One of the grandest stars of the motoring scene has become the UK’s most luxurious hearse.
Described by Top Gear as the “most compelling four-door luxury saloon on sale today”, the stately Bentley Flying Spur is one of the classiest cars on the market, driven by the rich and not necessarily famous. And at around £200,000, it’s out of reach of most people.
While Bentleys are usually driven to expensive business lunches and for leisurely strolls around the countryside, one such Flying Spur model has been converted by Wigan-based company Wilcox Limousines to take deceased people to their last resting place. And what a glorious send-off, taken to your own funeral in brilliant opulence.
Wilcox Limousines is a family-run business of more than 70 years standing, who specialise in converting cars into hearses. And they have just released their finest conversion yet, hence the moniker of ‘UK’s most luxurious hearse’.
The Bentley hearse has been made using the finest materials and designs – ensuring its intuitive storage areas, soft leathers, veneers, and up-to-the-minute technology that will make the vehicle memorable for many years. The hearse houses a four-litre V8 engine, meaning the base vehicle gracefully achieves 0-60mph in just four seconds.
The vehicle has a payload of 650kg, whilst also being made predominantly of carbon fibre. The car also has three driving modes.
Wilcox Limousines have recently delivered the vehicle to its first owners, London-based W.Uden & Sons Family Funeral Directors, who were drawn to its immaculate interior and impressive all-round performance.
Jade Wilcox, managing director of Wilcox Limousines, said: “The Bentley Flying Spur hearse is a real triumph for the team. This was a challenging design and when presented with such a beautiful vehicle, it’s so important that the conversion process remains sympathetic to this level of luxury.
“We couldn’t be happier with the final outcome and are delighted its first owners will be a dynamic funeral director like W.Uden & Sons. We have been handcrafting vehicles for generations and I think it's safe to say this is the most eye-catching vehicle we have ever produced.”
Wilcox Limousines were founded in 1948 and is run by second and third-generation family members and employs more than 70 staff across two locations in Wigan and Northampton. And at this year’s CQI International Quality Awards, they were honoured by scooping the Quality Organisation of the Year award.
W.Uden & Sons Family Funeral Directors are thrilled to be the hearse’s new owners, with managing director Matthew Uden saying: “We’re delighted to have the new Bentley Flying Spur hearse as part of our funeral offering – and we’re especially pleased to be the first to own it. It’s only when you see the vehicle up close that you appreciate the master craftsmanship, which, for us, makes it the most luxurious hearse currently on the market.
“Funerals are all about reflection and the collective celebration of a person’s life, and this hearse is a vehicle that will offer individuals a dignified and memorable send off. Its performance is as impressive as the way it looks, and being able to offer families the opportunity to give their loved one their final journey in such a quality, beautiful vehicle is very important to us.”
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