Originally from Japan, this 1990 Toyota Crown has been transformed into a Miyagata-style hearse and is currently available for sale in Mobile, Alabama
November 27, 2023 at 16:34
There’s always something fascinating about a hearse, but few are as interesting as this one, based on a Japanese domestic market (JDM) 1990 Toyota Crown. Modified in the Miyagata (or Shrine) style by Yonezu Kobo of Tokyo, it somehow wound up in Mobile, Alabama.
Originally a Toyota Crown station wagon, the rear section of this vehicle has been modified and elaborated upon with the wooden, copper-topped rear section that was inspired by Buddhist temples. Featuring carvings of animals and nature, it’s as beautiful as it is unusual to see on the streets of Mobile, where it is being sold.
Miyagata hearses date back to the 1910s, when U.S. hearses started arriving in Japan, reports Mainichi. They were integrated into the “nobe-okuri” tradition, that saw parades of people carrying the coffins of the deceased to their final resting place. After World War II, the hearses started becoming more elaborate, and by the ’80s, coach builders started adding shrine features that included carvings of Buddhist paradise, lotus flowers, and more.
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This particular example features birds and dragons on the exterior. Inside, things get even fancier, as the lanterns illuminate a collection of animal carvings, that include squirrels, boars, sheep, monkeys, and more. The ceiling features an exquisitely painted dragon.
The floor of the rear compartment is finished with red carpeting, and rollers for the coffin, which is actually included in this sale. The wooden casket features a white lining inside, and has carvings on the outside.
The vehicle is powered by a 2.0-liter inline-six whose power is routed to the wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. It also gets a blue bench seat up front, as well as automatic climate control, an AM radio, and a PA system. Although it has driven just 71,600 miles (115,273 km), the paint is bubbling on the B-pillar, and there’s some light rust on the underside.
Offered with no reserve, the Toyota Crown hearse is being auctioned off on Bring a Trailer. The sale ends on November 30, at 5:23 p.m.
H/T to Samson!