T-Pain’s 1991 Cadillac Hearse Reeked of Death and Embalming Fluid: ‘We Had to Febreze the Hell out of the Car’
Celebrities love buying expensive cars. But they also enjoy customizing their rides to make them unique. Rapper T-Pain often shows off his vehicle modifications in videos he shares with fans. But one of his acquisitions isn’t a typical luxury car. It’s a custom-painted 1991 Cadillac hearse that commands attention everywhere it rolls.
However, when he first bought the Caddy, he had to go heavy on the Febreze to remove the “scent of death,” the rapper remarked. What else did T-Pain say about his former hearse? And how did it turn out when he finished customizing it?
Specs for T-Pain’s 1991 Cadillac hearse
Diving into the specs for T-Pain’s 1991 Cadillac hearse, it’s clear this car was already something special. Also known as funeral coaches, Cadillac hearses feature cavernous cabins big enough to transport a coffin. And even though Motor Authority called T-Pain’s car the “world’s ugliest,” the publication also said it’s the “most awesome.”
It was a sight to behold. It was also no Sunday slouch under the hood, packing a 5.0-liter V8 engine. T-Pain had big plans for this hearse, though. And it was his love of the Miami Dolphins and strange customizations that inspired what he did next. This 1991 Cadillac Hearse was in for a serious transformation.
The customization process for T-Pain’s ride
It might just be what Autoevolution calls the “craziest celebrity car ever.” And T-Pain went to great lengths to customize it.
He added a blue coffin made of fiberglass and outfitted it with speakers and TV monitors. He had it painted bright orange and baby blue. He set it on 28-inch rims. He even installed a push-button rear door opener. But despite the Caddy’s tricked-out new looks, T-Pain said people were afraid of it because of its previous life.
Because the Cadillac hearse had transported the deceased, it had frequently been exposed to odors associated with embalming fluid. So the distinct smell permeated the car’s interior. But after replacing the cabin’s materials and spraying a few bottles of Febreze air freshener, T-Pain rid the vehicle of the unpleasant smell.
How the finished product turned out in the end
T-Pain nicknamed his customized 1991 Cadillac hearse the “Danielle Marino” in honor of retired Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino and because cars, like boats, should be “named after the ladies.”
According to HotCars, the Cadillac hearse earned another moniker — “The Dolphin Killer” — thanks to the death mobile’s stench. “We had to Febreze the hell out of the car,” he said.
T-Pain loved the makeover on his 1991 Cadillac hearse. He even put it on display to give fans a tour. It’s a custom project he’s proud to share, including a fake skeleton in a coffin. The rapper even included Dolphin Killer images on his Thr33 Ringz album cover art. And he grinned ear to ear while driving it to the Super Bowl in Miami.
It’s unknown if he still owns his customized Cadillac hearse. In more recent tours of T-Pain’s car collection, the artist doesn’t mention the spooky ride turned crazy-fun car.