The World’s Fastest Hearse Gets You to the Cemetery at 160 MPH
Forget the funeral procession with police escorts, just tell everyone to get out of the way because the world’s fastest hearse is blowing through. This joke could get me in trouble, but you could say it’s faster than hell.
What is the world’s fastest hearse?
While a traditional hearse isn’t exactly known for speed, the world’s fastest hearse exists. The Guinness Book of World Records has had a category for the fastest hearse for decades.
One day, Arne Toman was flipping through the book and saw that in 2005, the world’s fastest hearse was known as the ‘Undead’ from Australia. It can reach up to 98 mph, which seemed slow to Arne, so he set out to crush the record.
A Cadillac hearse wouldn’t cut it. He needed something sportier like a Chevrolet Caprice or Buick Roadster. He found a 1996 Caprice from Superior Motors in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was rust-free and perfect.
Arne named his project, ‘Madness’ after his favorite Iron Maiden song, “Can I play with Madness?” He decided not to hut the hearse. Instead, he kept it as a street car with a functioning radio, AC, the rear deck, and rollers for caskets.
He replaced the engine is an LS-based Chevrolet V8 turbo. He tuned it to 1,000 hp, which allowed the hearse to reach 160 mph.
It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 2.26 seconds. It can crush a quarter mile in 9.54 seconds at 146 mph.
The turbo kit has Twin Garett 67 mm turbos, PTP turbo blankets, an AMS Performance custom 4.5” front mount intercooler, Tial 44mm wastegates, and Tial 50mm blowoff valves.
It uses a 4L85e by Andy’s performance transmission, a 3600 10.5” FTI stall converter, Driveshaft Shop carbon fiber driveshaft, a Moser 9” Strange Pro aluminum center, Strange 40 spline axles, Strange 3.50 gear, AMS Performance customer transmission cooler, a B&M billet shifter, and Hurst roll control.
It also has 10-way adjustable shocks, adjustable upper control arms, aluminum lower control arms, lowering springs, and Wilwood six-piston front brakes.
This hearse is well-equipped for comfort on the road and to race.
