So what are the requirements for a hearse?<\/p>\n First of all, you\u2019re going to need a five-door job, as the coffin goes in and out of the tailgate. Obviously, a five-door hatchback isn\u2019t going to do the job, as it isn\u2019t long enough in the back.\u00a0 Oddly enough, MPV vehicles don\u2019t seem to be used as hearses, at least as far as I have seen, although this may change, given the carrying capacity of these vehicles and the increase in crossover vehicles that combine elegant styling (a must for a hearse) with a long rear load space.\u00a0 According to one undertaker I spoke to about preferred vehicles, Ford Falcon <\/a>\u00a0and Holden Commodore <\/a>\u00a0station wagons are pretty popular, and just about any big station wagon would do, as long as the rear seats fold completely flat. A quick flick around a used hearse sale site (you really can find anything online), reveals that the Saab 9-5 <\/a>, Mercedes Benz E Class <\/a>\u00a0and even the odd Daimler gets used.<\/p>\n Next come the styling considerations.\u00a0 Obviously, something in bright zippy red isn\u2019t going to go down too well.\u00a0 Black seems to be the most popular choice, although dark greys, deep green and navy blue would also work, although I haven\u2019t seen a hearse in these colours yet.\u00a0 A touch of chrome isn\u2019t out of place here and there. Big rear windows are also on the shopping list for a lot of undertakers, or they get added as a modification.<\/p>\n Power and performance aren\u2019t high on the list of considerations for a hearse, although a canny undertaker would probably want something with decent fuel economy.\u00a0 Hearses don\u2019t have to go fast, seeing as funeral processions to the church and the graveside tend to be solemn, dignified drives. Or should be \u2013 at my father-in-law\u2019s funeral, we had quite a way to go along rural roads to the grave site and the hearse driver didn\u2019t half plant his boot and nearly lost some of the other drivers in the procession. \u00a0Good suspension and handling for smoothing out bumps and corners without sending wreaths slithering and bouncing all around the place are a bonus.<\/p>\n Then come the modifications. The most important modification is a little roller device mounted in what was the back of the rear seat so the coffin slides in and out easily.\u00a0 Another common modification in hearses is a \u201cwreath rail\u201d, designed to rest floral emblems on so they can be seen clearly from outside the vehicle. \u00a0Other modifications are possible, including the flamboyant additions seen on some Japanese hearses.<\/p>\n Some hearses are quite old vehicles that are starting to push classic status. Hearses don\u2019t get driven every day and when they do, they\u2019re usually given short, sedate drives. This means that they don\u2019t see as much wear and tear as other commercial vehicles and last a lot longer.<\/p>\n![\"hearse1\"](\"http:\/\/blog.privatefleet.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/hearse1.jpg\")
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