Going Out In Style

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- It is sometimes said that funerals are for the living, but most people would like to give the dearly departed an appropriate send off.  That send off includes the casket.  There's a fledgling Tulsa company that believes the casket should reflect the life of the person inside.

You've probably never seen caskets like the ones built by Hot Rod Caskets.  They have developed four prototypes for their new line of caskets.  They are heading off to the funeral directors convention in Florida.

"Treadplate's the basic material.  Every casket we build will have treadplate," said Corey Parks.

It's a very rugged masculine looking material.  Corey Parks got the idea for the casket after a friend's widow complained about the caskets for her husband's funeral.

"They all looked the same," said Corey Parks.

She thought they were too pretty.  Nothing was rugged enough looking.  That was about five years ago.  Corey got together with Steve Etter at Empire Sheet Metal and they started creating prototypes.

"That's just a 5 X 8 sheet of aluminum treadplate," said Steve Etter.

It gets cut into shape by a computerized laser cutter.  It's bent into shape welded and the trim is added, including upholstery inside.

"I wanted it, when the lid was open, to look like the inside of a street rod," said Corey Parks.

There are four basic models so far:  the Black Betty with candy apple red handles,  the Smoke Eater which is a special fire fighter model, the Hot Rod Classic which is silver with black trim and Lead Sled which is black powder coated aluminum with green trim and vinyl wrap trim.

All are a way to send someone off in style.

"Just like our slogan, ‘Style, you can take it with you,'" said Corey Parks.

One last style feature, each casket has a toolbox type key lock.  It's kind of a guy touch.

"Gave it a good look.  Something that unique that's why we put the locks on," said Corey Parks.