Useful Insights about Hearses

Hearses are different from any other type of motor vehicle. They are specifically built for the purpose of transporting the deceased. These cars are used to carry bodies to a cemetery, church or crematorium. Hearses have encountered transformations over time and look differently from one culture to another.

The first known hearses were horse-drawn wagons, which are usually enclosed by carved, wooden panels. In some cases, their walls are made of glass in order to display the coffin. Motorised hearses began to be used by funeral directors in the early 1900s after realising that these vehicles would pay for themselves, despite their high cost. Accordingly, these cars have the ability to move faster, bringing more funerals in less time. However, it took some time before motorised hearses were considered elegant enough for a funeral. By the early 1920s, motorised hearses were widely used and accepted.

Most hearses are made from customised luxury cars. The limousine style is popular in Europe, especially in England, while the landau style is widely known in America. European funeral vehicles tend to feature more glass than the American type, and usually have their windows unobstructed and not tinted to allow a better view of the casket. Hearses are necessary in transporting large-size coffins that will not fit into regular-sized vehicles. They are also helpful in keeping the solemn nature of the memorial. Aside from that though, hearses are actually collected by various enthusiasts all over the world. Some of them just like the gloomy nature of the vehicle while others are attracted to their cultural meaning.