A custom-made Land Rover Defender has been converted into a hearse for use by clients of a local Edinburgh funeral directors.
The family-owned Edinburgh firm William Purves, noted for conveying Her Majesty the Queen from Balmoral after she died in September 2022, has added a Defender 130 to its fleet following a complete refurbishment by independent Land Rover specialists Engine 710. The classic vehicle was changed significantly to perform as a premium Land Rover hearse.
Doug MacDowall, director at Engine 710 said: “This project was about reimagining the traditional Defender as a high-quality hearse, while not compromising the integrity of the Land Rover brand.
Built together with Andrew from William Purves, our specialist team of engineers were able to remodel the vehicle using original, specialist parts. Lowering the deck and adapting the doors is, we believe an industry first and we are proud to present this one-of-a-kind Defender hearse.”
Demand for more personalised funerals has grown in recent years, as families seek to commemorate their lost loved ones with unique, personal touches.
Unusual funeral transport is just one of the ways to present an element of individuality to the ceremony. William Purves has extensive experience of catering to families’ wishes, including Harley Davidson and VW Camper Van hearses, horse-drawn funeral carriages and even a Rolls Royce accompanied by a one-man band. The addition of the Defender hearse strengthens this offer by allowing Land Rover enthusiasts the option to choose this much-loved renowned vehicle for their final journey.
Andrew Purves, Director of William Purves, said: “Creating this specialised hearse has taken time and attention – it has been a labour of love – and we are now very pleased to offer our customers this classic vehicle for their final journey.
“For five generations, William Purves has helped countless bereaved families say goodbye in a way that is personal and significant to them. Funerals reflect a life lived, so whether that’s asking guests to wear a particular colour, share a dram of whisky at a graveside, or travel in the Defender Hearse, we support families to create bespoke celebrations for their final farewells.
“With the addition of this bespoke, purpose-built Land Rover Defender hearse, we can continue to deliver on our promise to offer grieving families the choice and freedom to create truly unique, memorable and meaningful funeral services that they can cherish forever”.
This vehicle is a first in Scotland and is expected to become popular among regular users of the vehicle and life-long fans. Taking direction from William Purves’ experienced team of funeral directors, Engine 710 created a custom-made deck low enough to allow coffins, floral tributes and other decoration to be on full display. The rear door has been engineered to open beyond the 90 degrees to facilitate the easy loading and removal of coffins.
Optimill hinges and LED lights are some of the quality additions that the five-door station wagon boasts, along with features typically found in hearses such as discreet drawers for Orders of Service or umbrellas.
William Purves’ Land Rover Defender Hearse is available to hire by members of the public and funeral directors here
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