Go in style in hearse fit for a queen

JOHN SELKIRK

ROYAL RIDE: Top: The rare Rolls Royce Phantom VI, that once carried the royal family around New Zealand, being re-conditioned into a hearse. Bottom: Princess Anne, Prince Philip and the Queen in the car, March 1970.

Relevant offers

A piece of history that carried the royal family around New Zealand is to give Wellingtonians' final journey an illustrious twist.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom VI used in the Queen's 1970 tour has been transformed into a hearse and will take a distinguished place in the fleet of Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors in Lower Hutt later this year.

It was one of two identical limousines bought by the government for the royal visit, which was the first time Prince Charles and Princess Anne had been to New Zealand.

During the royal tour the front grille and radiator were smashed when the car hit a sheep on a country road.

The other car became the governor-general's till 1996 and the sheep-damaged one was sold to an Auckland cabaret club and used as a limo for clients.

It was transformed into a hearse by an Auckland funeral home.

Gee and Hickton bought the car this year. The company is having it fully reconditioned in Auckland.

General manager Gavin Murphy said the idea of buying the car came from hearing of his grandmother's experience winning a radio competition during the Queen's visit - just to sip tea at a lakeside spot where the monarch had sipped her tea.

"It struck me how much that meant to her generation, how they loved the royal family," he said. "My grandmother would be tickled pink to go out in something like this. It's a piece of New Zealand history."

Mr Murphy would not reveal the price but said the car was in mint condition.

The 6.2-litre V8 - which will be available for funerals from November - would have electronic ignition added to avoid any starting problems.

- © Fairfax NZ News