Sometimes you come across an incredibly innovative or smart idea and you just have to wonder why someone didn’t come up with it sooner. That’s the case with Springfield Coach Group’s 2020 Mercedes Metris V-Class Funeral Edition vehicle.
The Funeral Edition effectively replaces three vehicles in most funeral homes’ fleets. It luxuriously functions as hearse, family transport, and flower van all in one. The V-Class is only two feet longer than a traditional funeral coach. However, every square inch is thoughtfully engineered for functionality, comfort, and convenience.
A solid foundation
Every Springfield Coach Funeral Edition starts with the stately workhorse Mercedes Metris V-Class passenger van. Springfield chose the Metris as its base vehicle for its enduring reputation for durability, safety, and low cost of ownership. Even with the customization, the V-Class four-cylinder engine still gets 20 miles to the gallon. To add even more value, Springfield offers a five-year, 150,000-mile warranty on the finished vehicle.
The company’s partnership with Mercedes has grown since they designed their first Funeral Edition in 2019. In fact, Mercedes-Benz gave Springfield the unique honor as the only company officially authorized to customize their vehicles.
Trusted Springfield partners
Over more than 50 years in business, Springfield Coach Group has developed a reputation for luxury, quality, and customer trust. So as they designed for the Funeral Edition, they took care to partner with only the best vendors, including Tri-State Vans of Westchester and PLS Leasing.
The mortuary deck system is built by Link Manufacturing in Sioux City, Iowa. Springfield uses Link’s reliable and rugged products in all of their funeral vehicles. In the V-Class Funeral Edition, the Link drop-in tray accommodates even the largest of caskets within the van’s spacious transport area.
Another trusted partner is Infinite Innovations, which supplies a variety of fine hardware for the Funeral Edition. Infinite Innovations has produced specialty automotive parts for funeral vehicles since 1987. Their double rollers and pull-out bumper protection are key to the Funeral Edtion’s functionality.
Amenities galore
Every feature of the Funeral Edition’s three functions includes special touches to make your job easier and your passengers more comfortable. In fact, they’ve added conveniences you never thought you’d need, but will never give up once you try them.
Forty-inch automatic doors glide open on both sides of the van for easy access to flower storage. The two slide-out flower bins, lined with truck-bed coating for extra durability, feature two levels for secure storage. If your flowers do spill while in transit, the bins include a marine-grade plug for quick, mess-free drainage and clean-up.
The rear compartment offers upright storage for any size church truck. Additionally, the rear hatch opens up to provide ample weather protection for the casket and attendants. There’s even a cooler in the front to keep beverages cold and on hand for family and staff.
The passenger experience
Between the driver and the deceased, Springfield’s team has configured comfortable seating for up to six passengers. Springfield Coach Group Vice President of Sales Dustin Campbell says some people have questioned this. They believe the experience of transporting the living and the dead in the same vehicle is somehow “morbid.” However, the majority think the opportunity is a beautiful gesture.
“It’s your chance to take that last ride with Dad,” Campbell explains. “One funeral director told me we’d be surprised at how many people just want to drive around with their loved one instead of going straight to the cemetery.”
Campbell says the area is also great for pallbearers, making their chore a little less awkward. Having the pallbearers escort the body to its final resting place offers a more formal, almost military-like send-off experience.
The value of three vehicles in one
The Springfield Coach Group 2020 Mercedes Metris Funeral Edition starts at $119,000.
“That’s before any discounts or rebates,” adds Campbell. “This vehicle can replace three in your fleet. That’s one car, one insurance payment, one set of tires to maintain.”
Springfield will customize your vehicle to your funeral home’s unique specifications. From different colors of strobe lights to a more muted finish on the wheels, Springfield will strive to accommodate your requests.
The company’s 100,000-square-foot facility and 70-person team allows quick turnaround on customized vehicles. To place your order or learn more, reach out to Dustin Campbell at dustin@limolandsales.com or visit Springfield’s website today.
