Borders funeral director unveils Scotland’s first Land Rover Defender hearse

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Fans of the iconic Land Rover Defender can now choose the classic vehicle for their final farewell, as William Purves Funeral Directors unveils a custom-made Land Rover Defender hearse for families and funeral directors to hire.

The family-owned funeral firm, which is headquartered in Edinburgh, with several branches in the Borders, added the Defender 130 to its fleet following a complete refurbishment by independent Land Rover specialists Engine 710, which saw the classic vehicle undergo significant work to perform as a premium Land Rover hearse.

The first of its kind to park up in Scotland, the Defender is expected to be a favourite among regular users of the vehicle and life-long fans.

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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.

Land Rover Defender Hearse.Land Rover Defender Hearse.
Land Rover Defender Hearse.

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.

Doug MacDowall, director at Engine 710 said of the project: “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.”

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Demand for more personalised funerals has grown in recent years, as families seek to commemorate their lost loved ones with unique, personal touches.

Leslie Stewart.Leslie Stewart.
Leslie Stewart.

Unusual funeral transportation 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 such as a Harley Davidson hearse, horse-drawn funeral carriages, a tractor hearse 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.

Leslie Stewart, the Borders branch manager, said of the Defender: “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.

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“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.

The Land Rover.The Land Rover.
The Land Rover.

“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."

William Purves’ Land Rover Defender Hearse is available to hire by members of the public and funeral directors here.

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