2014 Ford Galpin Auto Sports Transit Skyliner

Vandemonium: You Won't Believe How Five Aftermarket Shops Designed the First Ford Transit Customized Vans for SEMA

10/17/2014

Ford

The first-ever all-new 2015 Ford Transit custom vans will debut at this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Five Transit project vehicles were crafted to showcase the van's toughness and flexibility for customers looking for a vehicle that can fit a variety of needs - from high-tech luxury limo to sport exhibitions to off-road adventure.

"Ford Transit vans and passenger wagons are designed to be upfit-ready so customers have an easier time customizing the vehicle to work best for them," said Yaroslav Hetman, brand manager for Ford Transit, Transit Connect and E-Series. "We are very excited about what our SEMA customizers have done with these vans. They preview the first of what is expected to be a renaissance in custom vans, led by the all-new Ford Transit."

Customized Transit vehicles on display at the SEMA show Nov. 4-7 include:

Vegas Off-Road Experience Transit

Vegas Off-Road Experience in South Boulder City, Nevada, provides the ultimate adventure for those who have always wanted to drive an off-road desert race truck. The VORE group applied its expertise in preparing off-road trucks to the new Transit, creating a vehicle that provides luxury transportation with an off-road theme. This Transit, equipped with off-road wheels and tires, will be used for guest transportation at VORE events.

"Transit offered us so much capacity to work with that we were able to take our plans further than we could with a typical van," said Mike Self, Vegas Off-Road Experience chief marketing officer. "It will be a great vehicle for taking guests out on course in high-end comfort."

Off-road and premium features of the VORE Transit include:

Custom LED interior lighting

Five LED flat screens

60-inch LED flat-screen partition

Large-screen TV for external viewing

Video gaming station

Touch-screen tablet controls

LED light bars

HID headlamps

Extended fender flares

Off-road wheels and tires

Designed Travel Transit

For long-distance road trips, Forest Lake, Minnesota-based Waldoch Crafts and 3dCarbon and Air Design of Newport Beach, California, customized a long-wheelbase, medium-roof Transit with a solid hickory wood floor and four reclining captain's chairs with heating, cooling and massage functions, along with power headrests.

"The larger platform of Transit gives us room for creativity," said Ernie Bunnell, vice president of sales for 3dCarbon and Air Design. "Transit provided us with a lot of capability, so we were able to include more technical features than the average conversion."

Other features of the Designed Travel Transit include:

Integrated front bumper with air dam and fog lamps

Side skirts and lower rear skirt with integrated trailer hitch cover

20-inch wheels and tires

Rear seat with fold-down sofa

Tablet control system

4K ultra-high-definition 50-inch TV

LED interior lighting

Backup camera with 360-degree capability

Formula DRIFT Transit

This Formula DRIFT Transit is more than a concept - it is a functional vehicle that will be used at series events in 2015. The Formula DRIFT series, based in Long Beach, California, has taken a medium-roof, short-wheelbase Transit and transformed it into the ultimate track support vehicle. With high-horsepower vehicles sliding around at more than 100 mph in Formula DRIFT events, accidents do occur, and this custom Transit will be one of the first responders to help with fire and safety equipment at the accident site. Complete with a custom interior workspace with TV, LED lighting, a custom entertainment system from Clarion and a matching Kawasaki Mule support vehicle, this Transit will be a standout at the track.

"Track vehicles fulfill a lot of needs, and Transit is able to do it all," said John Pangilinan, public relations director for Formula DRIFT. "The extra roof height Transit offers really adds a lot of usable space for all of our equipment, including the Kawasaki Mule."

Formula DRIFT Transit highlights include:

Matching Kawasaki Mule track support vehicle that will be housed inside Transit between events

Storage bins for fire extinguishers, tools and cleanup equipment

Workspace

Fire suit and helmet racks

Door-mounted flat panel monitor

Performance air intake kit

Performance exhaust system

Performance suspension

Business Class Transit

This sleek, all-black Transit was created by Detroit Custom Coach of Oak Park, Michigan, and offers amenities for VIP travel, whether for business or a night out on the town. This long-wheelbase, high-roof Transit features seating for as many as eight people and a wide array of premium amenities, including cocktail stations.

"We are excited to show what the Ford brand can do when it comes to the VIP transportation industry," said Detroit Custom Coach owner Chris Ramos. "We feel strongly that the new Ford Transit will give other vehicles in its class a run for their money."

Premium and convenience features of the Business Class Transit include:

Actuated passenger entrance step

Wood-grain flooringLaptop station

Cocktail station with glass holders

Reclining, heated and massaging seats

Color-changing LED lighting

Flat-screen TVs

Integrated iPad controls

Wi-Fi

Motorized privacy shades

Galpin Auto Sports Transit Skyliner

Transit Skyliner, created jointly by Ford and Galpin Auto Sports of Van Nuys, California, embodies the spirit of premium motor coaches and builds on the heritage of custom vans. The custom vehicle shows how Ford Transit can be transformed to fit the needs of limousines and high-end transportation services, as well as commercial fleets, shuttle providers and small-business owners.

Transit Skyliner features custom-designed "throne" seats that are controlled by a smartphone or tablet.

"We are sincerely excited to work with Ford in creating the future of travel," said Beau Boeckmann, president of Galpin Auto Sports. "Tapping our history of creating the conversion van segment in the 1960s and '70s, as well as our recent high-tech work, together with Ford we have brought the modern ultra-premium van to life."

Premium features of the Galpin Auto Sports Transit Skyliner include:

52-inch retractable movie screen

Focal Utopia 7.2 surround sound with custom-made speakers

Satellite TVKaleidescape media server

Integrated bar

Matching luggage