This might have been discussed but since I'm new.....

[Honey_Badger]

So you'd be ok with this

HEARSE - Has an extended frame and custom molded body & glass. Complete 100% built as what it is.

or this

HEARSE - Has an extended frame and custom molded body & glass. Complete 100% built as what it is.

.

or even this

HEARSE - Has an extended frame and custom molded body & glass. Complete 100% built as what it is. CAN BE USED AS LEAD CAR.

If so then why would this be so wrong

SERVICE CAR (NO HEARSE) - Used for removals, flowers and all the etc. in the day to day operations of a home. NOT a lead car. AKA FUNERAL GROCERY GETTER.

And why we are on the subject, what about this...

DOLL'D UP CAR (NO HEARSE)- Nothing special but a custom cap, cannot haul a casket. No frame work. Could not be used in a service. 100% Toy.

The Reaper's rod as Eternal combustion pointed out is a prime example.

.

HEARSE - Has an extended frame and custom molded body & glass. Complete 100% built as what it is. CAN BE USED FOR A FUNERAL LEAD CAR.
Also just completely BAD ASS! A vision of hearse that was designed and built as a hearse.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]13124[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]13123[/ATTACH]
I own a 1959 Park Row. An actual Combination Coach, and I really love my period Funeral Coach. I also like the styling on hearses. So, I don't care who hates it, but when it came to our 2006 Dodge Durango, I enjoyed blanking off the rear windows, and placing Landau Bars from DNR industries on the rear quarters. I also changed the front end, so I could install Peterbilt styled headlights. I get a lot of compliments for this car, and this one is my dayly driver. By the way, I do carry an actual coffin in the back, and installed a couple of plauqes with angels, over what used to be the side rear windows on the inside of the "casket compartment".
[ATTACH=CONFIG]13125[/ATTACH]

DOLL'D UP TRUCK (NOT A HEARSE) - However, it is very cool and kudos for all the work to get it to look this good. I would own it! lol If someone didn't know that it was originally a regular truck, no one would be the wiser that an individual did the work and not a coach builder from the outside. As the only thing that gives this away is there is no roller floor in the rear. Granted Otto, you have to be able to haul the "vertical" Vs. the "horizontal". LOL

However, you own a Park Row. You know what real is! LOL As the Durango being a daily driver, it is a sharp one.

[60Crown]

And what about the other way around, a hearse converted to a normal car. I have a family of four and 3 dogs. We like to cruise as a family, so unless I am VERY lucky and find a combo I will be removing much of what made the hearse a hearse in the first place.

Slight twist: If you're VERY lucky you'll find someone's aborted hearse-to-limo conversion project. Many have initial grandiose visions before running out of time, money, or life gets in the way, or perhaps they're also not as financially invested in their passions. Very very few have legit reasoning for gutting and repurposing a hearse other than desire, yet the process seems commonplace. I'll bet if you seriouly started looking that one can be found not only feasibly but already started.

There really isn't 'need' to gut more when so many are already floating around. Same logic borrowed from all those Ecto-clone pissants that can't wait to tear into a virgin MM and FUBAR it when other abandoned examples can be had.

[Honey_Badger]

On a serious note for all the coach owners.

How sick do you get when some see's your BLACK hearse that is any year other that a 59 and they comment GHOSTBUSTERS!???

This is my point in contributing to this thread so heavy. My coaches are like family members to me, they each have their flaws, personalities and unique traits that only a true hand built car can have. As many know it takes a lot of time, patience and socially piss off moments when owning a "real deal". It don't take a special group to haze you in as a member, just the fact of owning the coach is enough since the public and the coach has hazed you enough already. This group is the NHAA.

Just simply call your car what it is. Not what you want it to be.

Now I have this MAJOR want for an imaginary friend for some reason? Like some want an imaginary hearse.

[LMS]

How sick do you get when some see's your BLACK hearse that is any year other that a 59 and they comment GHOSTBUSTERS!???

While we were at the Harley dealer in Asheville some young girl (late teens, early twenties, young to me) came out and said "wow it's like Ghostbusters".

[EternalCombustion]

Actually, I have never really had the ghostbusters thing. But I did have a reoccurring thing that always made my blood boil. After the TV show aired about a particular custom hearse whenever I showed up at a car show people would yell "Tony Stewert", like I copied him or something. It didn't matter that I had my car long before he had the idea, just because he is famous I must have copied him.

[Otto Baron]

I owned that Durango new as a stock vehicle for five years, before I gothed it up. I love cars from the 1930's, and it was just a case of having some fun with something I already owned, and liked. The Hemi engine is a great performer, and we're very comfortable riding around in it. Of course, I've owned "Dr. Jeckyl" for over a decade, so it was never a case of trying to satisfy my desire to own a hearse; rather then to have something like a Munster Koach, "Surf Hearse", or Harold's Jaguar.

[Guest]

We saw some pretty nice limo conversions at the meet in asheville. two of the three were from Carolina Coffin Cruisers. We have had two limo conversions in Dead Ends - Ethyl, which is now defunct, and Morticia - Nick and Chassidy's white collins coach.

I think Kevin was the one who modded Ethyl, but Nick and Chass bought theirs already converted. Both of these are 80's coaches.

the thing that makes my blood boil is when someone starts telling me what i should do to my coach. Miss Abigail will stay casket-ready. The only thing i'm considering in the way of custom is whether or not to leave the original decking with 20+ years of casket wear, or whether i should put in a hardwood deck - like the beds of classic trucks with the aluminum runners, etc.

[Otto Baron]

I have a friend still in California, with a gothed out hearse. However, he took a fairly trashed out one, that would have probably been crushed if he hadn't taken it on. I perfer keeping my hearse casket ready. To me, a hearse is a work of art, and I like keeping mine stock.

[Abnorml]

We saw some pretty nice limo conversions at the meet in asheville. two of the three were from Carolina Coffin Cruisers.



the thing that makes my blood boil is when someone starts telling me what i should do to my coach. Miss Abigail will stay casket-ready. The only thing i'm considering in the way of custom is whether or not to leave the original decking with 20+ years of casket wear, or whether i should put in a hardwood deck - like the beds of classic trucks with the aluminum runners, etc.

Both hearses were bought like that. Sally, Darrell's chopped top has a bench seat in the back and Betsy, Paul's 68 has 4 captain chairs and and bench. I got to ride in both over the weekend. Bert has a 94 she put two bench seats in. She didn't bring it to the meet.

I have people ask me what I'm going to do with my hearse. I say leave Her stock. The only changes I have or will make are not noticeable to most people. I like having a stock hearse as it freaks more people out, because most people think it's still in service. Even if it's 30-40 years old.

[ThePostalJester]

We saw some pretty nice limo conversions at the meet in asheville. two of the three were from Carolina Coffin Cruisers. We have had two limo conversions in Dead Ends - Ethyl, which is now defunct, and Morticia - Nick and Chassidy's white collins coach.

I think Kevin was the one who modded Ethyl, but Nick and Chass bought theirs already converted. Both of these are 80's coaches.

the thing that makes my blood boil is when someone starts telling me what i should do to my coach. Miss Abigail will stay casket-ready. The only thing i'm considering in the way of custom is whether or not to leave the original decking with 20+ years of casket wear, or whether i should put in a hardwood deck - like the beds of classic trucks with the aluminum runners, etc.

I would leave the original wood as is. It is heritage.

[Creepy Cruiser]

Actually, I have never really had the ghostbusters thing. But I did have a reoccurring thing that always made my blood boil. After the TV show aired about a particular custom hearse whenever I showed up at a car show people would yell "Tony Stewert", like I copied him or something. It didn't matter that I had my car long before he had the idea, just because he is famous I must have copied him.

I had the same problem, it really started to piss me off as well. Finally, it's been long enough, that very few people remember it now.

the thing that makes my blood boil is when someone starts telling me what i should do to my coach.

It gets on my last nerve as well. I always get the "You know, you should put a big coffin full of speakers in the back of that thing.". I tell them "it's already been done, by me, way back in 1987 in my first '64 coach, before you were even born, why would I do that again?". And the "You should put hydraulics on that thing.". "Ummmm, you're right I should, I guess I can't drive it at all, since the body is sitting on the ground right now, lol". "And I guess air suspension isn't cool at all, right?".

Common people are idiots!

And back to the subject at hand: To me, A true coach built Hearse that was in service at one time, is a Hearse, and everything else isn't, lol.

[ThePostalJester]

I had the same problem, it really started to piss me off as well. Finally, it's been long enough, that very few people remember it now.



It gets on my last nerve as well. I always get the "You know, you should put a big coffin full of speakers in the back of that thing.". I tell them "it's already been done, by me, way back in 1987 in my first '64 coach, before you were even born, why would I do that again?". And the "You should put hydraulics on that thing.". "Ummmm, you're right I should, I guess I can't drive it at all, since the body is sitting on the ground right now, lol". "And I guess air suspension isn't cool at all, right?".

Common people are idiots!

And back to the subject at hand: To me, A true coach built Hearse that was in service at one time, is a Hearse, and everything else isn't, lol.

OK Creepy Cruiser is just SICK!!! Very nice!

[Creepy Cruiser]

Thank you.

It's been a fun build.

[pyro]

My turn to add my opinion, since it was solicited for.

Do what you want, with what you can afford. Others will bag on you, but dont let the A-holes get you down. Your time, your money. Just dont be stupid, and realize what you have.

[Otto Baron]

I don't know if I mentioned, that I used to love those Abbot and Hast station wagon conversions from some years back. A lot of effort went into them, (Including padded roof with laundau bars and fancy draperies in the side window) and although too small to carry a full size coffin, the were perfect for removals and children funerals. I especially liked the ford conversions, because the rear door could be opened like the back door of an actual hearse. They were also a lot more stylish then the Dodge Caravan style removal vehicles that many funeral homes now use.