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Post by jhkaster on Aug 25, 2007 4:13:48 GMT -5
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Post by hipogranada on Aug 25, 2007 8:33:41 GMT -5
Were stretch limo conversions a rarity with Versailles, James? There's one in the Registry - www.gmv-registry.com/generic757.htmlAccording to the story in that Registry entry, that particular coachbuilder did three Versailles stretches. Maybe this is the gray car mentioned in that story. Save you a click, here it is... Short History - In 1977, Bradford International Corp. purchased three new Versailles (white, blue, and grey), right off the showroom floor at a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lincoln-Mercury dealership. A 24 inch section was added between the two doors and a 12 inch section was added in the rear quarter behind the back doors. Then, the three cars were sent to Allen Coach Works in Laredo, Texas to have the interior work completed. Carlos Allen, the owner of Allen Coach Works, was a limousine builder os some renown who worked mostly with Lincoln Town cars. Bradford International went out of business in 1989 and Allen Coach Works followed in 1991. The grey and the blue 1977 Versailles are rumoured to be somewhere in the Detroit, Michigan area. This white limousine was owned by an older couple from Florida for several years until sold to Neisen Livery Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1994, Tim and Billie Yeomans, owners of Green Sales Co., purchased the limo from Neisen and showed it at the 1995 Dearborn Eastern National Meet where it earned a first place award. |
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Post by Jeff Roblin on Aug 25, 2007 19:37:04 GMT -5
The seller is sending me the VIN info. I think this may be a different coach builder than the one at Green's. The opera light panel looks different. He was very interested when I told him it might be 1 of 3.
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Post by jhkaster on Aug 26, 2007 3:43:08 GMT -5
I was never able to find production numbers for the conversions and limos for the Versailles. Considering that these cars are unitized body and not body-on-frame, I don't think many firms attempted to do the custom coach work. But, I would think there were more than the 3. I have 3 listed on my Customs page: Green Sales Company, one overseas and a Monster... the latter 2 are 79s or 80s. There may have been 3 '77s from Bradford. Wish there was a way to find out. www.lincolnversailles.com/custom.htmI found that ebay listing when a soldier in the middle east sent me an email about it. (He's about to acquire a Versailles in the next few months when he returns.) |
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Post by Jeff Roblin on Aug 31, 2007 21:26:08 GMT -5
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