1932 Henney Model 10 Hearse

In the late 1920s, less than 100 professional cars were being produced each month by coachbuilders such as the John W. Henney Company. Since neither sophisticated tooling nor machines could be justified for such low production numbers, highly-skilled craftsmen were required to do the work.

Located in Freeport, Illinois, the John W. Henney Company built the majority of their coaches on other automobile chassis, most often Packard. Other chassis used included Velie, Buick, Auburn, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile. Occasionally, a hearse or ambulance was built on a chassis from Cadillac, LaSalle, Rolls-Royce, Cord, or Lincoln.

This unique hearse is one of only a few built on Henney's own assembled chassis. The early history of this vehicle is not known. By the 1960s, it was in the care of Remuda Ranch, a classic dude ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona, that re-purposed the vehicle for service as a property transport for guests. At the time, it was painted lime green and featured a distinctive Remuda ranch script on its doors.

In the summer of 2006, the car was sold to George Albright, a Henney and Duesenberg enthusiast living in Ocala, Florida. In 2007, it was sold to a Kentucky-based restorer who refinished it in dark blue and refurbished the mechanical and interior elements as needed. Recently, it was acquired by a Missouri collector.

This Model 10 Hearse is powered by a 322 cubic-inch L-Head Lycoming straight-eight engine capable of producing 125 horsepower. It has a three-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drum brakes.

In 2011, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Amelia Island, Florida where it was estimated to sell for $ 30,000-40,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $35,200 inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2011