Heritage Coach Dealer Blog USA

Collecting funeral cars is an unusual but fairly popular hobby. Although those who have little experience with the hobby may make the assumption that all funeral car enthusiasts are angst ridden gothic teenagers, the truth is that collectors are from all walks of life. Many collectors see their vehicles as specialty items, to be taken out only at events and shows. Others see their cars as functional and useful vehicles, to be driven in place of a traditional family car.

Apparently police and emergency responders are not entirely used to seeing a friendly family funeral car, however. On-scene responders expressed a bit of surprise at what they found at a crash site in Ohio earlier this week.

According to the Canton Rep, a father and his young sons from Dellroy, Ohio were out enjoying a drive on Tuesday in their 1980 Cadillac hearse. The father lost control of the car on a wet patch of road by the Sandy Creek. He managed to avoid a guard rail, but the vehicle slid into the creek. It is estimated that approximately the front third of the car was submerged.

Fortunately, the man and his sons, aged approximately six to eight, were able to escape without serious injuries. The father was taken to a nearby hospital for observation. Information about the fate of the funeral car was not immediately available. Emergency workers were good natured, but seemingly surprised at the unusual choice of family car.

Funeral cars are considered by many to be excellent, strong and well-built vehicles. Nonetheless, like any car, they can be difficult to manage in inclement weather conditions. It is important to drive carefully at all times, particularly on wet or otherwise slick roads.

It sounds like an urban legend. A man is declared legally dead and emergency workers call for an undertaker. To everyone’s shock and surprise, however, the man awakens shortly thereafter. Although the story sounds incredible, it actually happened recently.

History is rife with stories of people who have been buried alive. In fact, some urban legends claim that the phrases “saved by the bell” and “graveyard shift” originated in the lengths to which some communities used to go in an effort to ensure that only the dead were actually buried. According to those legends, some towns buried ropes inside coffins that led to loud signal bells above ground. If the “dead” person awoke, he or she could pull the rope and signal a rescue crew for help. Likewise, legend states that “graveyard shift” workers sat at new gravesites overnight to listen for sounds coming from the newly buried.

Whether those stories are true or not, they stem from a time before modern medical equipment or knowledge. It seems unimaginable today that someone who was not dead would be officially judged to be so. Yet according to News 24, this happened recently in South Africa.

Apparently ambulance assistants responded to a call at a home. The man in question was lying on the ground covered with a blanket. He had no pulse and was not breathing. The emergency responders examined him and, declaring the man dead, called for an undertaker. The man was loaded onto a stretcher, but awoke shortly before being loaded into the funeral car.

Paramedics were again called and on arriving at the home, declared the man “alive.” The hospital was unable to determine exactly what had happened, but did send the man home with blood pressure medication. Apparently emergency workers in his town have received remedial training in determining whether death has actually occurred.

Most car enthusiasts, whether their tastes run to funeral cars or sports cars, tend to have certain things in common. One of the most important is a strong desire to get together with others who share their interest. Another is the drive to show off their own car and any restoration or customization that they may have performed. If racing and auto shows are not your style, why not consider entering your funeral car in a road rally?

Road rallies have their origin in street racing, which was banned in many locations in the mid-1980s due to increasing public concern over vehicle safety. Rallying decreased sharply in popularity at that time, as enthusiasts and organizers fought to find a new direction that did not involve high speeds.

Gradually a new form of road rally developed, based on skill and critical thinking rather than speed. Today’s rallies vary in the specifics but generally follow a specific format. Participants generally compete in teams of two – a driver and a navigator. They are given detailed directions and information for each leg, and must follow the clues precisely. Often the directions include speed requirements that are lower than the posted speed limits. Clues are usually cryptic and are often based on measuring precise mileage or counting the number of turns.

At the end of each leg, teams must make their way to a checkpoint. Here they will be judged against the running time that the leg should have taken, with points marked off for going too fast as well as too slow. They are then given a short rest before their next departure time.

A road rally is generally a laid-back and fun event. Since skill is emphasized over speed, funeral cars, minivans, economy cars and luxury cars can all compete on an equal footing. If you have been looking for the perfect venue to show off your prized funeral car, why not consider entering a road rally?

Funeral car owners generally come in two main varieties. Many funeral car enthusiasts restore their cars to perfection. They may wash and wax their cars multiple times per week, and likely drive them only occasionally to shows and other events. At the opposite extreme, many enthusiasts feel that their cars are meant to be driven hard. They may race their cars, drive them as a main source of transportation and take them on long drives to events in other states.

If you fall into the latter category, the reality is that your funeral car will eventually be past its prime. The cars are generally well-designed and very solidly built, but are not designed for protracted driving at high speeds. Eventually the wear and tear will take its toll.

If your funeral car is nearing the end of its useful life, you may start to have thoughts on how to dispose of it. Many funeral car owners are very attached to their cars and prefer not to trade them in or simply sell them to junkyards. Fortunately, there is another choice, one that will let your old funeral car go out in a blaze of glory.

Demolition derby is a popular sport in the United States as well as the UK (where it is known as banger racing). In these events, drivers intentionally crash their cars repeatedly into other vehicles. Although it can be dangerous, numerous safety precautions are taken in order to minimize risk. For example, all glass and interior fixtures must be removed from the cars before the event.

Their heavy bodies and strong engines make funeral cars an excellent choice for demolition derbies. This can be a great way to provide a unique sendoff for your favorite vehicle. Of course, if you happen to win the first event, you will need to repair the vehicle well enough to enter it in the next round. Many people feel that this is worth the effort, however.

When we think of race cars, vehicles such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches generally come to mind. It is not often that we mentally connect hearses or limos with racing. After all, funeral cars are generally big, heavy vehicles that are purpose-built to carry heavy loads at a slow and sedate speed.

Nonetheless, funeral car enthusiasts, like those who enjoy any other type of car, are often eager to show off their vehicles. If you are a funeral car owner who enjoys automobile racing, why not combine your interests?

Some funeral car owners customize their cars dramatically for racing purposes, installing new engines and lowering the weight of the vehicles as far as possible. Extensive customization can result in a car that is ready to enter into a general amateur race. If you are not interested in rebuilding your car to this extent, however, it is still possible to hold your own in a race.

Dedicated hearse and limo races can be found across the globe. Many enter these races with stock or lightly customized funeral cars rather than those have been rebuilt for racing. Some races even require that the car be stock, with no modifications made at all.

To find a local hearse and limo race, check with the funeral car clubs in your area or search online. These events are often held as part of larger shows or Halloween festivities, and are sometimes designed to raise money for charity.

If you are not into racing but would still like to show off your funeral car, consider a road rally instead. Rallies rely primarily on navigational skills and critical thinking rather than speed, and are an excellent alternative to traditional racing. Whatever activity you choose, you will be able to show off your funeral car and network with other enthusiasts.

There are some things in life that just simply should not be done, no matter what. Like taking candy from a baby or prank calling your grandmother. Car theft is an inexcusable crime under any circumstances, but stealing a funeral car during a funeral service? That is simply unforgivable.

Yet this is exactly what happened in Leamington, Canada last week, according to The Windsor Star. Apparently it is standard procedure at the Reid Funeral Home to leave the funeral cars unattended in procession line for approximately 15 minutes between the end of the funeral service and the beginning of the cemetery procession. On this particular occasion, that was long enough for the lead car, a 2008 Buick Enclave, to be stolen.

The procession was briefly delayed while another vehicle was readied. Thankfully, the stolen car was not the hearse. Although this sort of crime is not common, the funeral director had thought ahead. The Enclave was equipped with OnStar, an onboard GPS system that, among other features, can often trace a stolen vehicle.

The funeral director contacted local police, who in turn contacted OnStar dispatchers. The vehicle was quickly traced. After a short pursuit, the thieves abandoned the funeral car and attempted to flee on foot. Nonetheless, the bewildered crooks, who reportedly did not understand how they had been tracked, were quickly apprehended.

Most of us could not even fathom a criminal stooping so low as to steal a funeral car during a funeral service. Nonetheless, it apparently does happen. If you own a funeral car, whether or not you are in the business, it may be worth investing in vehicle locating software. It may just increase your chances of getting your vehicle back unharmed.

Now in its 36th year, the Texas Folklife Festival has become an annual tradition in San Antonio. Modeled on the Smithsonian Institution’s famous Folklife Festival, the Texas version is a chance for locals and tourists alike to gather together and learn a bit more about the smorgasbord of culture that makes up Texas’ past, present and future.

The 2008 event takes place June 13-15 at the Institute of Texas Cultures in San Antonio’s HemisFair Park. The festival will feature song, dance and storytelling performances, cooking demonstrations, crafts, rides and special exhibits that show off Texas’ wide range of cultural influences.

Funeral car enthusiasts will want to be sure to catch up with Everyday Paranormal. This supernatural investigation group has performed a great deal of work at the Institute, which reportedly houses numerous haunted artifacts. The investigation was featured on the History Channel, which rebroadcast the show last month.

The centerpiece of the show, and the team’s research, is the 1898 Castroville Hearse. It is reported that museum visitors have witnessed the car’s doors opening and closing on their own, voices emanating from inside the hearse and other unusual activity. Reportedly photographs of the car have shown ghostly figures, and some people have allegedly been able to make contact with the spirit that is attached to it. The funeral car will be on display near Everyday Paranormal’s booth, and team members will be on hand to answer questions.

If you will be in the San Antonio area next weekend, be sure not to miss the Texas Folklife Festival. The festival features song, dance, cultural exhibits, food and drink booths and even a haunted funeral car, making it the perfect outing for both locals and tourists alike.

Most funeral car enthusiasts purchase their cars for one of a few reasons. Some love the vehicles’ power. Some enjoy the quality craftsmanship. Many cite the cars’ ability to stand up well to hard use. Virtually all have one thing in common, however, a love for the vehicles’ innate beauty.

Now a funeral home in South Carolina may just have taken top honors for funeral car beauty. According to South Carolina’s The State, Hartsville’s Hines Funeral Home has just taken delivery of a custom-built hearse that is sure to be a real head turner.

The “Timeless Hearse,” as the owner calls it is unique in several ways. Rather than the traditional black, the hearse is painted in a brilliant white. However, it is the design that truly has people talking. It is based on a blend of the owner’s favorite features of three classic cars: the 1931 Rolls Royce, the 1932 Duisenberg and the 1934 Packard.

The chassis actually has two main frames rather than the traditional single frame, making the body 50% stronger. The vehicle features air suspension and a 5.3 liter V8 engine. The engine runs on gasoline, bio fuel or any mixture of the two.

The car’s body is made of a Kevlar composite, making it virtually impervious to corrosion. The trim is created from the highest grade surgical steel and hand polished to a perfect mirror finish. The wood is all hand polished African mahogany, also bearing a mirror finish. Even the hubcaps are unique, gold plated in 18k and featuring the funeral home’s name offset in black letters in the center.

The owners are mum on the total price of the new funeral car, but claim that it was less expensive than their usual budget for a new car. The vehicle is classic and elegant, and well worth a look.

When most people think of funeral cars, their minds automatically go to hearses. However, funeral directors are aware that there are actually several distinct types of funeral cars, each with a unique job function. Professional car enthusiasts clubs generally admit those who own any or all of the following vehicles.

First Call Vehicles
Technically, this is the least standardized type of funeral car. Its purpose is simply to retrieve the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home. Some funeral homes use their hearse for this purpose, but most find that it saves wear and tear on the hearse to reserve it strictly for funerals. A work van has historically been one of the most popular options, but many funeral homes prefer to use an older hearse or an SUV instead. Custom fittings can be installed to secure the casket or stretcher.

Hearses
These are the fancy cars that carry caskets during funerals. At one time, they were generally horse-drawn buggies, but now are usually based on strengthened car chassis. Hearses are available in a variety of styles and even colors.

Flower Cars
Flower cars were once a popular part of funeral processions but are fairly infrequently seen today, due to the increased expense. A flower car is similar to a hearse in design, but features a back that is open like a pickup truck. Some flower cars carry only flowers, while the casket rides in a traditional hearse. Other flower cars carry the casket as well, surrounded and topped by flowers.

Combination Cars
Not in use today due to modern advances in ambulance-carried medical equipment, combination cars were capable of serving as both hearse and ambulance. In many towns, it fell to the funeral director to make ambulance runs for the town, and in the interest of practicality, combination cars were developed. The most famous example in modern times may be the Ecto-1 of Ghostbusters fame.

Funeral car enthusiasts often collect multiple styles and types of funeral cars. Each has played a unique role in the history of funeral transportation.

Several days ago, we brought you information about a trio of young British guys who had purchased an inexpensive used funeral car for use in a cross-Europe road rally known as the Ramshackle Rally, which ends in Krakow, Poland. Another team, this one consisting of a group of four, recently had the same idea.

This group purchased an old, beaten up funeral car for use in a similar rally, the 1700 mile Dumball Rally from Brussels to Corfu. Like the others, Team Coffin Dodgers planned to raise money for a children’s charity.

Decked out in top hats and undertaker regalia, the four were in high spirits as they set out from Brussels. Unfortunately, only two hours later, the hearse was kaput. They knew they were taking a risk, as they had already had to repair a destroyed gearbox and a blown engine in the days leading up to the event, but they hoped the funeral car would make it a bit further before saying its final goodbyes. A blown head gasket was the car’s official death sentence.

Undaunted, however, the team carried on. After removing the thermostat failed to get the hearse moving, they abandoned it. Splitting into two groups, Team Coffin Dodgers joined others in their cars for the rest of the journey.

The problems continued, however, as Germany refused entry to the rally, necessitating a massive detour. Nonetheless, the team is confident that the rally will be a success and a great deal of money will be raised for their charity.

Road rallying is an exciting hobby that relies more on brains and navigational skills than on speed. Funeral cars are sometimes considered the ideal rally vehicles due to their (usually) indestructible nature.