1937 Cadillac Series 75 Tour Bus
Yosemite National Park operated a fleet of specialized touring vehicles built on dramatically modified chassis from Cadillac’s luxury line. The A.J. Miller Company of Bellefontaine, Ohio stretched standard Series 75 frames to an extraordinary wheelbase of just over 200 inches, more than five feet beyond even the commercial chassis specification.
Eight‑door coachwork accommodated a driver and 11 passengers across four rows of padded seats, while roll‑back canvas tops exposed occupants to California’s Sierra Nevada vistas.
Miller, a professional car builder established in the 19th century and long known for ambulances and funeral coaches, constructed bodies following practices used on its other commercial vehicles. The gargantuan coaches retained Cadillac’s 1937 styling revisions including the fine‑check grille pattern, three chrome “whisker” accents flanking each side, and flowing fenders with fin‑like taillamp housings.
Knee‑Action independent front suspension with coil springs managed weight distribution on the extended platform, while spiral‑bevel rear gearing (not the hypoid type used on smaller Cadillacs and LaSalle) provided direct power transfer.
The 346 CI L‑head V‑8 produced about 140 horsepower through a three‑speed manual transmission with newly introduced pin‑type synchronizers. The Yosemite Transportation Company operated as many as 20 examples starting in the late 1930s, using them to carry visitors on sightseeing tours throughout the park.
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