Ford’s “Vandemonium” display at SEMA this year will echo through the year, as there are more factory-built custom Transit Connect Wagons on the way. The Ultimate Maker Vehicle Challenge, sponsored by MAKE magazine, challenged creators to come up with a vehicle that would serve the needs of do-it-yourself enthusiasts. The winner, dubbed the “Hackmobile” by its designers at the Twin Cities Maker maker-space, will actually be built as a one-off by Ford.
Ten teams took part in the Ultimate Maker Vehicle Challenge. Contestants were provided with a budget and specific design criteria to create the ultimate DIY vehicle based on a 2014 Transit Connect. In true DIY spirit, the public was allowed to vote for its favorite design. Winners were judged by overall design and “maker spirit,” encouraging creative solutions to various concerns.
The winning design, imagined by Jon Atkinson, Becca Steffen, Riley Harrison and Michael Freiert, members of the Hack Factory in Minnesota, features a three-axis CNC machine mounted inside. There is storage and shelving for tools as well; the Hackmobile is a mobile woodworking, metalworking and 3D fabrication shop.
“The blue oval has always been about innovation and that do-it-yourself spirit is alive and well today. The sky is the limit with vehicles like Ford Transit Connect, and we’re very excited to surprise the Hackmobile team and make their dream vehicle into a reality,” said Sherry Kollien, Ford SEMA vehicle project manager, Ford Motor Company.
Ford calls the creative spirit inspired by the Transit Connect a “moment of Vandemonium,” and included a video for Makezine.com to showcase the innovations that went into the various MAKE contest vehicles.
