Best Unique Vehicles of 2014

FIRST PLACE
Fabricator
Great Big Signs
Kyle, TX
(512) 262-2157
www.greatbigsigns.com
Designers
Devon Hanna
Lynn Wilkerson
Great Big Signs

Doug Lyon
Lyons Advertising
Austin, TX
(512) 480-5966
www.lyonadvertising.com
Installers
Marcario DeLaRosa
Devon Hanna
Mario Munoz
Tim VanderWell
Sheila Wilhoite
Lynn Wilkerson
Client
Baby Earth

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who comparison-shops more aggressively than an infant’s mother. So Baby Earth, a Round Rock, TX-based, baby-products store that also delivers, wanted to create delivery vans that would make an indelible impression at special events and when transporting product. They chose wisely; Wilkerson’s shop has won this category so often that I’ve considered renaming it the Great Big Signs Invitational.
Great Big Signs used Avery MPI 1005 Supercast Easy Apply RS, which it decorated on the shop’s Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 solvent-ink printer. For additional layers, the shop plotter-cut material on its Mimaki CG-130 FX2 cutting plotter. They applied the material with 3M Gold nylon squeeges.
To fabricate the stork and diapered babes, the Great Big Signs team installed a welded-steel armature base, and fabricated the figures from hand-laid fiberglass that’s coated with Aves Epoxy Sculpt two-part, hardcoat compound and decorated with Golden acrylic paints. Wilkerson said, “The van has really boosted their social-media presence. Everyone wants their picture taken with the stork and babies.”

SECOND PLACE
Fabricator
Signature Graphics
Porter, IN
(219) 929-3107
www.signaturegraphicsinc.com
Designer
Laban Martin
Wholly Guacamole
Installer
Jeff Wagner
J3 Industries
Frisco, TX
(817) 875-4099
www.j3industries.net
Client
Wholly Guacamole

This hauling trailer and flatbed undoubtedly make an impression at festivals and parades. Signature Graphics produced the truck and box-trailer wraps with 3M Controltac IJ180Cv3-10 air-release media and 3M Scotchlite IJ-680 reflective media, which are imprinted on an EFI-VUTEk GS3250R roll-to-roll, UV-cure-ink printer. 3M Scothcal 8519 luster-finish overlaminate, applied with a Seal 54 laminator, will keep the fiesta on wheels moving.
A Florida-based float fabricator built the 3-D components from hard-foam plaster and fiberglass.

THIRD PLACE
Fabricator/Designer/Installer
Metro Wrapz
Hollywood, FL
(954) 983-6662
www.metrowrapz.com
Client
Li-Ning and Forgiato Fest 2014

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As the official graphics provider for the Miami Heat, Metro Wrapz’ relationship with the team – and its exemplary work – laid the groundwork for the shop to also do work for the Heat’s point guard, future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade (see the “Way of Wade” boat, which promotes his latest shoe line, on page 80). For this job, Metro Wrapz bedecked a Tramontana R sports car, an exotic Spanish vehicle whose open-wheel chassis resembles Formula 1 cars, to promote Dwyane Wade’s Li-Ning-made shoes at the Forgiato Fest, an exotic-car festival that recently took place in Miami. The printed portions of the wrap comprise 3M Controltac IJ180Cv3-10 air-release media that’s decorated on an HP DesignJet 9000S eco-solvent-ink printer. Avery’s Conform Chrome Easy Apply chrome and gold wrap media enhance the graphics. To preserve its wow factor, Metro Wrapz laminated the wrap with Avery’s DOL 1080 matte-finish, cast laminate that’s applied to the film with its Seal Image 62 Plus laminator.

HONORABLE MENTION
Fabricator
Ziglin Signs
Washington, MO
(636) 390-8455
www.ziglinsigns.com
Designer
Eric Adcock
Installers
Mike Rodgers
Skyler Rucker
Client
Lil’ Monster Trucks