Land Rover Defender offered as unique hearse option by Elgin funeral director WG Catto
A funeral director has become the first in Scotland to offer a custom-made Land Rover for hire as a hearse.
Elgin firm WG Catto has added the Defender 130 to its fleet for those who want to make their “final farewell” in the classic vehicle.
The late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, had his coffin carried in a modified Land Rover in 2021.
The duke, who died at the age of 99 in 2021, had worked on creating the hearse for 16 years.
His modifications included an open top rear section where his coffin was placed while the vehicle itself was painted military green.
But the unique send-off isn’t reserved solely for royalty and WG Catto expects the four-wheel drive, known for its off-road capabilities, to be a favourite among their clients.
Bob Proctor, the firm’s director, says creating the specialised hearse has been a “labour of love”.
The firm believes the unusual funeral transportation offers families the chance to add another element of “individuality” to ceremonies.
Mr Proctor said: “We are very pleased to offer our customers this classic vehicle for their final journey.
“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.”
The vehicle has been completely refurbished by independent Land Rover specialists Engine 710 to ensure it can function as a hearse.
The significant work includes a custom-made deck that is low enough to allow coffins, floral tributes and other decorations to be fully displayed.
The back door has been engineered to open beyond the standard 90 degrees to facilitate the easy loading and removal of coffins.
But the vehicle also features LED lights along with discreet drawers for Orders of Service or umbrellas.
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 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.”
William Purves, which owns WG Catto, offers a wide variety of funeral transportation.
That includes a Harley Davidson hearse, horse-drawn funeral carriages, a WV Camper Van hearse and even a Rolls Royce accompanied by a one man band.
The business says the addition of the Defender hearse serves to strengthen its offering to families.
The Defender is available to hire for both funeral directors and families.
