Hearse owners on the rise?

John Royark JR

John Royark JR

PCS Member
This is something Ive been thinking about for awhile now. I see more and more hearse groups and owners, and was wondering do you think there is a record number of people owning hearses, or has it always remained about the same, but with so many media outlets now it just seems like they are getting very common?
 
I think it was and it's still very common but with the help of social medias they can now find themselves and get together. In the 50 kms around here, there is at least (except the furneral homes) 4 hearse nuts who own old or modified coaches... but they don't get out every day. I probably would never heard about PCS at tne end of 90's without internet.
 
I think there are probably more hearse owners now, than ever before. There are many reasons, but here are a few; 1 Hearses have become more main stream, due to clubs and acceptance at shows. 2 There are many reasons why people own hearses. 3 People are less inhibited now, about owning and driving hearses.
 
Martin Harvey said:
Compared to when? 5, 10 or 20 years ago?
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Any of those.
Just curious because I remember hardly ever running across a fellow hearse driver, (yeah, you always here the stories at car shows of I had one or know someone that had one in high school), but they seem to be such a mainstream fad now that you see them all the time. Just in my small rural area where the surrounding towns within a 25 mile radius all with only a few hundred people, there are about 10 hearses, and all think they are the only one.

Unfortunately, it also seems most of the kids that own them (not just the ones in my area, but the many FB sites and other internet sites) don't care what they are and rip them up and put seats in the back. Ive even told some what their coachbuilder is and that Cadillac don't make them (you know the drill) and they say they don't care, to them its just cool. I would thing they would want to know how unique it is, and how it was handcrafted by a conversion company, nut no, to them its a Cadillac Fleetwood and I don't know what I am talking about and "It will really be cool when I put seats in the back, and get a skull paint job".
 
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It does seem like popularity of hearses is on the rise although I don't see many people driving them daily like me or john. I agree that the internet makes it easier for owners to get together and probably does have a factor in popularity of the cars. You do have to think though, it's a different generation buying them now also. Within the last 4 or 5 years, several hearses have popped up in my area. Funny thing is that you see them quite a bit at first and then they disappear. Its the same thing over and over with people that buy these cars. They just lose the novelty of it after a while. They could care less about any kind of craftsmanship or cool history the car has. To them it's more about trying to be mister spooky. Like a friend of mine said, it's more like a purse to them, an accessory............. In ways, I get excited seeing hearses pop up on some if these T.V. shows which has seemed to be more often than enough lately but I dread it at the same time because they always have to do something stupid to the car. Soon enough, these cars will end up like all the car based ambulance ecto clones. That is one blessing of collecting hearses over ambulances. Last time I owned an ambulance, the Ghostbusters comment seemed like the only thing you would ever hear and it got old fast. I feel for the ambulance owners in the group. I'm not against modification. Modifications can make the car that much more user friendly and easier to get parts for when you need to fix it and get back on the road. I just hate seeing the same old corny things done to these cars. Hillbilly hack jobs, hokey Halloween decorations, cheap Wal-Mart accessories, stupid murals and so on. I take the same offense a mustang owner would take if they saw one of their cars cut in half and a dodge pick-up box bolted on the back. How can you applaud that? People just have really bad taste. The internet really has a lot to do with popularity of these cars. It has a huge impact on everything.
 
I have noticed like John , that there is a def rise and aceptence of hearses in general in the past 5 years or so.. When i first started in this hobby when i was 20 or so, i got a lot of strange looks and very little interest at car shows.. A lot middle fingers being flahed at me on the street as i drove by as well.. Now i get mobed at shows and a lot of thumbs up.. All withen the last few years.. I think it goes hand and hand with the increase popularity with hallowene and things.. Definetly more excepted now then in the past ...
 
i have noticed there definitely seems to be a lot of traffic online in the hearse groups. The dead ends facebook group seems to be getting between 1 and 3 new member requests each day. Some of these are international, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
 
Jeremy Moberg said:
They could care less about any kind of craftsmanship or cool history the car has. To them it's more about trying to be mister spooky. Like a friend of mine said, it's more like a purse to them, an accessory............. I dread it at the same time because they always have to do something stupid to the car. I just hate seeing the same old corny things done to these cars. Hillbilly hack jobs, hokey Halloween decorations, cheap Wal-Mart accessories, stupid murals and so on. How can you applaud that? People just have really bad taste.
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Well, I can see where you DEFINATELY stand sir. I'd be interested in knowing how many other PCS members share your view?
 
Well Rick I dont think you can totally dismiss what Jeremy says. I am sure we have all seen the effects of what he says. I still get people telling me what they would do if they owned my 1969 Superior ambulance.
 
I don't mean to sound so sour but after being into these cars for so long, it gets sickening seeing them all destroyed. There is really no other types of vehicles out there that get so brutally murdered by the masses. There are just so few pro-cars built. If you really have a problem with that view, maybe you're with the wrong club. Thats why I choose PCS over other clubs. On top of that, they're one of the most organized pro-car club in the world and the magazine is a wealth of knowledge. I think you'll find that not all PCS guys are bone stock people but most don't condone corny decorations. Thats what sets us apart from the rest. We're serious about the cars! Most people in the PCS are great people and have a genuine interest.

In regards to acceptance. Seems like most people could care less. At least up north here. You'll find that people park next to your car purposely just out of curiosity. Never had a problem driving them to work, to car shows, restaurants or really anywhere for that matter. I think a lot of it has to do you you as a person. If you drive around trying to stir up attention the wrong way, people don't like that. Same with the way you display your car. If you have a bunch of vulgar stickers on the back, you better know what to expect.
 
Just my two cents, no the Pro cars have no corner on the market on being destroyed. You have not been watching the 55 to 57 Chevrolets or the Camero Mustang crowd these things are being so aborted from original it makes a few skulls stickers or stupid seats look good. Granted the are lots more to pick from but the same mentality prevails (LOOKS COOL). PRO cars are definitely being noticed more. Example my wife took the S&S Commercial Glass six door to her dog training class at the firehouse. A bunch of riders on Sport Bikes swung in stopped looked took pictures "What a cool ride". Lets face it its far better to have a Pro Car modified and at least saved than have it crushed cause it brought more for iron than anyone else would pay for it. Thats the biggest issue all edgy Pro Cars face today they are heavy and have heavy radiators.
 
Well, I guess I never paid enough attention to which way the wind blows when it comes to how serious people are about how straight they keep their pro cars on this forum.
I didn't "hack" my car up by adding seats or a bigger motor or other etc. stuff, but I do have the obligatory vintage casket, and a few plastic skulls for decoration. The club I'm in ONLY display at car shows if the money goes to a recognized charity.
But there are those out there, (and they're entitled to their opinion) that we the general public buy these cars just to get noticed. I think its a fun ride and I've always wanted an old hearse since I was a teen. Now I'm in my mid 50s and finally have a 50s hearse.

Rant over,
Un-subscribe please.
 
each of us have our car for our reason. me I like getting noticed. that long black 6 door goes by and people stop to stair. the gold 6 door glides by and once again it's the looks. you take one of the older cars down town and people remember it. finding a jacked up rumble is easy. there is one on every street corner. all makes and models and some one is bemoaning that some one did that to it. but to see a nicely redone car gets everyone's attention. the roders want to do this and that to it. the we use to have one crown thinks back and I have never seen one bunch is wowed by it. goths want it funeral directors want it. having a stock car is way more cool then a tricked out one. just for this reason.
 
Rick McLaren said:
Well, I guess I never paid enough attention to which way the wind blows when it comes to how serious people are about how straight they keep their pro cars on this forum.
I didn't "hack" my car up by adding seats or a bigger motor or other etc. stuff, but I do have the obligatory vintage casket, and a few plastic skulls for decoration. The club I'm in ONLY display at car shows if the money goes to a recognized charity.
But there are those out there, (and they're entitled to their opinion) that we the general public buy these cars just to get noticed. I think its a fun ride and I've always wanted an old hearse since I was a teen. Now I'm in my mid 50s and finally have a 50s hearse.

Rant over,
Un-subscribe please.
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Rick, The PCS is for the preservation, restoration and display of these cars as they were built and meant to be by the manufacturer. Caskets or any kind of morbid display or slogans (skulls, monsters, things like that) are not even allowed at a PCS meet, and may be refused entrance. Yes there are some here that have modified cars, but for the most part they are frowned on.
That's why we love this club, it is for the craftsmanship of these rare dignified cars, not a goth Halloween fest that we can see how many walmart Halloween isles we can fit in the back. There are many other clubs out there for that.
This club started in 1976, when many shows would not even allow professional cars. Because of our standards, other clubs like the Cadillac LaSalle Club have slowly let these types of cars to be shown in their shows and recognize them as the work of art they are.
 
All I was saying is that PCS is not about the Halloween displays and such. I have caskets in my cars but I leave them home when attending PCS functions. Just a matter of opinion. I don't see a casket as a Halloween decoration, it's a piece of funeral history just like the car. Like any group, you're not gonna like everything 100% the same. You have your choice which club you can participate with. Nobody is stopping you. And the difference between pro-cars and tri 5 chevys/sports cars. Those are a dime a dozen. They're like butt holes, everyones got one. They made thousands of them when a pro-car, they made two to 300 of and some of those are not even alike. I'd rather see a lot of the mods that are done to tri-five chevys done to pro-cars. At least of lot of those mods are tastefully done. Like I said in my past post. I'm not against modification. I can respect a well done job. Even if it is a limo conversion in a hearse considering that it looks clean and well done. Not some mismatch red bench seat in a blue interior car. Aftermarket wheels considering it flows with the body style. I know its a matter of opinion. People always get ahead of themselves with these cars and just destroy them. PCS isn't gonna kick you off the show field for modification or anything like that. You will just be deducted points if you choose to get judged. It's the hokey decorations that will get you shoed away.
 
Rick McLaren said:
Well, I can see where you DEFINATELY stand sir. I'd be interested in knowing how many other PCS members share your view?
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I share his views. I am the kind of person who says "Do what you want. It's your car." I do feel that way but when it's the same cliche casket with a "rotting" corpse, skeleton door lock knobs, and the grim reaper murals painted on them, it does get old. Also, when someone asks me why I haven't cut the top off of it and made it a truck yet. Because if I wanted a truck, i would have bought a truck. And another one is, "Did you buy it because Tony Stewart has one?" No I bought it because I used for it's intended purpose, when I left the business I kept it.:rolleyes:
 
Jeremy Moberg said:
I have caskets in my cars but I leave them home when attending PCS functions. Just a matter of opinion. I don't see a casket as a Halloween decoration, it's a piece of funeral history just like the car. .
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I agree a VINTAGE casket may be a part of funeral history, but that's not what the PCS is about. Its about the cars. Its the Professional CAR Society, not the Professional Funeral History Society.
Once when I asked why caskets are not allowed even if its tasteful, their reply really stuck with me and it all made sense. The PCS is about the craftsmanship of these rare cars, and a casket is not part of the car or does it come with the car. It is just something owned by a customer and the coach is being used to haul it, just like a pick up is used to haul cargo.
Im not as much of a purist as many others here, but Im getting closer and closer every day. I used to carry a casket in all my hearses all the time, but anymore very rarely do I have one in them. The more I see hacked up customized ones, the more I appreciate the stock ones even more. I am also proud to know almost all of mine can be used for a dignified funeral at any time. If it was not for the people saving them and restoring them to stock, there will be none left, but a lot of stupid cheezy limo conversions or horrible Ghostbusters cars.
 
Mine is somewhat modified, but still casket ready and appears stock to most non hearse people.

When i got the coach, it had these faux opera lights. i removed them and added real ones donated by a fellow NHAA member. Oddly enough, the wiring was already inside the pillars. I'm not sure what the deal was with that.
 
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