Bratton Coachworks, 1980s; Dallas, Texas. Manufactured on the Buick and Oldsmobile wagon extended chassis, Bratton coaches were intended to give an economical option to those directors who wanted a new hearse, but weren't able or willing to pay the price of a Cadillac.

Bratton Coachworks was the first in a long line of the firms that purchased the tooling originally used by B&B Coachworks of Duncanville, Texas in the late 1970s. It's owner, Wayne Bratton purchased it directly from B&B sometime after 1980. Bratton's hearses were built on full-sized Buick and Olds station wagons and were stretched from 16"-18" and featured a raised roof and a modified rear loading door. The rear side doors were extended as much as the chassis, so no new side body panels were needed. Bratton built some, although not many, hearses on the Cadillac chassis too. Those were not particularly attractive and were built from extended 4-door sedans that utilized some of B&B's tooling. Bratton was soon out of business and the tooling ended up across town at Century Coach, its third owner.

© 2004 Mark Theobald - Coachbuilt.com, with special thanks to Bernie DeWinter IV.