It is one of the most enduring symbols of the 20th century, but the face of Che Guevara is causing consternation amongst Ireland's closely-knit VW camper van fraternity, writes Patrick Logue.
Ronny Hiller decided he would like to have it staring from the side of his 'Type 2' Volkwagen camper van. The insurance underwriters had other ideas.
Hiller claims he was told the paintwork was a little too revolutionary for Irish motoring sensibilities, and was refused cover for the 27-year-old wagon unless it was re-painted.
"I think it looks brilliant," Hiller enthusiastically told The Irish Times. "It has has a guitar and Che Guevara on one side and on the other Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and a couple of other people; it's '60s and '70s stuff pretty much."
Hiller said he received a quote for €640 from Dolmen Insurance Brokers, subject to an engineer's report, because of its age, and photos of the vehicle.
"I got the report done and the car was 100 per cent roadworthy and everything was hunky-dory and I sent it off with the photos. I got a call the next day to say it didn't fit the insurance company's specifications for a camper van."
Hiller said he was told there was no access from the driver's compartment to the back of the van, a problem he said could be rectified by removing a wooden box. Secondly, the broker said the van's external appearance was unacceptable.
"They said: 'You're going to have to repaint it, it is not to our specifications'. But the only reason I bought the van was because of the way it was painted. They said it had to be unicolour, and said if I had it repainted they would reconsider."
A spokesman for Dolmen said the vehicle did not conform to the specifications of their camper van scheme and cover was declined because of a combination of factors, not just the paint job.
He said the multi-coloured nature of the vehicle was also a factor identified by the underwriters. "We referred it to the underwriters, and the painting was looked at," the spokesman said.
"If that's parked in a shopping centre carpark and some gouger wants to cause mayhem... is it more likely to be a target than a silver car or whatever? It certainly attracts attention, there is no doubt about it."
He added that the colourful nature of the van was not the only factor for refusal by the underwriter:
"To say it was the paint job by itself would be factually incorrect. It gives us no pleasure to turn away a customer."