Ben’s 1976 Cadillac Superior Combination Hearse/Ambulance wasn’t just a funeral car — it was a daily driver, a gig vehicle, a camping companion, and the catalyst for what would eventually become Hearses.org. Powered by a 500 cubic inch V8, this white Superior built combo featured removable landau panels that allowed it to switch between a traditional hearse appearance and a sleek limousine-style look. Emergency lighting and siren controls were mounted in the front cab, with a rooftop mounting option for sirens and lights. The rear compartment housed two jump seats for ambulance configuration, a glass partition, ceiling-mounted IV hooks, a vintage gurney with a functioning gurney lock, and — curiously — ashtrays right next to the gurney, a detail that speaks to a very different era of professional transport.
This hearse lived a full life. It chauffeured a wedding and a high school Homecoming dance, hauled music gear to gigs, busted the rear axle on a road-trip to Las Vegas, and camped at Calico Cemetery in Calico, California. On October 7, 2000, it joined 84 hearses in the “World’s Longest Hearse Procession” at Knott’s Berry Farm during the Halloween event known as “Knott’s Scary Farm” — a Guinness World Record at the time (1)(2). It served as a daily driver for a stretch, turning heads wherever it went. Despite the 500 cubic inch V8’s prodigious fuel appetite — monthly gas costs eventually exceeding $500 — the Superior remained a reliable and remarkably versatile companion.
Ultimately, rising fuel costs made continued ownership impractical, and the hearse was listed on eBay with a $1,200 starting bid. The auction closed at approximately $2,000 in November 2003, sold from Norwalk, California. Though the transaction ended Ben’s physical ownership, the experience of finding, living with, and selling this hearse planted the seed for Hearses.org — now the internet’s largest hearse archive. This listing stands as both a personal milestone and the founding story of the archive itself.
Specifications
- Year: 1976
- Make/Model: Cadillac Superior Coach
- Body Type: Combination Hearse/Ambulance
- Engine: 500 cu. in. V8
- Exterior: White
- Interior: Blue
- Location: Norwalk, California
Status: SOLD via eBay — starting bid $1,200, final sale approximately $2,000 — November 2003