Heritage Coach Dealer Blog USA

When most of us think of funeral cars, we picture the now-traditional Cadillac or Jaguar hearse. Although they have undergone some minor changes over the years, these luxury car-based funeral cars have maintained the same basic look and style since their rise to popularity in the early days of motor cars. Traditional hearses are black and somber-looking, although elegant in their own way.

Of course, there is no particular reason that funeral cars should be created in this style. Before the days of motor cars, horse-drawn buggy hearses were the norm. In some times and places, funeral car trolleys or trains have been used. Today, funerals are becoming increasingly personalized, as families decide to create services that are personally meaningful for them and their loved ones.

Last week, we told you all about a company in the UK that specializes in Volkswagen hearses. These cars are especially nice for use in eco-funerals. From camper vans to Herbie the Love Bug, the selection of funeral cars truly allows families to select the cars that meet their needs.

Of course, Volkswagen hearses are not the only possibility in today’s new world of funeral car options. Motorcycle funeral cars have become extremely popular in many places, particularly among motorcycle enthusiasts. Other possibilities include old fashioned horse-drawn hearses and funeral car trolleys.

Not all funeral directors will see a need to invest in more off-beat funeral car styles. Only you know your clientele and their individual preferences. However, it increasingly appears that the choice between black and white funeral cars is becoming a popular option. Today many families prefer to use white cars, which can symbolize peace, rather than traditional black cars, which can be seen as morbid.

If you are in the market for a new funeral car, we invite you to visit our convenient dealership. We would be happy to discuss market trends with you and help you to choose the vehicles that best meet your needs.

Some of you might remember Richard O’Brien from the 1975 cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. O’Brien has enjoyed a long career in offbeat film, television and stage shows since those days, including the Rocky Horror sequel Shock Treatment and the gamer geek flick Dungeons and Dragons.

Now O’Brien is back on London television screens with a quirky new show that is sure to be a hit. Richard O’Brien’s Dead Strange will travel the country to teach viewers all about the odd side of the funeral business and associated rituals. The show will investigate weird wills, offbeat family rituals, unusual funeral cars, bizarre deaths and other macabre yet fascinating topics.

So far we have been promised shows that investigate a group of early surfing pioneers, practicing on coffin lids; Volkswagen camper hearses; the mystery of Jay’s Grave on Dartmoor and plenty of surprises.

The only catch? So far the show is only airing in London. For those of us on this side of the Atlantic, it may be difficult to catch episodes. Nonetheless, if the show takes off, there is always the possibility of broadcast on BBC America. In the meantime, you may be able to find episodes online.

Funerals and death in general are among the last remaining television taboos, and this new show is expected to finally break down those walls. While death remains a serious topic that deserves respect, it is something that humans have an innate fascination for. The show should prove extremely interesting and perhaps even educational.

What do you think? Do you want to watch a show based on funeral cars, funeral rituals and bizarre deaths? Or do you think the show has crossed a line that should never be crossed? Your thoughts are welcome!

When you think of funeral cars, your mind probably goes immediately to traditional hearses. Companies such as Cadillac and Jaguar have long made funeral cars that have become ingrained in our collective unconscious. We know intellectually that before the age of the automobile, funeral cars were generally horse-drawn carriages. We know that at times trains and trolleys have been used in place of traditional funeral cars. We also know that in many parts of the world hearses are entirely different vehicles than they are here.

However, within the Western world, most of us have a certain expectation of what a funeral car “should” be. Nonetheless, times are changing and many of the old rules no longer apply. A company in the UK is now offering Volkswagen funeral cars in a variety of models. Volkswagen Funerals focuses on the belief that a funeral service should be as unique as the person whose life is being celebrated.

Among their unique funeral cars are VW Beetles, VW campers and VW buses. They are painted white in testament to peace, and bear a simple black flag that identifies them as funeral vehicles. The company will even arrange for Herbie the Love Bug to head the funeral procession if the family desires.

Such vehicles are also appropriate for eco-friendly green funerals, which are beginning to catch on in many places. The VW Bug has long been a sign of environmentalism, dating to the days of the 1970s gas crisis, and certainly appropriate today.

Funeral rituals have come a long way since the Victorian era. While many families continue to prefer traditional funerals, an increasing number are now changing traditions in many ways. The purpose of a funeral is ultimately to bring peace and comfort to the family and friends, and whatever rituals are best for them are the ones that should be used.

How to properly pay tribute to the recently deceased is an age old question. In some societies at some times, death has been accepted as a natural part of the life cycle. People are born, they live and they die, all in close proximity to their friends and loved ones. In these societies, death rituals are highly personal and at times have involved consuming the heart, mummification or other behaviors that modern Western society may consider odd.

In Western societies in the past decades, death has been a mysterious force to be respected, feared and most of all removed from personal dealings. It is considered a sad occasion, one when mourning is expected and standardized rituals bring comfort. The tradition of the black funeral car is born out of these feelings toward death.

However, not all traditions, even in Western culture, see death in this way. Wakes and jazz funerals focus on celebrating the person’s life, rather than mourning his or her passing. Most religious traditions speak of life beyond death, and some people want to celebrate their loved one’s crossing into an infinitely better form of existence.

Accordingly, many funeral homes have begun to offer the option of white funeral cars, sometimes old-fashioned versions that are drawn by white horses. A white hearse can be appropriate in a celebration of life, a celebration of the crossing to the afterlife or other such symbolic gestures.

If you are a funeral home director, you might want to perform some market research in your area. Like the environmentally friendly green funeral, white funeral cars appear to be an increasing market trend. If you would like to add a white hearse to your fleet, we invite you to stop by our friendly local dealership. We can help you select the funeral car that is right for you.

Many people are superstitious about funeral cars. Like all items that are associated with death, hearses and funeral cars have developed a bit of a reputation as symbols of evil, darkness and sadness. Accordingly, many urban legends have developed around the cars.

Haunted Hearses
Like graveyards, it seems that virtually every town has a story about a haunted hearse in the area. Some of these cars are owned by haunted houses or other companies with an interest in sharing ghost stories in order to boost business. Others are owned by funeral car enthusiasts who have a love of all things macabre. Still others are owned by those who would rather not be associated with ghost stories and find the whole situation most unfortunate.

Room for One More
Whether or not you believe in ghosts, a haunted hearse makes a rather chilling campfire tale. However, even spookier is the famous urban legend generally titled “Room for One More.” According to Snopes, the legend dates to at least 1912. It is so popular that it has been used in a Twilight Zone episode and in the 1945 film Dead of Night.

In the original version of the tale, a girl is spending the night at the home of friends. She awakens to the sound of horses’ hooves and goes to the window to investigate. She sees an old-fashioned horse-drawn funeral car driven by an old coachman. Rather than a coffin, the hearse is filled with people. The coachman sees her watching and says, “There’s room for one more.” She is chilled by the offer and retreats to her bed.

The next morning she awakens, unable to decide whether the encounter was a dream. She heads to town to do some shopping. On the top floor of a department store, she considers taking the elevator. However, when she approaches, the elevator is almost full. The elevator operator catches her eye, and she is horrified to realize that he was the coachman in her dream. He says, “There’s room for one more,” and terrified, the girl declines. She turns away as the doors close. Suddenly there are screams and a rush of air followed by a crash. The elevator has fallen and everyone on board has been killed.

Whether or not you believe these stories, it is easy to see how they developed. Funeral cars and other items associated with death are considered taboo by many people. A fear of death is quite common, and it is easy to associate the items with the fear.

Prom is the most important night in many teens’ young lives. Teenagers tend to invest great sums of money (their own or their parents’) in just the right dress or tux, the right formal dinner and even the right transportation. For most kids, a limo is the vehicle of choice. Others prefer an exotic sports car, such as a Porsche or Ferrari, if they have access to one. By choice or default, some kids end up driving their own or their parents’ day to day sedan.

In Banbury, UK, however, a pair of students decided on a less-traditional mode of transportation. The friends decided that they wanted something with a bit more flair – a hearse. So they called around to a few funeral homes. However, they discovered that funeral homes are not insured to provide transportation to the living.

Undeterred, the boys’ parents turned their attention to online auction powerhouse eBay. There, they were able to purchase a used funeral car at just a fraction of the cost of a new one. The boys and their parents then set to work customizing the car.

Draped in organza curtains and decorated with skulls, flames and even neon lights, the car certainly made a splash at the prom. It is unknown, however, whether the boys were able to draw the attention of any young females that night.

Regardless, a funeral car can be a great investment. Solidly built and designed to last, the cars are known for regularly logging in excess of 300,000 miles during their lifetimes. Whether you are in the market for a spooky ride or just a well-built work vehicle, it would be hard to go wrong with a funeral car.

Yesterday we paid tribute to the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Bobby Kennedy by discussing the scene that played out as his body made it final journey from New York to Washington DC. The emotional outpouring of grief from Americans of all walks of life, rich and poor, old and young, black and white, remains in our collective national awareness for all time. Yet there was a precedent for such an emotional reaction to the untimely passing of a beloved public figure. It had all happened before, in April 1865.

Abraham Lincoln was a true American hero. Like Bobby Kennedy would do a century later, Abraham Lincoln provided a voice for the downtrodden and oppressed. His Emancipation Proclamation brought slavery to an end. He was a wartime president who eventually managed to reunify the country under the banner of hope for the future. He remains to this day one of the best and most moving orators the United States has ever seen.

Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865 stunned the nation. Plans were made for him to be buried in his native Illinois. A train, rather than a traditional funeral car, was prepared for the journey. After lying in state for ten days, it was time for the president to make his final journey. Bearing a picture of the fallen president on its cowcatcher, the funeral train set off on a 1600 mile trip.

All along the route, mourners took the opportunity to pay their last respects. Although over 500,000 had gathered in Washington DC to say their goodbyes, many more were unable to make the trip. Instead, they approached the train tracks. Some built bonfires. Old and young, rich and poor, black and white gathered together to salute the man who had made such a difference in their lives.

Although they lived and died a century apart, many connections can be drawn between Bobby Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln. Both were forward-thinking humanitarians dedicated to human rights and equality. Both served during a difficult period in the nation’s history. Both were well-spoken orators capable of inspiring followers across political lines. And both drew the respect of a nation who made their way to the railroad tracks to say their final goodbyes to the passing funeral car train.

One of the most famous funeral cars in the world was not a car at all but a train. This month marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Robert F. Kennedy. Bobby Kennedy followed his famous brother into politics, and among other positions served as Attorney General during his brother’s presidency.

When John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the world turned its hopes to Bobby. John’s death had been extremely hard on him, but Bobby was motivated to right the wrongs he saw in the country. In November 1964, he was elected United States Senator from New York.

Bobby was extraordinarily popular. He was known for his outspoken criticism of Lyndon Johnson’s Vietnam policy, his support of civil rights and his willingness to take action. When he announced his bid for the presidency, he easily clinched the Democratic nomination.

Shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, Bobby Kennedy addressed supporters at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He finished up and left the stage, and moments later was attacked by homeless drifter Sirhan Sirhan. Hours later, in a nearby hospital, he was declared dead.

After a mourning period in New York, it was time to transfer Bobby Kennedy’s body to Washington DC for burial. What transpired was one of the most moving tributes ever witnessed. The train planned to travel at normal speed, unlike the funeral trains of Lincoln and Roosevelt, both of whom were Presidents. Kennedy was merely a nominee, or so it was thought.

Instead, the scene that awaited was compared to that of Lincoln’s funeral train. Along every stretch of track, hundreds of mourners lined up to pay their last respects. Black and white, young and old, rich and poor, all were obvious in their grief. Parents held children up to take a look. Elderly people sat in lawn chairs and firefighters in uniform stood at attention beside their trucks.

The train slowed. What else could it do? From New York to Washington DC, people of all walks of life were eager to pay their last respects to the man that many believed would have been able to quell riots, end a war and bring the nation together in harmony. Forty years later, the images are as haunting as they were on the day it happened.

Last Friday was Friday the 13th, a day that is considered by many to be fraught with peril. For the couple dubbed Utah’s unluckiest, however, Friday the 13th was a chance to turn their luck around with a new beginning.

Radio station K-BULL 93FM held an unusual contest in the days leading up to Friday the 13th. Couples were invited to write letters explaining their recent bad luck. Those who were judged the unluckiest were then treated to a wedding ceremony free of charge. The catch was that the ceremony would be held in a haunted house, at 1300 South Street, on Friday the 13th.

The winning couple had certainly been through more than their share of bad luck. In two years, they had been through 12 cars due to repeated breakdowns. The groom had been in back to back car accidents two days in a row, at the same intersection. He had been a victim of identity theft, leaving him $10,000 in debt. The couple’s medical records had been stolen from the hospital. The groom is on his sixth job this year.

When they heard that they had won, the couple had only two days to pull the wedding together. They pulled in numerous superstitions, such as the bride and her father walking to the altar under a ladder. The bride’s grandmother even dressed in black for the occasion, sporting a dead corsage. The happy couple left the ceremony not in a wedding limo, but in a funeral car.

All involved agreed that the wedding was a lot of fun. They also believe that the ceremony may have represented a purging of negative energy and a chance for the couple to embark on a happy and even lucky new life together.

The first All-American soap box derby was run in Dayton, OH in 1934. The sport reached its all time popularity high in the 1950s and 1960s. Although both attendance and entries have tapered off in the past half century, the event continues to have fiercely loyal supporters today. A recent event in Hawley, PA drew an unusual entrant – a miniature funeral car, complete with a small coffin inside.

Originally, soap box derbies were open only to boys aged 11 to 15. The races gradually grew to include girls as well. Many races now have divisions that are open to younger racers, and a few unofficial races allow adults to race as well. The original rules called for the entrants to fully build the vehicles themselves, traditionally out of spare material such as orange crates and roller skate wheels. Today, the rules for most races have been modified to allow adults to assist with construction. This change is likely due to increasing concerns over the safety of children using power tools.

The soapbox derby cars of today tend to be surprisingly sophisticated. The rules vary from race to race, but generally require that the vehicles be entirely gravity propelled, with no motor or other enhancements. In 1973, 14 year old Jimmy Gronen of Boulder, CO was actually stripped of his national title when it was revealed that he had placed an electromagnet in the nose of his car. Most races also require that the vehicle have some sort of braking system for safety reasons.

Within the rules, however, designs vary dramatically. Unique and unusual themes are common. In this weekend’s Smokin’ Hawley 500, a racer entered a miniature funeral car, complete with a small coffin. What better way to train a new generation of funeral car enthusiasts? If you are in the market for a full-sized funeral car, we invite you to visit our convenient local dealership, where we will be happy to help you find the car that is best for you.