black 1984 Superior Cadillac Crown Sovereign electric three-way hearse was purchased new in the spring of 1984 for about $51,800. It was in service until 1999 and was my Christmas present from my mother- and father-in-law, Ruth and Hank Arft upon its retirement.

1984 was the last year for the Cadillac Commercial Chassis, therefore this is the last of a long and distinguished line of commercial cars by Cadillac. Hearses and limousines made since 1984 have been on stretched chassis rather than a Cadillac-produced, special, heavy-duty commercial chassis. By 1984, Superior was also the only coachbuilder offering three-way hearses. The 1984 funeral coaches had a wheelbase of 144.5 inches, and an overall length of just over 242 inches. At 70.5 inches wide and 64 inches high, these were gargantuan coaches by any measure! Superior Coach Company produced 746 Cadillac coaches that year. Only 18 were electric three-way hearses. Superior Coach uses a special cast crown emblem in the wreath on the stainless steel crown, in the center of the landau bar and on the back loading door.

The Crown Sovereign is Superior Coach's top-of-the-line car, featuring the stainless steel crown, landau top, electric three-way casket table, wreath-and-crest wire wheel covers, wider white wall tires, an AM/FM radio, automatic climate control, electric bench seat, light blue velour interior, light blue tapestry draperies, electric windows, and crucifix mounts at each side door window. The custom of putting a crucifix for a deceased Catholic in the hearse dates back many, many years. Today, crucifix mounts are not even available from coach manufacturers.