This Coffin Hot Rod Could Be A Wild Last Ride!

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This speedy coffin is licensed, insured, and registered as a 1972 Chevrolet truck, but as you can see any original truck parts died a long time ago! It’s listed for sale here on craigslist and is located in Poway, California. The seller is asking $19,000 for this fast last ride!

There’s a great compilation video of many construction pictures of the coffin rod that is worth viewing just to see what went into this wild ride! When I first saw the pictures I thought about the Munsters’ Dragula coffin car, but it is different in execution (see what I did there?) being longer and, honestly, better laid out. Thanks to Matt R. for the sense of humor to send in this rather morbid find!

Surprisingly, the car features a more vertical seat than I expected and a drag-racing “butterfly” steering wheel. It’s hard to fault the construction details if this is your kind of thing — not that I expect a car like this to be driven far or often. Perhaps the “last ride” of the summer?

One of the world’s shortest driveshafts connects the built-up 1974 Chevy 350 cubic-inch V-8/Turbo 350 transmission combination to a rebuilt 1968 Camaro rear end. Like pretty much all of this car, the fabrication is dead-on!

Here’s the final resting place — er — seat in the coffin for the driver. With transmission close at hand and the almost mandatory goggles available, how would you feel about taking this hot rod for a drive? Would you rest in peace knowing it was in your driveway?

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Comments

  1. Stevieg

    With my love of hearse and bizarre vehicles, this is right up my alley! No way on the price, but really cool toy!
    I think someone with some decent fabrication skills could build this for way less. Not me lol, but someone with the RIGHT skills. I wish I could drive this around on Halloween!

    Like 18
  2. Rex Kahrs Rex KahrsMember

    The car that screams “I’m not afraid to die!”.

    Like 15
    • Richardd Adams

      To me it states, “I am ready, willing and able”.

      Ready – I bought this right ?
      Willing – I am driving this right?
      Able – 300 horses with no safety equipment, I can take myself out, right?

      Like 1
  3. Bluetec320 Bluetec320

    I dig it!

    Like 19
  4. alphasudMember

    Finally a car that lives up to being called a death trap!

    Like 29
    • GPAK

      It looks like the jokes have hit a dead end !

      I wonder if the asking price is set in stone ?

      Like 4
  5. Jon.in.Chico

    Had a model “Dracula’s Coffin” back in the 60s … he was holding a martini glass with a heart in it … painted the coffin green … was big into models then, mostly Revelle, and had all the little paint jars with which to paint them … those were the days …

    Like 19
    • Patrick Anderson

      I loved model building but my parents would never pop for the paint. They barely would buy me the glue. I got many a buzz from the glue, so I guess I can thank them for that.

      Like 3
  6. slantviewsix

    As someone who’s son died in a car accident at age19 years, I find crap like this and modified hearses extremely sick. Crush it.

    Like 8
    • Stevieg

      I’m sorry to hear about your son. My Dad passed away 6 years ago in a car crash. That doesn’t change my love of hearse (I prefer stock, but I can appreciate a modified one). I also still really like this coffin car, as overpriced as it is.
      I’m just asking people to keep an open mind. Taste is subjective. You might like a type of car I dispise. I’m not going to sit here & type comments similar to yours. I will keep quiet out of respect for you & your automotive interests. I probably won’t even click on the articles here for cars that don’t interest me, or for cars I find vulgar.
      If you don’t like a car, just don’t subject yourself to look at it. No big deal! But to insult others because you don’t like what they like, that is kinda rude.
      Again, my condolences regarding your son. That comes from my heart!

      Like 37
      • Mark

        Building a novelty car is one thing, parking in it in a cemetery for a photo-op where people visit to show respect for loved ones is pathetic. A no-class, tasteless act. For those who disagree, why not take it to the next level and convert a child’s coffin to haul behind as a trailer…that would raise the cool factor wouldn’t it?

        Like 3
      • Stevieg

        I dunno, I have a friend from a hearse club that used a child’s coffin as a speaker box for the back of his hearse. I thought it was pretty cool, although I wouldn’t have done it myself.

        Like 7
      • Stevieg

        As for pix in a cemetery, I guess it depends on when you do it. I’ve taken pix of my hearse in a cemetery, with some really well dressed (or undressed) goth chick’s. I did it on weekday mornings, early enough there wouldn’t be any burials. I picked a week day because people would be at work. Go about 8:00 am, leave before 9:00 or so, and not many (if any) mourners will be around. You are right, we must be respectful of each other. And there are people out there who are experiencing bad times and sadness. We don’t want to make that worse for them. At least I don’t.

        Like 8
      • Richardd F.

        My Dad died in a car, at age 49.
        He was driving at the time, alone in the car, but did not crash. The car pulled over to the side of the road and parked itself in front of a medical nurse, who was walking on the pavement.

        She reacted immediately, but declared he had sadly passed on.
        The car was too late to save him, but it tried.
        Do not blame the car!

        Like 2
    • MLM

      My condolences about your son and I’m sure it’s painful and my mother died in a car crash(my car to be specific) but I am quite sure that she would tell me to continue to live my life including finding cars like this a novelty. If this vehicle was that offensive to me,I would have strolled right pass it

      Like 4
      • Stevieg

        Well said MLM.
        A bit of respect goes a long way, but we gotta continue living too. The end is always way too near by.

        Like 1
  7. Steve R

    This was featured on this site December 3, 2020. The build quality looks good, if priced reasonably someone would buy it just so they could be the center of attention at car shows.

    Steve R

    Like 6
  8. MattR

    Is this street legal? Do you just need a valid title, headlights, and brake lights for that?

    Like 3
    • Stevieg

      That probably varies state by state. I believe it could be driven in Wisconsin. I’ve seen stranger than this!

      Like 6
    • Steve R

      Headlights are clearly visible, it also looks like taillights can be seen in one of the pictures. It’s titled and registered, why wouldn’t it be street legal?

      Steve R

      Like 3
      • MattR

        Well Steve, one thing I was thinking of is the gas tank – it’s not protected and near the front of the car. I imagine that could be an issue perhaps. I am sure there are variances state to state as Stevie G pointed out – I was just curious if there is a top 10 list of common rules around this.

        Like 6
      • alphasudMember

        Would not pass PA state inspection. Has to have fenders over the tires and a larger windscreen however they might have relaxed the laws for hot rods since I left the state. Why not make fenders out of shovels to keep with the narrative.

        Like 8
      • Steve R

        MattR, the gas tank is in a safer location than many manufacturers used. Pickup trucks into the early-1970’s often had the gas tanks located in the cab behind the seat back. Ford used the gas tank as the bottom of the trunk on 60’s era Mustangs with only the foam and upholstery of the back seat separating its content from the interior.

        Fenders are not always required in California, look at nearly every Model A or 32 Ford highboy.

        This “car” is incredibly tacky, but the builder had a thought out plan, in term of a specific theme, then executed that plan better than the majority of cars you will see at coffee and cars as well as other shows.

        Steve R

        Like 1
  9. Sherminator

    A few steps down from Grandpa Munster’s car but a buyer could build it up a bit at that price.

    Like 3
  10. Bluetec320 Bluetec320

    Time of great loss? I must assume that you are talking about the 15 million people who die from drugs, tobacco and alcohol each year??

    Like 30
    • Gary

      Let me guess, a denier? I wish you well, and good luck.

      Like 7
    • Dave

      Ever since the Borg assimilated me I haven’t taken a sick day off. The nanoprobes have supercharged my immune system.
      You too, will be assimilated! Resistance is futile!

      Like 12
    • Mountainwoodie

      Some people lack a sense of humor.

      Yes today is 9/11 but while we remember the murder of almost 3,000 people twenty years ago ( hard to believe), it’s our duty to keep on living.

      Or in the case of the Coffinster…….dying

      Like 11
    • Gary

      If you add up all the tabaco related cancer deaths, drug ODs, and drunk drivers (and their prey) it is no where, anywhere near 15 million, but who really cares about them? All those things are life choices, death goes with the thrill, even if you are too dumb to know that. What I speak of is never your choice, and often the smug indifference of another. Of course, this year we do have some protection against that, that is until a 25% of the populace causes a change in the situation that directly harms the thoughtful and decent among us. There are more important things, you know, then white trash building equally bad cars. Put that thought in your pipe and smoke it along with your daily dose of self importance. BTW, I am me, and me alone.

      Like 1
    • Kman

      Gary,you are jot thoughtful or decent if you are allowing yourself to be played by this farce convid.
      When I had my heart attack in March of 2020 I was in the same hospital that the news this particular night said the hospital was at capacity with convid. I went for a walk in this hospital only to find five empty floors completely shut down with nobody in them.
      When I was caught I was escorted back to my room and they gave me a shot to knock me out. They tried to tell me I was dreaming but they had me strapped to the bed.
      So, you can continue being a part of the problem or wake up and do something for humanity.
      Read the Georgia guid stone they tell you what’s going on. Not the Wikipedia version, do your own research. Ignore popular media lies, they won’t tell you the truth.

      Like 1
  11. Rodney - GSM

    Looks familiar. Perhaps I saw this in another life…

    Like 4
  12. Rex Kahrs Rex KahrsMember

    Hauntingly familiar Rodney?

    Like 6
  13. Dave

    Driving this rod could be a real “Thriller”!

    Like 2
  14. Bluetec320 Bluetec320

    @Gary, Chester, CAL, Carlito, Billy, Jcs, or whatever you alias is today, I am certainly not a denier, but simply trying to put things in perspective

    Like 10
    • Steve R

      That’s only a fraction of the user names he’s used on this site, JCS isn’t. The one constant, he’s a broken record, he pushes the same tired narrative every time.

      Steve R

      Like 3
  15. Mike

    I bet you are the buzzkill at every party…😂

    Like 7
  16. Howie Mueler

    I like it, very cool. I think the price is fair, i hope it sells.

    Like 3
  17. al KRESS

    Those of you who have buried someone lately know the price of a casket.
    Add the engine, transmission, rear end, steering, lights, etc.. Plus the labor
    and paint job I bet the total cost would be much higher than you think.

    Like 2
    • Stevieg

      My thought is buy a running chassis, perhaps off a rusted beater or a car with body damage (maybe a sunburnt car from the southwest?), pull the body off, find or create brackets for lighting, buy the fuel tank from summit, there are ways to buy discounted caskets if you know where to look (if anyone asks, I can help with that), and just get creative. If I had the skills (I don’t), I could make one with less than $10,000 in parts, probably way less.

      Like 2
  18. Gary

    Boo hoo hoo

    Like 0
    • Gary

      Are you I or am I, you? Boo Hoo Hoo, indeed. BTW, what are the Steves smoking this week? Flights of fancy abounds. Of course, might be ETOH, both have a history of that I am afraid, so maybe the coffin love is just premonitions.

      Like 2
  19. Troy

    This thing just looks fun I think I can build one cheaper

    Like 1
  20. Madlad

    For Gary and a few others, you must be darn young. This was a TV car way back on the Munsters show. It has been reproduced all over the states, there is one in Pittsburgh that I have seen many times. I think at one time someone was making them as a Kit. If you notice they are always gold. There was also one done with a bubble top and the tank is I believe H.R. approved because they are used on Gassers.
    P.S. In PA you no longer need fenders.

    Like 4
    • GaryI

      Yes, I’m surprised by the relatively few references to Grandpa Munster’s car. We must be getting old!

      Like 0
  21. Kenn

    Ditto to Troy and Stevieg. The Amish will build a beautiful casket for under a grand. Street legal in Michigan will require fenders. I’m assuming this has turn signals.

    Regarding the comments about tastelessness, some folks probably shouldn’t be on this site. Especially since the high-horsepower, high speed vehicles showing up here have killed a whole lot more kids and adults than any heart-wrenching hearse or funeral-type vehicles here or anywhere else.

    Like 4
  22. KurtMember

    Will it sell? The plot thickens…

    Like 3
  23. Patrick Anderson

    When I was about 8, around-1971-we went to Universal Studios. They had the original Dragula and the Munster’s Koach parked out front. Now I have them both-in 1/24 scale.

    Like 1
  24. PRA4SNW

    Watch the 3 minute video to see the quality of this build. Not overdone either, which is nice.

    And yes, it is licensed for the street – in Alaska – but for sale in San Diego. Seems like polar opposites to me. Bet there is an interesting story there.

    Like 1
  25. Doug

    On an episode of ‘American Pickers” Frank bought a coffin car from Barris for about $8,000 , if I recall correctly- it was NO(T one of the Munster cars and had no TV or movie value. I don’t recall it looking quite as nice as this one, but I suppose it could have been.

    Like 1
  26. Ron

    Alex Taylor and her dad Dennis did some work on this car last year, Dennis is a fantastic craftsman and fabricator.

    Like 1
  27. TW

    Well ,being as it’s a REPLICATION ,of a world famous TV series- intentionally built car, for The Munsters TV sitcom series..that’s still in syndication to current day.) The original car from said series was built by the MASTER and legend of custom car fabrication ,George Barris. This knock off,imo isnt wort the asking price,since it’s a bit askew from the vehicle it may/may not be a tribute to.
    I’ve seen the real GB bult version several times.. and this thing wont Ever compair to it ,in my personal opinion.
    Anyone who puts up that kind of $for a look alike ..is wasting their time/ and way too much $. Whenits likely not actually STREET LEGAL in most states anyway .
    Prove me otherwise if you can on that..ijs

    Like 0

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