Business Daily Media

Men's Weekly

.

Funeral home unveils Australian-first - Model A Ford Hot Rod hearse

  • Written by Diane Falzon


When local Melbourne-based funeral home, Oakdale Funerals, decided that a prestige Model A Ford Hot Rod hearse should become part of their hearse offering, they did not realise that it would become a two-and-a-half-year labour of love.

David and Anne Allison, Founders and owners of Oakdale Funerals in Mooroolbark, joined forces with Deuce Customs in Bayswater, to source and create the head-turning and sophisticated Ford Hot Rod hearse, which sounds as good as it looks.

The striking hearse, an Australian-first, is a celebration of mechanical innovation and elegant aesthetic appeal.  It is sleek, refined and functional, injecting an in-demand level of uniqueness to Australian funerals.

According to Anne, the reason in creating the hot rod hearse was simple.

“We found that in the six years since we started our business, that families were looking  for exclusive ways to say goodbye to their loved ones.  For many, it has been rethinking the use of traditional limousine hearses, offering and showcasing another vehicle which had significant visual impact, yet remained tasteful and reflective of the day.”

The build started with an original Ford 1931 Model AA truck chassis combined with a 1931 Model A Tudor Body.  The body was modified and stretched and state-of-the art components were used in the build including a 350 Chevrolet engine.  The hearse is all steel apart from a fibreglass Mercedes cloth covered roof, in keeping with the look of early Model A Fords.

Combining tradition and the need for modern appeal, Foose 105 Legend chrome wheels were added to enhance the hot rod appearance., with 19-inch wheels fitted to the rear and 17-inch wheels to the front. 

Anne says, “The end result is a hearse that looks amazing, as well as driving and handling very well.  We have beautifully balanced the practicality and functionality of the various components, including what was needed in the rear cabin with the installation of the extensive stainless-steel roller and securing system for safe coffin transportation.”

We are proud to offer the hot rod hearse to our client families along with our regular Ford hearse.   The hot rod will be offered not only for Melbourne funerals but is also available to regional Victorian centres.

The Hot Rod has already been used in a handful of funerals, with funeral guests in awe of its uniqueness and sophistication.

We believe the hearse is a perfect way in which to honor hot rod lovers, Ford enthusiasts, car enthusiasts or for families who want a truly special vehicle in which to farewell their loved one.

Visit https://www.oakdalefunerals.com.au/ for more details on the Hot Rod hearse.

Tacking the skills shortage — why L&D is failing and what to do about it

The Australian economy is in a tough spot right now, and a huge part of the problem is a massive skills shortage. Late last year, businesses were st...

How reducing revenue leakage could help your business stay in the black in FY2026

It’s time to stop legacy revenue management platforms and processes draining your profitability. Is boosting the bottom line an overarching goal ...

Technical Debt Stifling Path to AI Adoption for Global Enterprises

Outdated legacy technologies costing organisations the ability to innovate, money, time and potentially, even customers Technical debt and an ov...

Attract. Impress. Keep. The new small business growth playbook

Running a small business is a marathon that often feels like a sprint. You are chasing leads, juggling admin, building a brand and trying to carve...

Amazon to expand data centre infrastructure in Australia and strengthen AI

Amazon has announced plans to invest a new total of AU$20 billion from 2025 to 2029 to expand, operate, and maintain its data centre infrastructur...

How AI is Reshaping Banking in Australia

AI in the Banking and Financial Services Industry  From fraud detection and credit scoring to personalised financial advice, AI is transforming t...

Sell by LayBy