'HIPPY HEARSE' FOR THE WOODSTOCK GENERATION

+ Click to Enlarge LIKE, BLACK JUST ISN'T COOL, MAN: Matthew Shuter created this psychedelic hearse for funky funerals for the Woodstock generation.

October 20, 2009

A British businessman has given a hearse a psychedelic makeover to try to beat the recession. Matthew Shuter bought the 1989 Daimler after spotting a gap in the market for funky funerals.

He said: "The Woodstock generation is now dying out. They really lived a colourful life - they wouldn't want to go to their funeral in a boring black hearse. It's a recession-proof business opportunity for funky funerals.'

Shuter, 54, from Somerset, now plans to auction the vehicle on eBay, at a reserve of £5000 (R60 000) - and he says people are already starting to show interest.

"I've been approached by a man who wanted to put seats in and use it to ferry guests to weddings," he said.

Mr Shuter, who owns an electronics business, told how he was inspired by a trip to Glastonbury.

"I noticed there are lots of flower-power camper vans out there in all sorts of shapes and sizes," he said.

Shuter says the hearse is perfect for festival goers or even beach bums who need a way to transport their surfboards.

"It doesn't just have to be used as a hearse - it's a brilliant surfing vehicle and requires minimum adaptation to take a surfboard in on the rollers," he said.

"You can also make an impression when attending a festival - take out the decking and there's plenty of room to sleep in the back."

Shuter bought the three-door Daimler from a second-hand dealer before taking it to a printing company to have it vinyl wrapped with his design.

"I chose the pattern - I wanted it to look something like the scenery from the Beatles' film Yellow Submarine," he said. "I wanted something completely opposite to the traditional black."

"The guys at the company thought my idea was a bit strange but they went along with it. They saw the sense in it when I explained.

"I had an idea of what it would look like but when I got a look at the finished effect it took my breath away."

Unsurprisingly, the eccentric vehicle attracts a lot of attention.

Shuter said: "People go goggle-eyed when they see me driving by in it. Lots of them stop and ask me what it's about but when I explain they understand why I've done it." - Daily Mail