FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT AN UNUSUAL HEARSE

1 THE COLLECTOR

Nova Scotia’s Michael Nelson has been collecting cars since he was 17. The 54-year-old purchased a white 1990 Cadillac Brougham hearse from Ontario a few weeks ago. It features a graveyard scene painted on its side and a gate with the words “final destiny” painted on the back.

2 WILLING TO COMPROMISE

Since parking it in his Bridgewater, N.S., driveway, Nelson says his landlord has asked him to remove it, citing complaints from neighbours. Nelson says he lives on a street with many elderly people and, although he’s proud of his purchase, he’s willing to comply with his landlord’s request.

3 OFFENDED A SMALL GROUP

Nelson says many others in the community are not offended by the hearse, once used to transport coffins. He says he had the vehicle parked at a local takeout restaurant on Tuesday and it drew a crowd, including a priest and his son.

4 AN EARLY FASCINATION

The collector told CBC that he’s always had a fascination with hearses, also known as funeral coaches, typically used to convey coffins from a church or funeral home to a cemetery. They captured his imagination since he first saw one when he was eight years old, and thought it was a station wagon.

5 ARTISTIC ENDEAVOUR

“I’ve owned two hearses previous to this. Both of them were black and I could kind of consider both of them to be morbid sitting in the yard. Kind of dark and dreary,” he told CBC.“But this one is painted up. To me, it’s kind of a work of art.”