Video: 9-Second Hearse Could Bring Out the Living Dead

Traditionally, hearses are meant to go slow. But if you’re AMS Performance out of West Chicago, Illinois, traditional just isn’t going to cut it. That’s why they came up with this unique shop vehicle, a 1996 Chevy Caprice Hearse that has set the world record for the fastest hearse on the planet. Check out this creepy creation in the video above with a hat-tip to GM Authority.

AMS Performance is known for some pretty crazy builds, including a massive Chevy Express cargo van that can pull mid 12-second quarter miles. And yes, it’s still set up for a limited number of passengers and plenty of cargo hauling. But one of the company’s latest creations has us really rethinking what’s cool in the automotive world.

Now, we’ve run across a few people who gallivant around town in old hearses, but this may be the first one we’ve seen aiming for low numbers on the track.

Correction- this hearse not only aims for low numbers, it succeeds, actually pulling a corrected quarter-mile time of just 9.94 seconds at 137.36 mph last year.

So how does such a odd-ball car do this? Well, thanks to AMS, the hearse has been fitted with a GM 6.0L LQ4 engine topped by an unported Edelbrock Super Vic intake, a Speed Inc. custom camshaft, COMP Cams hardened pushrods and a LS2 90mm throttle body. The hearse also makes use of custom turbo system, featuring an 80mm Borg Warner S480R turbocharger from Forced Inductions. In all, this setup gives the Chevy 1,000hp on 23psi of boost. And if you’re wondering what that transfers to in zero to 60mph times or zero to 100mph times, we’ll just say that the later is less than 5.5 seconds. No wonder the hearse is nicknamed “Madness”.

Keeping the hearse in control with plenty of pavement-curling power on and off the track comes down to a 4L85e transmission from Andy’s Performance Transmission, Moser 9-inch rearend with 3.73 gears, Strange single (front) and double (rear) adjustable shocks and Wilwood brakes.

For a more in-depth look at the “Madness” hearse, or to see what other crazy builds AMS Performance has come up with, be sure to visit them online!

About the author

Lindsey Fisher

Lindsey is a freelance writer and lover of anything with a rumble. Hot rods, muscle cars, motorcycles - she's owned and driven it all. When she's not busy writing about them, she's out in her garage wrenching away. Who doesn't love a tech-savy gal that knows her way around a garage?
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