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www.leylandprincess.co.uk Funeral Cars and Limousines Thanks to this website, we all know
the story behind the Wedge Princess/Ambassador; the various models built,
their differences and history. However none seem to have looked at what is
largely an ignored segment of the Wedge story - Funeral cars. One of the main users of Austin bodies was that of Woodall Nicholson of Halifax and as with the Austin 18/22 Land Crab range of cars before it, it was only natural that W/N would produce a hearse (Hebden) and a Limousine (Kirklees) and in the case of the Limo, pulling off the stretch remarkably well, and maintaining those distinctive lines. Its closest rival Coleman Milne decided to stick with its ‘moulded’ bodied Fords as it had done for years before. In fact to the classic Hearse Register’s knowledge the only coachbuilder to adopt the Wedge was that of W/N (unless anyone knows different of course). Strangely though, whilst the Ford
Granada model was its closest rival W/N built its MK2 Granada
Norwood/Rosedale range alongside until they merged with C/M in 1983, and the
wood framed Grannies were dropped. Then predictably it was only a matter of
time for the Ambassador and the Montego to go the same way. Exact facts and figures of quantities
built are unknown to the club but it’s thought that all of the hearses were
of the same style:- twin deck, bearer seats and high-topped (Fords came with
2 or 4 doors, low & high line roofs etc). We have heard, though, that a
one off Ambassador limo was built with a conventional 3-box style body. One thing is true; these cars are
becoming rarer and need preserving. The Classic Hearse Register I co-run the Classic Hearse Register
with my partner Sandra Mitchell and as of September 04 we have just 2 limos
and one hearse in the club. Like all club cars they come and go and then we
hear nothing of them again, most usually ending up being left to sit and rot
or they get banger raced because no one wants them! However, with no hearses in the club,
we were phoned in August 04 by an Undertaker who had a Princess sitting in
his garage and needed it out of the way. A friend went to look and said it
was covered in dirt and spares but saveable but he did not want it. We run
several Granada’s, being Ford people really, but I have always liked the
wedge shape so we arranged to have it collected, thus saving another for the
moment. The intention was to do it up and
sell her on or if too bad sell it for spares but what a surprise! Our friend
said he had checked her over and could drive it back down to Dorset, plus it
was an Ambassador!! The Princess/Ambassador Owners Club
Historian confirmed that to them the Ambassador conversions was just hearsay,
having never seen one, something our club members have said too; plus it was
an early model with no power steering and a manual gearbox - unusual for a
hearse. So what was it like to drive? Well as
Ford owners we were impressed. The handling was good, the suspension is firm
but not too hard and the steering light considering no PAS (except in car
parks). The 2-litre engine has adequate power and in general it’s a good car.
The interior is, well, ‘80s plastic and vibrates, but those seats? Like
sitting in armchairs is the best way to describe it. The only real work needed is front wings
and door bottoms but being such a rare car we may carry on and get it
restored. Who knows? Article and some pictures by Sandra
Mitchell and Dean of the Classic Hearse Register. Visit the website: Updated 7th November 2009. |
How most
hearses end up. |
