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Chauffeur Culture

As generations have passed, the job of a chauffeur has been a key element in the development of Social Interactions and Commerce. Many business owners would not only pride themselves on the beauty of their “horse and carriage” but also on the discipline and aptitude of their chauffeur. Many chauffeurs would not only drive their “clients” to their destinations, but they would also drive the families and their guests to events and everyday activities safely and in a timely manner. Often, the chauffeur would also be a “shrink” of sorts as he would be the recipient of his “clients” frustrations, sadness and anger. Whether it was raining, snowing, or a hot sunny day, the chauffeur would be ready to tackle the day with pride and a sense of commitment to his duties.

In modern days, not all cultures have kept the term “chauffeur” to refer to the person behind the wheel of a Limo, a Hearse, a Presidential car, or even the good ol’ Horse and Carriage. Nowadays the term has been changed to “Driver”, and while this is politically correct, we must remember that this assignment is earned by trust and skill not everybody has. So, whenever possible, let’s thank the men & women that wake up early, and put on the clean black suit with the iconic chauffeur hat or the uniform with the words “Driver” on it, because nothing beats the feeling of being greeted with respect, and being safely transported by someone who has played such an important role in human history.

Cadillac XT5 and The Future of Livery Vehicles

The year 2020 has seen a lot of uncertainty, including the future of the livery vehicle conversion chassis. In 2019 Cadillac discontinued production of the XTS, the choice luxury sedan platform for specialty vehicle builders. It’s rival, the Lincoln MKT, has also discontinued in 2019, leaving us all wondering where to go from here?

While Lincoln remains in the air, GM has moved forward with the 2021 model of its mid-size crossover SUV, the Cadillac XT5, to the certified Cadillac Master Coachbuilders “CMC”. This year Cadillac gave the XT5 a refresh with subtle style changes, new technology, and revised livery trim options.  Cadillac had previously offered a livery package for the XTS and CT6, which have both been discontinued.

As we speak, there are 2020 XT5 hearses and six-door limousines being proto-typed for development from the CMC convertors. Photos of a prototype with a significant longer wheel-base than the standard XT5 was spotted during testing back in September of this year, setting the internet into a buzz.

With the retirement of the XTS, the niche but very necessary funeral industry also has a need to be filled. By the end of the year we will begin to see the first XT5 hearses and these limousines hit the streets, which brings a lot of excitement to the industry.

Here at Infinite Innovations, we have been working hard with GM to develop the parts program to make this platform change possible.

Infinite has worked with both General Motors and Ford for over 3 decades to help engineer tooling and production to supply coachbuilders with the necessary interior and exterior parts to build specialty vehicles. Infinite has been there to make the process smooth for the builders during the development of many previous luxury conversion platforms including Lincoln Town Car & MKT models as well as Cadillac DeVille, DTS & XTS models, among others. Infinite also serves as a central stocking warehouse of these special OEM products as well as the parts that need to be longer to satisfy the needs of the additional stretched lengths of the coachbuilders. This allows operators to easily order replacement parts as well as accessories.

A lot goes into stretching and converting a vehicle into a hearse or limousine. The extended chassis requires factory style doors with OEM hinges, door handles, locking mechanisms, and interior trim to match the vehicle. Moldings for the stretch must be tooled to match the vehicle’s existing trim.  Infinite Innovations has yet again served as the liaison between GM and the builders, making sure these needs are met to manufacture the new XT5 model conversion vehicles. We are excited as we move into this new platform and what the future holds for the livery industry.

Where Do Limousine Parts Come From?

You need a replacement part for your limousine. Where do you find it? Most people will assume that the dealership is the place to go, but that is not the case. Limousines are custom built by coachbuilders, who cut a car in half and stretch it. Where do the parts come from to do this? Where do you find a replacement part for your stretch? You are at the right place.

Infinite is the place you go to find your replacement parts. We supply the builders with the parts when the car is made. Chances are, our parts are on your limo.

Infinite found its start back in the 1980s when owner Bud Thomas saw a need in supplying coachbuilders with parts that were not easily made, and with no supplier already existing. His experience working for builder Executive Coach gave him the hands-on experience of stretching a car and the challenges involved. Infinite Innovations formed to fill this need, bringing multiple staff members on over the years with experience in stretching cars. Taking their knowledge, our team was able to become the parts supplier catering to coachbuilders with items ranging from construction parts to electronic systems and lighting, that polish the style of a vehicle interior. Through this, we formed direct relationships not only with the coachbuilders but with Ford and GM through the QVM and CMC certified HD chassis builder programs, allowing us to become a certified supplier and a central stocking warehouse for factory parts that can be sent “just in time” fashion to any buyer.

For over 30 years we have supplied the builders with structural parts such as pillar posts, impact bars and sheet metal skins that aided in the direct construction of the cut cars and ensured a structurally safe vehicle that met QVM and CMC program requirements. We carry the components used to complete the new addition to the vehicle; weatherstrip, door harness, interior and exterior door hardware and trim, latches, hinges, handles and more.

We engineered tooling to match factory moldings, creating OEM style reveal, belt, and body moldings for the stretched portion of many popular limousine-built cars and SUVs. We are the exclusive source for these unique parts. Parts supplier competitor, MTG (Modern Technologies Group) was also a customer, purchasing our moldings for resale. In 2014, Infinite purchased all the assets of MTG out of New Jersey, uniting the inventory and best of manufacturing processes of both companies back to Missouri under the roof of Infinite’s brand new 54,500 sq. ft. facility.

Our customer service does not stop at coachbuilders. We have supplied replacement parts along with many other accessories and amenities to repair shops, dealerships, small custom vehicle builders and livery operators. Our staff is not the typical “order takers” but a group of individuals with experience, who know the parts and are sincere in helping you find what you need.

In an industry that is always looking to provide the end-user with the utmost comfort and luxury, we have expanded our product lines over time, keeping in mind that a person may be chauffeured for various reasons. Our product lines are not limited to limousines and are beneficial to anyone in the ground transportation industry. We strive to provide amenities for every circumstance. Our lighting options are used to enhance moods, partition dividers for creating a quiet and private workspace, automotive HVAC for temperature comfort, down to the elegant barware and stylish professional chauffeur uniform caps; we cover every aspect to give your vehicle and service the WOW appeal that makes you stand out.

We offer a wide range of products, but always with a high level of quality and expertise.  The products may change some over time, but our devotion to offering a unique shopping experience remains, where you can purchase items as diverse as a door molding or a special event red carpet, from your convenient one-stop shopping source.

Anatomy of a Coach Light – A Brief History

What is a coach light? Coach lights, also known as opera lamps, are the slender rows of lights commonly seen attached to vehicle pillars. They are widely used on the center section of stretched limousines. Though they are not limited to just limos, they have certainly been made popular by them.

Opera lights came as a factory feature on the luxury limousine cars dating back to the 1970’s. In 1979, when Cadillac stopped making limousines, the stretched limousine became popular. By 1990, opera lights were no longer found on factory Cadillac and Lincoln cars.  That is when the aftermarket coach light was born.

Most of the original coach light styles consisted of a base that screws onto the pillar. The light base contains bulbs within light harnesses, wired into the vehicle power.  They are powered by the park lamps/headlight switch. A chrome bezel housing with a snap in lens is then screwed to the light base to make it complete.

As technology changed, so did the coach light. The use of the LED brought on the Infinite 250 coach light, the first of its kind. Instead of using incandescent bulbs, it utilized 3 white LEDs on its circuit base, creating a crisper white color. The LEDs were a popular choice, as being longer lasting than bulbs and drawing less amperage.

The Infinite coach light evolved further when it began to utilize an LED illuminating a fiber optic acrylic rod, for a more evenly diffused light with no “hotspots”. The acrylic rods also featured unique light guide styles, such as spirals or bubbles, making them stand out vibrantly.  The model 400 series became one of the most popular coach lights because of this.  Using a similar base and with the same mounting pattern or “footprint” as many older styles, it also featured a chrome bezel housing holding a sealed LED/fiber rod unit making it an easy option for replacing older style lights.

The latest and greatest option is the Infinite 900 Series, which is a larger and brighter version of the 400 series. This series features the same benefits of the selection of fiber optic light guide patterns, optional adapter gaskets, and same footprint as most lights. It stands apart with more of the light guide exposed, giving off light from more angles. The biggest benefit of the 900 series is the LE light engine. An encased LED unit that has the highest standard in reliability. The 902 version light offers dual light engines, at the top and bottom, for maximum brightness. Engines can be added or replaced to any of the 900 series lights at any time.

Infinite carries a selection all of these coach lights and more, for any and all vehicles. If you are looking to upgrade or restore, we can help. Give us a call today!

Infinite Innovations
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