With just about 1 month until SEMA Show on the calendar, Vaccar will transform an all-new Hyundai Kona into their latest concept creation.  Here, we get a first look at what the platform looks like off the assembly line, and before customization.  Since restyling ideas and performance upgrades are estimated up to half of a year in advance of taking delivery of the most OEM project cars, the Vaccar team likes to spend time with the vehicle as if it were their own.  Aaron Vaccar says, "Once we get the real car actually in our hands, I want to make sure our aftermarket changes make sense - functionally and stylistically."

For 2018, Vaccar welcomes show-goers to their club; “The Club Kona.” This playful guise is actually the themeing around a collaborative new project vehicle that ties in the Vaccar Co., Winner International (makers of The Club), and Hyundai Motor America with their all-new 2018 Kona. The Club Kona, which has it's own postcards, stickers and t-shirts (free to win and available to purchase) is Vaccar's own secret (and fictitious) Hawaiian tiki-club of sorts. The Vaccar Kona concept vehicle will debut Oct. 30-Nov 2 in Las Vegas for SEMA Show at The Club booth #12417, including a special meet & greet Thursday from 2-4pm.

The Club Kona does have it's own website, which will include weekly uploads to showcase the latest development of the Vaccar Kona concept, leading up to it's unveiling; additional project details, partner news, media and more will also be viewable at www.vaccar.co/clubkona.

We are thrilled to announce that WD-40 Co. is teaming up with Aaron Vaccar and The Vaccar Co. on a resto-mod project that blends old a new; the iconic 1966 Ford Bronco-the vehicle's debut year-updated with a twin-trubo EcoBoost drivetrain!

The project, dubbed the "Boosted Bronco", will make it's debut at the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Oct. 31st, in the WD-40 Brand booth (#62129, outside the South Hall), and will be auctioned off in 2018 to benefit SEMA Cares.  Through SEMA Cares, proceeds will benefit 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.  This will be WD-40 Co.'s eight year in partnership with SEMA.  To date, WD-40 Co. has raised more than $800,000 for these charities through vehicle restorations and auctions.

Vaccar  was selected as the vehicle builder after an extensive search by WD-40 Co. Vaccar’s affinity for the WD-40 brand, foresight for putting WD-40 brand products to use in the build and creativity in developing the vehicle concept stood out above the rest, according to Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing at WD-40 Co. For Vaccar, the build is a passion project.

“The WD-40/SEMA Cares Boosted Bronco allows us to pay tribute to traditional hot-rodding standards of execution and finish with a first-of-its-kind vehicle,” said Aaron Vaccar. “The EcoBoost drivetrain will give the cult classic a modern spin and turbocharged power and efficiency for the future. There could not be a more iconic brand than WD-40 brand to partner with on a vehicle sure to generate excitement from Bronco, off-road and automotive enthusiasts nationwide.”

The color scheme of the vehicle is inspired by the famous blue-and-yellow can of WD-40 Multi-Use Product. In addition to this product, several WD-40 Specialist products will be crucial in the build process, including WD-40 Specialist Superior Performance True Multi-Purpose Grease, Spray & Stay Gel Lubricant, Rust Release Penetrant Spray and the new WD-40 Specialist Industrial-Strength Cleaner & Degreaser, which has a water-based, non-aerosol formula.

“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 Lesmeister. “This project allows WD-40 Co. to continue that tradition of support for the automotive industry, aftermarket professionals and auto enthusiasts in their restoration and customization projects.”

Build partners that have donated product for use on the Bronco include AIRAID, AMSOIL, AutoMeter, B&M, BASF, Blood & Grease, Detroit Steel Wheel, Diode Dynamics, Flowmaster, General Tire, Grip Royal, Mishimoto, POR-15, The Club, VMS Racing and XS Power.

Check back for updates! #BoostedBronco

Above; Photos via Ford Media Center

Below; Additional live from SEMA pictures

5 vehicles, 10 strangers, and 1000 miles of road tripping along the Hot Rod Magazine POWER TOUR; that's what myself and the rest of the SEMA Young Executives Network team faced this past June.

​If you'd like reach each of our reactions, from young automotive aftermarket professionals' viewpoint - or if you're just curious, here's a link from the official SEMA eNews;

www.sema.org/sema-enews/2016/28/sema-council-network-news-yen-power-tour-participants-recall-their-week-on-the-road

- Aaron Vaccar