RSCVA Debuts the "Washoe Willys" Promotional Vehicle
2012-07-25
“Everybody loves checking out a classic car… especially one
that is beautifully hand-lettered and pinstriped, upholstered in Pendleton
Indian blanket material and topped off with a hand-made, aluminum roof rack
system packed with everything from skis and snowshoes to a kayak, golf clubs,
fishing rods and a slalom water ski,” according to Christopher Baum, President
and CEO of the RSCVA and creator of the vehicle. “It’s the perfect conversation
starter to attract attention and help educate prospective visitors on the
incredible diversity of things to do throughout Northern Nevada!”
Baum had great success designing and building a custom 1932
Ford hot rod powered by a new Chrysler hemi during his previous role as Senior
Vice President of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, and
thought that a similar classic vehicle project – carefully chosen to represent
the region’s active, high desert lifestyle – would be equally effective for
Reno Tahoe USA.
“I found a partially restored 1951 four-wheel drive Willys
station wagon on the Internet, that already had a modern Buick V-6 swapped in
for more power, and liked the fact that – although you seldom see one on the
street anymore – the classic Jeep front end makes it instantly identifiable to
most people,” said Baum.
Baum had the wagon shipped to the RSCVA and then set out to
find some of the best local hot rodders and artists to help make his vision a
reality.
Said Baum, “With the world-famous National Automobile Museum
here, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Reno area is full of automotive
talent, and I was quickly able to assemble a team of wonderful partners.”
Local companies that came on-board to help build the RSCVA’s
new promotional vehicle:
Lane Walker, Solo Signs
– Since the “Washoe Willys” is actually a clever Marketing Program in
disguise, the professional presentation of the RSCVA brand logo, URL and some
appropriate slogans was a top priority.
“I wanted someone who was a master at old school pinstriping
and hand lettering,” said Baum. “And,” he added, “I quickly found just that in
Lane Walker of Solo Signs in Reno. He’s been in the business since 1977 and has
had his own shop since 1990, so his artistic services are obviously in demand.
And his talent with a brush is really unbelievable.”
Matt Villafuerte,
Twisted Stitch Upholstery – The Willys has two bench seats for the driver
and passengers and Baum knew just what he wanted to do to make the car stand
out with the crowds.
“I love Pendleton Indian blankets and had upholstered the
Detroit hot rod with them to great effect,” said Baum. “I found the perfect
pattern for the Willys’ color scheme on Pendleton’s website, ordered a bolt of
fabric and then handed it to Matt, a talented guy who definitely knows his way
around a heavy duty sewing machine. The wagon’s seats needed to be totally
rebuilt before the heavy wool fabric went on, but Matt was definitely up to the
task and the end result is fantastic.”
Jeff Robinson and
Pete Gebhardt, Reno Speedworks – Baum wanted to display sporting gear
representative of the wide variety employed in our region, but he didn’t want
to use a stock roof rack.
“I love Airstream trailers and got the idea of having a
craftsman fabricate a roof rack system that looks like something that company
might have sold back in the 1960s,” Baum continued, “Since vintage stuff always
looks cooler on display. A friend introduced me to Pete Gebhardt, and once I
learned that he had spent 25 years pounding metal for Jack Roush, Ray Evernham
and other top NASCAR team owners, we hired him. As a bonus, finding Pete
introduced me to the rest of the gang at Reno Speedworks downtown, and their
co-owner, Jeff Robinson, was able to change the Willys’ gearing to something
more street-able, fabricate a front license bracket and perform a myriad of
other tasks to ready the car for its debut. Pete’s retro aluminum roof rack
turned out fantastic and Jeff’s wrenching gives us the confidence to hit the
open road… in a vehicle built when Eisenhower was still president!”
James Herr and Bob
Scott, Summit Racing – Sparks is fortunate to have a distribution center
and retail store for one of the world’s foremost purveyors of high performance
and custom automotive parts and accessories, and Summit’s support for the
RSCVA’s new promo vehicle was immediate.
“James and Bob at
Summit have been terrific, helping us choose appropriate wheels and tires for
the Willys, as well as tracking down a custom air cleaner and valve covers for
the offbeat Buick engine,” according to Baum. “They’re proud to be located in
our region and we are delighted to have them as a sponsor on this fun build.”
Special Events
Coalition – Although its individual contributions to the Washoe Willys were
small (literally!), the members of this organization played an important role
in giving the vehicle its unique personality: decals/stickers for most of the
region’s festivals and special events – from the Nugget Rib Cook Off to the
Reno Air Races, Hot August Nights and Reno Rodeo – cover the rear windows and
slab sides of the aluminum roof rack, creating a colorful, and impressive,
record of all there is to do and see in Reno/Sparks/North Lake Tahoe.
“Add the Nevada Museum of Art, UNR, Scheels, Reno Aces,
Cabela’s and several other cool permanent attractions, and it’s hard to imagine
a visitor whose passions wouldn’t be stirred by SOMETHING here!”, according to
Baum.
The RSCVA’s new promotional vehicle is tentatively scheduled
to make appearances, subject to commitments outside the Reno/Sparks/North Lake
Tahoe region, at the following events: Reno-Tahoe Open, Hot August Nights,
Toyota Silver State Showdown, Best in the West Nugget Rib Cookoff, The Great
Reno Balloon Race, National Championship Air Races, Street Vibrations Fall
Rally, Eldorado Great Italian Festival and the Sparks Hometowne Christmas
Parade.
