2017 SEMA Cares Ford Bronco Unveiled

SEMA News—February 2018

Built by WD-40 and Aaron Vaccar, the “Boosted” Bronco Now Heads to Auction to Benefit SEMA Cares

The WD-40/SEMA Cares Boosted Bronco was unveiled in the WD-40 booth at the 2017 SEMA Show.

A partnership now eight years in the making, WD-40 Co. and SEMA Cares have again teamed to create a one-of-a-kind build, with SEMA Cares’ partner charities—Childhelp and the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund—as the beneficiaries. Over the years, WD-40 has produced vehicles representing a variety of niches, partnering with automotive aftermarket companies to help turn ideas into reality.

“We have a long history of supporting the automotive industry with products that help auto pros get the job done and through our partnership with SEMA,” said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing at WD-40 Co. “This project allows WD-40 to continue that tradition of support for the automotive industry, aftermarket professionals and auto enthusiasts.”

About the Bronco

For 2017, WD-40 enlisted the help of young automotive builder Aaron Vaccar of The Vaccar Co. A recent SEMA News 35 Under 35 award honoree, Vaccar has been a lifelong fan of the Bronco.

“The original ’66 Ford Bronco is an iconic, cult classic vehicle, and we’ve created a modern, bespoke version with the WD-40/SEMA Cares Boosted Bronco,” Vaccar said.

The term “boosted” was not, in fact, hyperbole. Rather, it was derived from the Bronco’s main attraction: a Ford Performance 3.5L V6 EcoBoost crate engine. The engine swap was a crucial component to the Bronco’s modern, sporty character and was accompanied by a Ford 6R80 transmission, a Flowmaster exhaust and an Airaid intake system. The new powerplant was chosen to give the Bronco a modern spin while also adding turbocharged power and efficiency that will work for decades to come.

“The Boosted Bronco allowed us to pay tribute to traditional hot-rodding standards of execution and finish with a first-of-its-kind vehicle,” Vaccar said.

The restomod theme continued with Detroit Steel Wheel 20-in. wheels wrapped in General Tires, Vaccar’s Master Garage Roadster-style doors and fender flares, in addition to Diode Dynamics 7-in. dual projector headlights. The Bronco was finished in BASF matte Kona Blue with Gloss Triple Yellow paint accent.

Completing the Boosted Bronco was a custom interior riddled with special details, including Distinctive Industries ’65 Mustang Touring II seats, AutoMeter gauges and a GripRoyal suede steering wheel, each adding to the Bronco’s functionally modern equipment while keeping its classic styling and character.

The Work of SEMA Cares

The practice of building cars to benefit charity represents just a small portion of the work that SEMA Cares does on an annual basis. The SEMA Cares Committee was established in 2007 by the SEMA Board of Directors with the goal of bringing the voice and resources of the SEMA community together to make a positive difference in the lives of others through outreach programs and various fundraising efforts.

In addition to building cars for auction, SEMA Cares puts on multiple events throughout the year, including the Pinewood drag races. For more information on SEMA Cares and its work with local communities, visit www.sema.org/sema-cares.

Assuming final tweaks happen on schedule, the WD-40 Boosted Bronco will be hitting the auction block during the 2018 calendar year, further advancing the shared goal of SEMA Cares and WD-40.

“By auctioning the vehicle and donating the proceeds to SEMA Cares, WD-40 Company is able to live these values by helping Childhelp, an organization that provides services to abused and neglected children, and the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, which offers scholarships to students entering the automotive aftermarket,” Lesmeister concluded.