Caddy Fleetwood Serves as a Traditional Japanese Hearse
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Traditional ornate Japanese hearses are like rolling temples. They’re usually built on rear-wheel-drive Japanese luxury sedans, like Toyota Crowns or Centurys. But some are built atop American cars, like this 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham hearse recently offered on eBay in Chatsworth, Calif.
Riding to Paradise
Miyagata (Japanese for shrine-type) hearses feature a coffin section typically made of carved wood with elaborate gold-leaf motifs derived from Japan’s ancestral religion of Shinto Buddhism. They often depict the Buddhist version of paradise, sometimes called Sukhavati—along with lotus flowers, a symbol of reincarnation.
Each region of Japan has its own style of Miyagata hearses with slight variations in the designs.
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Taking your last ride in a foreign-made car is blasphemous in some parts of the US, but it’s not a big deal in Japan. Many hearse builders choose large American cars because they’re easier to convert.
American sedans continued to be constructed with a body-on-frame architecture long after monocoque designs became commonplace in Japan. This allowed hearse builders to easily scrap and replace the rear bodywork.
The truck-like frames also support more weight, as do the larger stock engines designed to haul the beefy chassis. Cadillacs - opens in new window or tab. and Lincolns - opens in new window or tab. were among the most popular imported cars used as foundations for hearses.
Changing Taste, Changing Times
In recent years, Miyagata hearses have become less popular. American automakers are no longer making body-on-frame sedans. The cost of maintaining an older car in Japan increases with time, due to strict road safety inspections and increasingly stringent safety regulations. Vehicles with increased engine displacement and physical dimensions are also taxed more in Japan.
In addition, younger generations see Miyagata hearses as ostentatious. Nowadays, people tend to prefer Western-style, wagon-like hearses.
These shifting trends mean this Cadillac Miyagata hearse is an incredible bargain. A typical Miyagata hearse can easily cost ¥20 million, which in 1993 would equal approximately $200,000. The seller says this particular conversion cost $450,000 back then. But it could be yours for the Buy-It-Now price of $35,750.
The Cadillac has covered only 26,500 miles, and it was likely very carefully driven. The seller says it needs nothing mechanically, though it does have a few cosmetic blemishes due to age and wear. The engine bay, with its 5.7-liter V-8 - opens in new window or tab., looks brand new.
This Cadillac Miyagata hearse has a dragon motif, with several carved dragons on the outside and inside of the coffin chamber, plus dragons painted on its ceiling. Images of dragons are common in Buddhist temples.
There are heavy steel rails on the floor to support the coffin. The seller says the chamber is removable.
You might balk at the idea of driving a car that has been used to transport the dead. But some enthusiasts (and spiritual seekers) will see the combination of Miyagata tradition and Cadillac legacy as good karma.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.