I want to offer something unique, so I run the UK's only road-legal F1 funeral hearse right here in Blackpool
A Formula 1 replica hearse is turning heads across Blackpool and offering families the chance to honour loved ones in style.
When most people think of a funeral, a black hearse quietly leading a cortege comes to mind. But for Darren Abey, 59, from Fleetwood, funerals are anything but conventional.
His latest creation is a full-size Formula 1 replica car that has a passenger seat behind the driver, allowing a family member to experience the service up close.
Darren, already well known locally for his “Only Fools and Hearses” venture, bought the 1987 race car last year with the idea of building a vehicle that could do more than just tow a coffin.
He said: "I’ve been doing alternative funeral hearses with my ‘Only Fools and Hearses’ and ‘Superbike Funerals’ businesses. I bought this race car last year thinking I could build a hearse that’s good at towing, but also a car with many uses.
“It can do anything anyone wants relating to F1. The car’s fully legal, and it’s built on a 1987 chassis, so it’s a 40-year-old race car. People often say, ‘That doesn’t look like an F1 car,’ but that’s because modern F1 cars are so different.”
The replica recently made its funeral debut in Fleetwood, leading a cortege to the crematorium.
Darren said: “Last week, I spoke to the son of a deceased man. He asked if we could have the F1 car lead the cortege to the crematorium. I told him he could even ride in it with me if he wanted. There’s a passenger seat behind the driver, normally hidden under a cover, so it looks like a single-seater.
“We’re also building a trailer hearse to be towed by the F1 car, which will allow it to do full funeral services while still carrying a passenger. So now it can carry a family member or even a funeral director during the service.”
Darren’s approach to alternative funerals is rooted in creativity. He’s long been known for his novelty “Only Fools and Horses” themed hearses, and now he’s taking that flair to the next level with the F1 replica.
He said: “There were only about 12 of these cars ever built, most going abroad to Germany, America, Canada, and Lithuania. I believe mine is the only road-legal one in the country. It’s completely unique, which is what I aim for with all my work.
Darren has just started using it, but it’s already creating a lot of attention. Families have been enquiring about using it for funerals, proms, weddings, birthdays, and business promotions.
He said: “One family wants to use it for a prom in June. Wherever it goes, people take photos. It’s loud, it’s wild, and it’s different. That’s exactly what I want - it’s something nobody else is doing.
Families and local businesses alike are taking notice. The car’s roar and striking design make it impossible to ignore, and Darren says it has already sparked interest for weddings, proms and even promotional events.
For him, it’s not just about fun - it’s about giving people a memorable way to celebrate life.
He said: “In the funeral world, we often do things the same way. But sometimes people want something different, something personal. This car allows a family to honour someone in a way that really stands out. It’s about making the moment special, even if it’s unusual.
“It’s about giving people something unique. You can use it for anything you want, and that’s what makes it special."