Summer 2024 saw family-owned funeral directors, William Purves, launch a refurbished Land Rover Defender hearse.
Funeral Director Andrew Purves, said of the premium funeral hearse: “As a Land Rover fan, it is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I know there are countless others like me who would go to great lengths to have the Land Rover for their final journey because it means so much to them in life.”
Independent Land Rover specialists, Engine 710, were approached with the concept and so began a journey of creation as they fused hearse requirements with Land Rover vehicle and parts to create a bespoke and authentic solution. A donor 110 station wagon was swiftly identified which offered the right mileage, basic features and potential for upgrade. Many months later emerged the Land Rover Defender hearse – the first of its kind to feature a bespoke panoramic roof, a new chassis, customised low deck to allow a coffin plus a floral tribute to be seen, LED lights and a fully opening back door.
Andrew said: “We’ve heard families say time and time again, if only we could take [their loved one] in a Defender or the car we really wanted would be a Land Rover. One woman even insisted that before she died, if we didn’t have our car ready by the time, I was to ensure her family would include her own Defender, that’s how meaningful it was to her. Now we’ve got the car, it’s been a common theme that family follow in their own or the deceased’s Defender as part of the cortege.
Defenders are part of the family. The launch of the new Land Rover has been met with such enthusiasm – we know what a difference it has made to those who’ve used it since it’s launch. We’re thrilled it’s now fully available to anyone wanting to plan ahead and encourage anyone with questions to contact us to find out more.”
Interested in hiring our Land Rover Defender Hearse? Book via our enquiry form here.