SMB Cutaway Project?

[daveb]

I just shot some video of both the new Fuso and cut away project. Planning to post the Fuso project first and follow up with the Ford.
The Ford looks very promising and I can't wait for some completed pics once it's done. I'll add a few pics here.

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[Tapatio]

Look like a, what's that word, starts with a v, sounds like pan, oh yeah looks like a van. Nothing wrong with that, just thought they were going to develop something a little different.

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by Tapatio

Look like a, what's that word, starts with a v, sounds like pan, oh yeah looks like a van. Nothing wrong with that, just thought they were going to develop something a little different.

Agree. Seems like a stop-gap to keep the E-series conversion line going without investing in much R&D. Reasonable short term solution, but it just kicks the can down the road as far as finding a real solution.


Herb

[lndshark]

I have to admit that I'm happy SMB's will be around for a while yet on the E-Series chassis. But, after I had heard what possibly "could have been" I was a bit excited. Looks like the body is a bit wider than the original van. Guess I was thinking it would be more like the early version of the Tiger Provan - a wider body, real door, etc, or possibly similar to what is happening with the Fuso camper body. Oh well...it's still going to keep the Sportsmobile theme!

[daveb]

I think the idea was to make a similar sized vehicle as the E-350 now that it's on the chopping block. But adding a few inches on each side without making the vehicle overly large seems like a good move to me. I'd be more incline to purchase a walkthrough if the aisleway was a bit wider. They're talking about a recessed sub-floor shower pan as well. The PH is going to be wider also and being the cutaway doesn't have roll control, you can put 315 or larger tires on it. We'll have to see how the doors are going to be made. Being fiberglass I'm thinking it will be lighter as well. Who knows, maybe they will come out with a larger unit down the road but will have to be based off a truck cutaway. It will probably depend on how long the van cutaway will be offered before Ford phases that out. I doubt they want to do a full new concept vehicle on the E-series being it's almost history. Seems the sprinter is the medium sized vehicle at this point. BTW I was actually surprised how small the Fuso was inside considering how big the vehicle looks on the outside.

[UJOINT]

I like it, seems like a good idea since the cab/chassis will be around for another 6 years.

[skyrat]

We were up there two weeks ago and the cut away is pretty awesome. A bit wider than a 350 and because the fiberglass body does not match the white cab they wrapped the thing in a matte gray. Looks like an urban assault vehicle. Can't believe I did not take any pics.

They were also taking a mold of the new dodge sprinter competitor for a penthouse top while we were there.

We walked around in the Fuso project and it is not that much bigger inside than a e-350 inside and over $200k. The shower is nice and the cabinetry superb, but, I would feel like the support crew for a Paris-Dakar race team...

[Steve_382]

We stopped at the factory a few days ago and looked at the Fuso and the E350 replacement. The Fuso is cool, but I would rather have it on a F550 chassis.

The van replacement looks do able, but again you are stuck with the V10 (like mine). Adequate, but I would like to see something on the F350/450 chassis with lots of torque. I think the fiberglass body will be heavier than the Ford body. Didn't care much for the vinyl wrap. They mentioned a cost of $10,000 to paint it, but that's hard to imagine. Maaco will give your car a lousy paint job for $500. $10,000 sounds like a concours paint job to me. Maybe just offer 2 or 3 colors in the gel coat to match the most popular factory paints. Liked the idea of the penthouse bed being a little wider. So far, only in the extended body.

[86Scotty]

$10K to paint it? What if they DON'T take it to a Ferrari dealer?

[lndshark]

Any other updates or news about the cutaway version? $10,000 to paint it? Huh? That's crazy.

Doesn't look like there has been any interior work on the prototype. From the pictures I saw from the Expo, the interior was empty. Wonder if they will work with Fiberline to create a Voyager top in addition to the PH.