The biggest car news and reviews, no BS
Our free daily newsletter sends the stories that really matter directly to you, every weekday.
We all have to take that last ride eventually, but what if a Cadillac or Lincoln isn’t your style? For practical reasons, the choice of hearse can’t always reflect a person’s car preferences in life, but JDM fans are in luck. In their home market, Nissan and Toyota produce stately sedans that make the perfect basis for hearse conversions. One of those just popped up on Facebook Marketplace.
This 2001 Toyota Crown Athlete V has the requisite casket space, but otherwise looks like the perfect start for a drift build. It’s powered by a 1JZ-GTE turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-six—and engine with plenty of tuning potential—and it’s rear-wheel drive. The transmission is an automatic, but if we recall correctly, there wasn’t a manual option for these cars. Toyota made both sedan and wagon versions of this generation (the S170), and this hearse looks like it might have been converted from the latter.
Dylan Cain via Facebook Marketplace
While not as elaborate as traditional Japanese hearses, this looks like it will get the job done without drawing accusations of cultural appropriation. The wheelbase doesn’t appear to have been stretched, so the casket lies over where the rear seats would normally go. And while the cargo area is nicely decked out in wood paneling, that doesn’t extend to the hastily converted rear seating area. But it’s not like the passenger will notice.
The S170 Crown was introduced in 1999 and produced through 2002. The Athlete was the sportier version (there was a luxe Royal as well, plus the stretched Majesta), distinguished by the turbocharged 1JZ and styling elements like a mesh grille and subtle body kit.
The Crown nameplate itself is one of the oldest in the Toyota lineup, dating back to 1955. In recent years Toyota has expanded its use to a lifted sedan based on the TNGA platform and the Signia crossover (both currently sold in the United States) alongside the traditional rear-wheel-drive models (which are not).
Dylan Cain via Facebook Marketplace
The listing doesn’t have much information about this car, but does confirm that it has 81,797 miles. As 2001 model, it only became legal to import under the 25-year rule this year. The car is located in Washington State, but the $19,995 asking price is in Canadian dollars, so it’s possible the hearse was biding its time in Canada until it was legal to import. The asking price is $14,514 U.S. at current exchange rates, which is quite a bit higher than what similar-vintage JDM Crowns have been going for on Bring a Trailer, but this is an unusual vehicle.
There have been plenty of unorthodox hearse conversions, but this one is for the JDM fans. Or anyone who doesn’t want their last ride to be slow and stately. Short of strapping a jet engine to one, this is probably about as sporty as a hearse will get.
Got a tip? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com
Stephen has always been passionate about cars, and managed to turn that passion into a career as a freelance automotive journalist. When he’s not handling weekend coverage for The Drive, you can find him looking for a new book to read.
