From Candles To Cadillacs
The common funerary vehicle is a popular choice for fans of our spookier communities and has become a personal car for many. The hearse has a 700-year-long history, transporting deceased loved ones to their burial site. Perhaps it's no surprise that the hearse has lasted as long as it has, because we all know that one thing in our lives is absolutely, 100% for certain, and that's its end.
1. What Is A Hearse?
Your standard definition of a hearse is “a vehicle used to carry a body in a coffin to a funeral.” Hearses are often seen spearheading a funeral procession, often with 30 to 40 cars driving to the cemetery.
2. Color Palette
It's probably unsurprising to learn that the most common color for hearses in North America and Europe is black, as the color is most closely associated with mourning. However, some hearses are painted white to symbolize the cycle of rebirth.
3. It's Old
Hearses have been around since the 1300s, originally used to describe how candles hung over a coffin. It transitioned to a method of transportation in the 17th century, but was quite simple in its original construction.
Uncredited for Street Railway Journal. on Wikimedia
4. Etymology
The word “hearse” comes from the French word “herce,” meaning “harrow” or “frame.” A harrow was considered a farming tool with spikes, and the medieval candle framework often resembled this shape.
5. The Most Expensive Hearse
Currently, the most expensive hearse in the world is a Rolls-Royce Phantom Hearse. It’s 23 feet long, features an aluminum body, LEDs in the coffin compartment, and only costs $640,000.
6. The 19th Century
After the Middle Ages and the widespread fear of the bubonic plague, our ancestors were finally able to properly mourn their dead again. This eventually led to a change in transportation designs, upgrading from a flatbed to a boxy structure that we more closely associate with today.
AnonymousUnknown author on Wikimedia
7. Luxury Vehicles
Due to the, ahem, dead weight that is often being transported on hearses, it's common for the cars to be built on a luxury car platform. This is usually done for the sake of making them last longer, but it makes it quite funny to say that hearses are actually a luxury vehicle.
8. Gas, Electric, Or Horse
The miracle of modern science showed us that we could have a non-animal-powered hearse. In fact, the first non-horse-drawn hearses were electric, created back in the early 20th century. Due to the popularity of the horse-drawn carriage aesthetic, gas-powered models became the hearse of choice. Of course, the common folk didn’t use expensive, gas-powered hearses until around 1920.
9. How Are They Made
We know that hearses are technically luxury vehicles, but what kind of luxury vehicles? Well, technically, hearses usually stem from Cadillacs and Lincolns, often being cut in half and fitted into a lower chassis for transportation and comfort.
10. What To Do
If you see a hearse or funeral procession driving through the streets, take care. You’re likely watching someone travel to their final resting place. Be respectful, yield the right-of-way, drive slowly, avoid honking, or even pull over to let the full procession pass.
Ponyegg (Sean Dillon) on Wikimedia
1. Custom Lighting
If you’re going to have a hearse, you need to trick it out with some spooky lighting. Red, purple, or other gothic-themed LED lights to give the coffin area some horror-movie vibes. You can almost make it like a mini party bus.
2. Themed Decor
Doing up your hearse with gothic, Halloween, or horror-inspired decorations is one of the best ways to personalize such a statement vehicle. Of course, you don’t have to do Halloween-themed decor, but if you’re buying a hearse, we assume you love Halloween.
Infrogmation of New Orleans on Wikimedia
3. Landau Bars
Landau bars are ornamental, S-shaped bars that are usually found on the rear panel of a hearse. The bars have no actual function today, but can be incorporated into a modern hearse design as a nod to the original designs of the 18th and 19th centuries.
The original uploader was Morven at English Wikipedia. on Wikimedia
4. Camper Conversion
If you think about it, a hearse is kind of the perfect car for a camper conversion. You can add a soft-walled extension to the top of the vehicle, or even make room for a double bed in the back. Good practice for later in life, we guess?
5. Insulation
Goes hand in hand with the previous point. If you’re planning on using your hearse for the sake of camping or road trips, it might be worthwhile to get some insulation going in there. You never know when a creeping chill will fall upon you…
6. Suspension
Some hearses are just old and require a new suspension system, but we’d again recommend this if you’re planning on doing some longer trips in this vehicle. If you’re looking for an overall better ride, it's recommended that you upgrade shocks, air system, and even tires.
7. Body Paint
Just because you have a hearse doesn’t mean the thing needs to be black. If you’re looking for a statement vehicle, go ahead and wrap your car in whatever color you prefer; you’re going to be looked at anyway!
8. Seating
Perhaps the most obvious option of the bunch, but rarely one folks seem to think about. A standard hearse just has two seats in the front with the open section in the back, but a custom hearse can hold anywhere from 6 to 9 passengers. If you have an SUV hearse, you’re more likely to have a comfortable space to fit multiple people.
9. Audio/Entertainment System
A lot of hearses are old, and it's probably rare that their audio system gets used very much. Due to this, it could be a good idea to make some upgrades to your system. You don’t need a full Tesla iPad, but something with Bluetooth or a built-in map system could be helpful.
10. Storage/Utility
Aside from the aesthetic standpoint, hearses do have the capacity to be excellent storage for the working man. You can fit tools, larger pieces of furniture, or anything else that requires transportation. You’re kind of a storage locker on wheels.
