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Pimp That … Sprinter
Converting a Mercedes van into a little bit of Hokie heaven
By DOUG CALLAHAN
Just one look at this customized Mercedes Sprinter, and you can tell its home is outside Lane Stadium.
“What we did with this is modify it to become the ultimate tailgating Sprinter, with a Virginia Tech theme that would appeal to the masses of Hokie fans here in Richmond,” says Nick Scola, Sprinter brand manager for Mercedes-Benz of Midlothian.
PIMPED-OUT PARTY BUS
Scola says that once he had the idea, it was just a matter of dreaming up the perfect pimped-out parking-lot-party bus. “Just from a piece of scratch paper, we constructed what would be the best vehicle for the tailgating experience. We customized it using an approved upfitter in New Jersey and brought it down here.”
That was in mid-October. And what was the first thing they did with it?
Guess.
“We had it at a Tech game,” Scola says. “It was received really well. People were flocking around it. I think the sound out of the back is what really attracted them to it. But then we had it open and people were climbing in and out of it and taking pictures with it.”
And though several people have inquired about renting it for the weekend, it’s strictly for sale … with a price tag of $98,750.
Scola says that the Mercedes Sprinter was the perfect starting point for this kind of project. “Sprinters are great vehicles by themselves. But really, they are customizable shells. You’re only limited by your creativity and your budget.”
And these guys certainly didn’t hold back. The Virginia Tech Sprinter, which seats eight people comfortably, is outfitted with a Pioneer in-dash CD, DVD, navigation and iPod receiver; a 20-inch in-cabin flat-screen TV; Bose surround-sound on the tailgate doors; a walnut wood bar with cooler; a PlayStation 3; and tons of orange and maroon.
SURPRISE: POP THE TAILGATE
But the real fun starts when you pop open the tailgate doors and see the propane grill and cooler, sitting under a 50-inch LED HDTV. “So, say you’re in Blacksburg, and you didn’t get there as early as you wanted. Just pull into a space, and you can set up your tailgate in about five minutes,” Scola says.
Scola is a Pennsylvania native but says he knew which Virginia team was deserving of the first Sprinter tribute. “I’m smart enough to know that the Hokies are ‘professional sports’ in Virginia,” he laughs.
But he’s really just trying to show support for the fine art of tailgating. “Just from being a sports fan and going to tailgates all over the mid-Atlantic, I’ve seen how communal it is,” Scola says. “And it’s only growing in popularity. Sure, the game is the main event, but not far behind is the fun in the parking lot. And you’re seeing more and more tailgating in Virginia. JMU just got their new stadium, ODU has football now, U of R is on-campus, and William and Mary has done well with their program. So it’s not just isolated to Blacksburg. It’s contagious.”
That’s not even including the University of Virginia, one of the state’s two major college programs (alongside Tech), which this season qualified for its first bowl game in four years. So, though the Hokies got the first Sprinter treatment, Scola says his crew is just getting started. “We can customize this to any college, pro, or even high school team.”
So … who wants to pay for our Boomer bus?
Doug Callahan is production coordinator for Ross Publishing, which publishes Boomer.
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