Allan Brand and Arthur Middleton have spent months combining a cast iron casket with a souped-up engine from an old Rover.
They’re now hoping their “Grim Ripper” car can set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest motorised coffin.
The car nuts from Perth had hoped to break the record earlier this month but were foiled when they couldn’t get it started.
They now plan to make the attempt in May at Crail Raceway in Fife and are hoping its nitrous oxide fuel will help it power over the finish line in record time.
Allan, 29, who is lined up to drive the vehicle, said: “Originally we were going to mount the coffin on a go cart chassis.
“However, I had an old Rover sitting about. It would have cost me too much to insure it so we decided to cut the chassis up and mount it on that.
“I got the Rover up to 90 mph so it’s a fast engine.
“The record is only 62 mph. We could easily beat that.”
The idea for the casket racer came about as part of the pair’s involvement in an annual tribute to Crail Raceway founder Wullie Robertson who died in July 2013.
Every year Wullie’s sister Victoria holds a remembrance day at the track in memory of her late brother.
In fact, it was at this very event that Arthur met his wife Fiona, 53.
The couple even got married at the track last year and celebrated their union by driving a pink hearse down the drag. Their wedding cake was also coffin shaped in reference to how they met.
Victoria had asked Arthur and Allan to come up with something different for the memorial this year. The result was the coffin car.
Arthur, 43, bought the cast iron casket on eBay for £100 from a seller in Birmingham.
The previous owner had bought it from a supplier in America and had hoped to be laid to rest in it.
However, they later discovered council rules meant they couldn’t be buried in it and had to sell it on.
Allan and Arthur have fitted their vehicle out with a bucket seat and have reshaped the pedals to fit the space inside the casket.
And the coffin isn’t the only wacky car they have.
Arthur also runs funeral company, Hearses R Us, that uses souped-up hearses complete with ear-splitting exhausts. One is pink while another is black with flames painted onto its bodywork.
They’ve proved a popular option at funerals for car nuts.
The pair are busy testing out the Grim Ripper and are confident of success.
Arthur said: “We’re hoping to get it up to 120 mph.
“The hearses are Honda-powered Rovers. They can get up to 97 mph. The coffin weighs a quarter of the weight of a hearse so should go faster.”
Allan said: “We had a big debate about who would be the one to go for the record.
“They’ve all come to the conclusion I’m the maddest and will keep my foot to the floor no matter what, so I’m going to drive it.”
Doug Male, PR manager from Guinness World Records, said: “The record-breaking public have taken our ‘fastest’ records to their hearts.
“This year alone the record for the fastest mobility scooter, fastest skateboard and fastest motorised log have been smashed.
“We are very much looking forward to receiving evidence from Mr Brand and Mr Middleton, we wish them the best of luck with their attempt.”
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