---
title: "1940 LaSalle Hearse Carries Aretha Franklin’s Body in Detroit for Final Farewell Tour"
description: "The vintage two-door, three-speed white luxury vehicle transported the body of Motor City’s 9‘Queen of Soul’ in style as fans paid tribute."
date: "2018-08-28"
modified: "2018-08-28"
authors:
  - name: "Natalie Abruzzo"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/natalie-abruzzo"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/23214/this-1940-lasalle-hearse-carried-aretha-franklins-body-in-detroit-for-farewell-tour"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
  - "People"
tags:
  - "celebrity"
  - "classic car"
  - "Detroit"
  - "Hearse"
  - "Motor City"
  - "vintage"
---

# 1940 LaSalle Hearse Carries Aretha Franklin’s Body in Detroit for Final Farewell Tour

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/08/d6c51bda-1922-4f77-9dd4-6953bcf3f60d.jpeg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

In the first of three days of public viewing and visitation for [Aretha Franklin,](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/22936/detroit-lost-a-major-part-of-its-soul-today-aretha-franklin-dies-at-76>) the soul-singer’s gold casket arrived in classic Detroit-car style. A 1940 [LaSalle](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20801/alfa-romeo-will-celebrate-90-years-since-its-maiden-mille-miglia-win-in-style>) hearse carried Franklin’s body to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Midtown Detroit at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, according to the *Detroit Free Press*.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnBxtR4AohK

The LaSalle was part of General Motors Cadillac division and was manufactured from 1927 to 1940. It was meant to [bridge two segments](<https://www.newsday.com/classifieds/cars/lasalle-the-poor-man-s-cadillac-1.2787156>) within the GM brand—the luxurious [Cadillac](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/22604/2018-cadillac-ats-v-coupe-group-review-great-car-to-drive-shame-about-the-infotainment>) and the lower end [Buick](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/22555/2019-buick-regal-avenir-leaving-the-past-behind>).

This particular LaSalle hearse has been synonymous with the Swanson Funeral Home in Detroit since it opened 60 years ago. It’s luxurious aesthetic has served many high-profile funerals such as civil rights icon Rosa Parks, David Ruffin of the Motown group The Temptations, and Franklin’s father the Rev. C.L. Franklin.

“It was a very cool car and absolutely speaks of Detroit,” Jonathan Klinger, spokesman for Hagerty Classic Insurance, told *Detroit Free Press*. “The LaSalle from that era had a perfect combination of sportiness and luxury. It’s just very fitting that a classic icon of Detroit, Aretha, was driven by a classic automotive icon of [Detroit](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/22050/the-detroit-auto-show-will-reportedly-move-to-june-in-2020>).”

Franklin’s public viewing at the museum will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 28-29. Thursday, Aug. 30, visitation moves to New Bethel Baptist Church from noon to 4 p.m., followed by “A People’s Tribute to the Queen” concert in Chene Park Amphitheatre at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, will close the week-long going home celebrations for the multi-Grammy Award winner during a private funeral service at Greater Grace Temple.

The 76-year-old chart-topping recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom died in Detroit Aug. 16 from advanced pancreatic cancer.

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