The Diecast Zone · Model Car Club Since 1994
Diecast Collector Forums
Eight forums, every scale, and thirty years of shop talk — new arrivals, restorations, reviews, and the finds you won’t see posted anywhere else, with the full archive back to 2002 restored and searchable. Free to Register.
8Forums
195,000+Topics
1,276,000+Posts
10,000+Members
Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
20/10/2023 6:34 pm
This is a 1938 Cadillac limousine as done really nicely by Signature many years ago. The top over the driver is removable and it has some very good details and also displays great.
20/10/2023 7:59 pm
An excellent 1938 Cadillac, easily one of Signature's best! I have a few of these and love them but an interesting sidenote is that this particular tooling was shared with Precision Miniatures years ago when they were producing a magnificent 1/18 American hearse series. This became the ONLY hearse in PM's line-up to feature "full function" (everything opened ).
With half the car already tooled by Signature, PM just needed to produce that beautiful carved-wood-hearse section and that was it. A gorgeous period correct hearse and a wonderful companion piece to Signature's 1938 Cadillac limousine was created!.
Nice pics Mike. Happy Halloween! 😯 😨 😱
Topic starter
20/10/2023 9:20 pm
LOL, thanks ! Without question the really impressive PM Cadillac hearse would make a spectacular Halloween display ! 
22/10/2023 12:10 pm
I must be getting old; I thought the Limousine looked familiar, so I checked my database and sure-enough I discovered I had one. I even featured it in a diorama a few years back. I've not seen the hearse before, so to make sure I checked that one too, nope don't have it. It does look good though.
Here's my Limo
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
Topic starter
22/10/2023 1:33 pm
That Cadillac looks great, John ! It is a very attractive car/limo and would sure make for an dramatic "final ride" ride as a hearse, too.
John Merritt and Christopher Moroni reacted
22/10/2023 1:44 pm
@jcarnutz Don't feel too bad John, at least you didn't do what I've done (..the unthinkable! ) .... I actually BOUGHT a model I already own; I totally forget I had it. I've done this TWICE! 😬 😬 😬 😬
There will NOT be a 3rd time! 😡
-Nice pic by the way! 😀
22/10/2023 7:19 pm
@chris Your hearse is amazing. I was thinking 'baroque' but the carved wood work and generally bleak demeanour is almost gothic. Just what one wants for such an occasion.
22/10/2023 8:28 pm
I was thinking 'baroque' but the carved wood work and generally bleak demeanour is almost gothic.
Yes, exactly. This type of "gothic meets art-deco" trend in American hearses seems to have started in 1920's but peaked in the '30's. South America appears to have continued this look, but I'm no expert. Here's just a small sample of 1:1s. 😱 😨 😱 😨 😱
22/10/2023 8:53 pm
@chris This is really interesting as they all follow the same idea of funereal drapes, presumably stamped int the sheet metal? I believe Argentina - with its bourgeoise history is the place for dramatic - really baroque as in the dome of St. Peter's, Rome, baroque - hearses. One catches sight of a horse-drawn one in the film Evita, at her father's funeral and I believe in the movie The Sinking Of The Graf Spee we see a motorised one in Montevideo harbour. Sighh.. I'll be lucky if I get an Austin Princess or at best a Citroen DS!
Topic starter
24/10/2023 9:29 pm
.............Sighh.. I'll be lucky if I get an Austin Princess or at best a Citroen DS!
Charles Rockett reacted