Warrior Judge's Book

A father-son hot rod project that began 50 years ago for our client and his father, developed into a full-time passion. David Sellers dedicated 21 months and 3,821 man-hours to rebuilding the original 1942 Army Jeep his father purchased back in 1955.

A Navy man like his father, Sellers dedicated the rebuilt and souped-up Jeep, now named “The Warrior” to US service men and women. Despite modifications like the addition of a 4-speed transmission and 540hp engine, The Warrior maintains its original stance, thanks to Sellers’ ingenuity and welding skills – skills he learned in the service.

In February 2010, Sellers entered The Warrior into Detroit’s AutoRama car show. He came to us with family photos, Navy medals, sketches and images from the rebuilding process in hand. With these items, our challenge was to design a judge’s book that would tell the story of this one-of-a-kind Jeep.

Though The Warrior was now painted with multiple coats of high-gloss black paint, box welded to eliminate seams and nickel plated wherever possible, this slick and flashy Jeep was still, at its core, an Army workhorse. Sellers maintained the vehicle’s signature profile and replicated its interior as a callback to its inherent ruggedness. With this in mind, we referenced worn Army field manuals and Sellers’ Vietnam dog tags and medals for the rugged feel we needed to tell the Warrior’s story.

To play on Sellers’ use of over 1,100 screws topped with gold-leaf stars throughout the engine and body of the Jeep, we bound the 22-page booklet with black screws that Sellers then embellished with gold stars at his shop in Colorado.

Adding to the Army feel, we created engraved aluminum dog tags for The Warrior and the staff who worked at the event as well as signage that highlighted the features of this impressive show-vehicle.

THE RESULT

The AutoRama judges awarded The Warrior with the show’s Best 4x4, Best Engine, Best Undercarriage and Best Paint awards. After the show, Sellers donated The Warrior to the US Army not only as a promotional showpiece, but as a tribute to members of the Armed services, past and present.

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