Hi
I bought a Johnny Lightning Coroner's car model. The first example of such a rare vehicle I have ever seen in die-cast.
The Coroner is a public official who investigates unexplained or questionable deaths. They may work with the Police, although not all deaths investigated by a Coroner are crimes, and so are not all Police matters. The Coroner may perform autopsies to determine cause of death. Naturally this requires them to have a suitable vehicle to transport bodies. These vehicles often resembled an ambulance or hearse, as the occupants in each case travel horizontally.
Ambulances and hearses (and dual-role ambulance/hearse Combinations) were often built on the chassis of large luxury cars as these fast, powerful vehicles had a smooth ride, and were long enough to carry a stretcher or coffin. In America such vehicles were called Professional Cars, but I am not sure if a similar term exists in Britain ? Coroner's used similar vehicles. Today vans and four-wheel drives are used, as there are few cars still being made that would be suitable.
Johnny Lightning make a die-cast 1959 Cadillac that is available as either an ambulance or a hearse, using the same basic body, but with different window treatments and roof lights. Both the body and baseplate are metal. I spotted this example recently, being sold as a 1959 Cadillac Coroner, and snapped it up. It is 1/64th scale, about 82mm long.
The main colour is green, with a black roof, single red roof light, a siren at the front just above the driver, white wall tyres, and printed curtains in the rear side windows. The word CORONER appears in white on the front doors. The lights and grille are nicely finished. Being aimed at collectors these models are far more expensive than a Hot Wheels car - in this case nearly six times the price. But I doubt Hot Wheels will be doing a Coroner's car.
A brief history of the vehicle is given on the card: 'The 1959 Cadillac Coroner was built and assembled by the Miller-Meteor coach-building company in Piqua, Ohio'. The specialist bodywork being fitted to a Cadillac chassis. This firm also built the Combination Car used as Ecto-1 in Ghostbusters.
Photos of some older Coroner's vehicles.
what does a vintage coroner car look like - Google Search
More photos, mostly of modern vehicles.
what does a coroner car look like - Google Search
Paul Adams
NZ
What a way to go out! Is it the same as the Ghostbuster's Ecto 1 Paul?
ReplyDeleteJust seen that it is related Paul. Doh! I should have read it properly first!
DeleteMy only brush with this sort of thing was back in the early 80s. I'd bought a water bed, but realised it was far too big to fit in my bedroom! I finally sold it to a bloke who came to my house to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteHe was driving a fairly non descript 60s Ford Falcon station wagon. As I helped him load the bed frame components into the back, I saw it had a false floor, giving a lower deck of about 18 inches in height.
He told me he worked for a Mortician and thus was how they transported cadavers!
Good grief, a false floor! I'll watch out for that Looey. One of the best big hearses is in the old horror Phantasm!
DeleteThe ambulance, hearse, Combination (dual-role ambulance/hearse - don't think I would want to travel in one of those), flower car (for carrying flowers and wreaths), and the coroner's car all use a similar body shape. Only the smaller details differ, depending on the exact role. Lights, sirens, windows, solid side panels, etc. Is there a general British term for these vehicles, similar to the American Professional Car ? I do not recall ever having come across one.
ReplyDeleteAs far as models are concerned, ambulances are by far the most common. The others are rarer, and this is the only example of a coroner's car I have ever seen.
Wow Lewis, that must have been a bit of a shock.
Good find Paul. It must be a scarce model if you've never seen one. Not sure about a general term. I call them all hearses but that's probably wrong. Never heard of a flower car but I know what you mean. What would you call the convoy of cars in a funeral procession?
DeleteI love the big winged style of these station wagons. This is a real first, having seen loads of ambulances and ECTO 1, a Coroners car is amazing
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely in a morbid kind of way!
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