1916 Studebaker Hearse

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488201

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1916 Studebaker "Four" Series 17 Coachbuilt Wood Carved Eight Pillar Hearse. (nine pillars if you count the one in back!) The most incredible early funeral coach I have seen in a long time. The only other early hearse I have been able to find that sold in the last decade was a 1921 S & S and it was in primer, motor was in better looking shape though, but otherwise original as this, and sold for over 60K at a car auction. However my hearse in my opinion looks better than a lot of early hearses that have survived as mine has all of the glass. Most seem to have carved wooden panels depicting glass and curtains, but his is really... glass and curtains.... and looks like the old horse drawn black hearse wagons. This particular hearse was on display for the last 20 - 30 years in northern California. When that place acquired it they re-painted it black, but did not start it or mess with drive train. They may have upholstered the seat and top too. They are in great shape. Do not know the history or where it served unfortunately. I love this car. Out of all I have had, this kills to sell, but other things in life are more important right now and so she goes to a good home! Paint is showing some age, flaking off of wooden areas a little. Missing radiator cap, engine crank (which I think strapped above driver), and both lanterns that hung on either side of the windshield. Two of the four hood hold down hooks stripped off of rods, have the hooks, the tubes that they screw too will need to be redone. Hood has some damage on some of the hinge area. The passenger door has some cracking near upper hinge. Overall the wood on this is really solid. Lower windshield glass has small crack as does driver door glass. One gauge is cracked on the face. The motor turns over by hand freely. No battery and have not tried starting. It has been sitting so long that all of the moveable parts, linkage, choke, etc, shifter, starter chain, e-brake, will need some lube and attention. The clutch pedal is close to floor and I cannot engage gears. The freeze plugs are out of the block too. Motor number falls in range of 1916 as well, so most likely original drive train. Amazing headlamp lenses. Has a cool pulley locking system to bring pins in rear inward to hug coffin from sliding around. Not sure if curtains are original or not. Has 34 inch non skid tires, old and cracked, holding air though. No spare. Missing one rim clamp on one wheel. Radiator seems nice. No paperwork or title. I can help get one in my name to sell to you if you need it to bring into your state. Will take a few weeks to do and get in my hands. I have a nice copy of owners manual for this year stude. Literally a copy on white paper, stapled into a booklet. Very nicely done and clear. Rolls nice and rear band brakes work nice. From front of front wheels to furthermost back of coach it measures 16.5 feet. Wheel base hub to hub is 146.5 inches. It is maybe 7 + feet tall or so at its highest. Mileage shows 03341. Missing gear on passenger rim though where speedo cog sits. Who knows when that went missing. Have not found any marks or identification to help figure out who the coach builder was. There was some patching at some point of holes on top of front fenders, see pics of undersides. It draws more attention and photos then anything I have ever owned. It is a remarkable survivor, amazing work of art, beautiful piece of a time long gone. Please go view all of the photos I have of this, they speak for themselves and show the conditions better than I can describe. Tons of photos HERE Willing to store it inside up to 30 days to help accommodate picking up. Please don't let it go longer. Shorter is better too! I run a resto shop and can perform all aspects of restoration you may desire. $55 per hour. If you are interested please let me know, I can give you my website. Any other questions please let me know I will be happy to help. I am honest in all I do, and I am disclosing all I know about it. When I sell this if you need a bill of sale with a sale price I have to be honest there too, including sale price. I don't lie and say $500 etc... Located about an hour north of Hollywood, CA in the hills right of the I-5. Lebec, CA 93243 209 606 two eight six nine is my phone if you would like to call or text. Otherwise feel free to email as well. Please do not ask what the reserve is. Bid what you would pay for a one of a kind. The reserve is acceptable for something you only find once in a lifetime, and is in exceptional shape for 98 years old! It is the only one like it. $2,000 deposit due within 48 hours via papal or wire. Non refundable. This is you promising you are puchasing a car within one week... Remaining amount due within one week of auction close via cash or wire transfer. (not paypal for large chunk) Thanks! On Sep-09-14 at 08:16:14 PDT, seller added the following information: It's about 8ft. high at it's highest point. On Sep-12-14 at 08:59:28 PDT, seller added the following information: Ok I took a more accurate height reading, ran a level off the peak of the roof and a tape measure down to the floor. Looking at 7' 6". Not 8'