# Convertible Coffin-Toppers The BMW Tombstone is a Memorial for Auto-Enthusiasts By Marissa Liu | Published 2010-05-07 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bmw-tombstone References: [jalopnik](http://jalopnik.com/5532545/car-enthusiast-buried-under-bmw-tombstone) & [dailymail](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1273067/Car-lover-buried-ton-granite-carving---BMW.html) Steve Marsh really liked BMWs, so when he died this year his family decided to give him the ultimate memorial in the form of a [BMW](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bmw-big-coffee-boxer) tombstone. Mr. Marsh's remains rest in London's Manor Park cemetery under a solid granite replica of a BMW [M3](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uno-minda) convertible (Mr. Marsh's car of choice in life). Designed in England but carved in China, the BMW tombstone cost the family about $75,000--about the same price as an actual M3 in England. The BMW tombstone has caused a little controversy and has even garnered a "joke" parking ticket. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.8/10 - Popularity: 81% | Activity: 84% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Customized Memorials:** Disruptive innovation opportunities lie in creating personalized and unique memorials that reflect an individual's passions and interests. - **Luxury Funeral Industry:** There is potential for disruption in the funeral industry by offering high-end funeral services and products for affluent customers seeking extravagant memorials. - **Cross-cultural Collaboration:** Opportunities exist for collaboration between designers from different countries and cultures to create innovative and culturally diverse memorial products. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Memorial and Funeral Services:** Disruptive innovation can be explored in the field of memorial and funeral services by introducing unique and customized offerings for customers. - **Custom Sculpture and Design:** The custom sculpture and design industry can capitalize on the demand for personalized memorials by creating intricate and lifelike replicas of objects, vehicles, or other significant symbols. - **International Stone Carving:** The international stone carving industry can benefit from cross-cultural collaborations by bringing together skilled artisans from different countries to create innovative and culturally rich tombstones. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Motorcycle-Made Espresso Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bmw-big-coffee-boxer.md) - [Dynamic Precision Sports Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bmw-concept-skytop.md) - [Jet-Age Racing Revivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/328-hommage.md) - [Grand Touring Automotive Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bmw-concept-speedtop.md) - [Anniversary-Celebrating Motorsports Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/m4-csl.md) - [Bespoke Modern Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jaguar-etype.md) - [Humorous Macabre Office Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coffin-office-chair.md) - [Car Hardware Subscription Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bmw-1.md) - [Bedazzled Sequin Luxe Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mystique-allure.md)