A hearse is a funeral vehicle, a conveyance for the coffin from e.g. a church to a cemetery, a similar burial site, or a crematorium.
The name is supposed coming from the Anglo-Saxon word harrow, describing the temporary framework on which candles were placed above the bier. This also held banners and armorial bearings and other heraldic devices. Complimentary verses or epitaphs were often attached to the hearse.
Hearse enthusiasts are a subset of auto buffs. The 'Dead Sled' also appeals to Goths, as a suitable alternative to a black stretch limo.