Ultimate Bimota Hauler

ULTIMATE BIMOTA HAULER

Ford’s better idea for bikes

REMEMBER THE YAMAHAULER, THE 1970S-ERA Dodge Maxivan meant to capitalize on the public’s fascination with then-fashionable dirtbikes? Well, here’s the “Bimotahauler,” its racier counterpart for the ’90s. Unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, the Ford Chicane is a concept vehicle designed to show what an ordinary Econoline can become with a little imagination and, pardon the pun, a truckload of money.

Andy Jacobson, design director for VC5, Ford’s Commercial Truck Vehicle Center, is the man behind the Chicane. And, little surprise, he’s a motorcycle roadracing enthusiast. Since taking up roadracing on a Honda RC30 in 1992, the 54-year-old says he’s mellowed somewhat, and now limits his racetrack exploits to friendly outings with the Canadian Ducati Owners Club. It was this fascination with Italian machinery that led to Jacobson “borrowing” the red-white-black paint scheme from a Bimota SB6, with which the van appears in promotional photos. Jacobson says that he chose the Bimota for two reasons: He liked the way it looked and, more importantly, he hoped to achieve the same build-quality in the Chicane.

The Chicane is based on the 1997 E-350 Econoline Super Club Wagon, the first vehicle powered by Ford’s new, 6.8liter, sohc Triton V-10. The interior features a bulkhead separating the passenger compartment from the cargo area; the front half includes four leather captain’s chairs trimmed to match the van’s paint job, while the rear is covered in easily cleaned stainless steel, and allows plenty of room for racesupport equipment such as tools, parts, gas cans and tires.

The van’s intent is apparent in its numerous racetrackoriented extras. Wheel divots center the bike in the van, and there are built-in tie-down points along the bulkhead. The elevated roof gives racers enough room to stand up and pull on their leathers, and also provides a place to stow a loading ramp; skylights help mechanics see where they dropped that pesky E-clip. A fold-out tool shelf and retractable awning round out the amenities.

Okay, so the Chicane is a trick truck. But the big question is, will it reach production? The big answer: yes and no. Though Jacobson says that the basic concept may very well find its way into showrooms, it will likely do so without such expensive touches as the paint scheme, the stainless-steel cargo area and the retractable awning.

That’s okay by us. Anything Ford can do to reduce the price of the Chicane will only help bring it closer to reality. But they’d better hurry: CW’s decrepit, 200,000-mile Dodge Ram may not last another year.

Brian Catterson