Photo: Barrett-Jackson
In the world of automobiles, hearses are the black sheep. Used to move dead people around, they’re loathed, avoided, and generally never advertised. Maybe that’s why in all the history of motoring, only one hearse/ambulance rose to celebrity status: the 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor professional chassis known as Ecto-1.
Famous as it is, the Ecto-1 still lacks the fun factor, as it too has to do with dead people in a way. And until the car you see in the gallery above came along, we were pretty sure no hearse would ever put a smile on our faces.
Believe it or not, what you see here is a 1972 Cadillac hearse, custom-built by someone with a lot of imagination.
The builder's name is Richard Fletcher, a man who describes himself as “a manufacturer of special cars for the cinema and actors.” His creation is a hearse that stays true to its original goal, but seems to be a lot happier. Maybe it’s the colors, maybe the cartoonish large skull and crossbones fitted on the front, or the pirate motif of the build, but the fun factor is definitely there.
The Caddy has been modified to feature a double axle at the front, which is its most striking feature. The 500ci V8 engine behind the front skull lies exposed and brightly colored, just as the pair of unusually shaped four-into-one exhaust manifolds that looms above the engine.
The builder of the car says the machine, dubbed Pirate Surf Mobile, runs and drives, but that’s not possible on public streets as it is not road legal.
Even so, it would make a hell of an outdoor party accessory for those willing to pay. The Surf Mobile is for sale, and will be on the grounds of the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, in January 2020.
The car is listed as for sale with no reserve, meaning the highest bidder gets it regardless of price.
UPDATE: sold for $9,900.
Believe it or not, what you see here is a 1972 Cadillac hearse, custom-built by someone with a lot of imagination.
The builder's name is Richard Fletcher, a man who describes himself as “a manufacturer of special cars for the cinema and actors.” His creation is a hearse that stays true to its original goal, but seems to be a lot happier. Maybe it’s the colors, maybe the cartoonish large skull and crossbones fitted on the front, or the pirate motif of the build, but the fun factor is definitely there.
The Caddy has been modified to feature a double axle at the front, which is its most striking feature. The 500ci V8 engine behind the front skull lies exposed and brightly colored, just as the pair of unusually shaped four-into-one exhaust manifolds that looms above the engine.
The builder of the car says the machine, dubbed Pirate Surf Mobile, runs and drives, but that’s not possible on public streets as it is not road legal.
Even so, it would make a hell of an outdoor party accessory for those willing to pay. The Surf Mobile is for sale, and will be on the grounds of the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, in January 2020.
The car is listed as for sale with no reserve, meaning the highest bidder gets it regardless of price.
UPDATE: sold for $9,900.
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