SAN DIEGO — After raising nearly $300,000 for children’s charities with its two previous charity vehicle builds, WD-40 Co. is partnering with legendary hot rod designer and TV star Chip Foose to design and manage the build of this year’s WD-40/SEMA Cares project vehicle. 
The vehicle, which will be unveiled at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas Nov. 1-4, will appear at select West Coast auto-related events and then be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Show and Auction Jan. 21 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Proceeds of the sale of the vehicle will go to Childhelp and The Victory Junction Gang Camps children’s charities.
“You’ve seen the Camaro and the Mustang with those beautiful WD-40 brand colors, and this year we’re going to build something that will turn even more heads,” Foose said. “I can’t wait to build it, drive it and then auction it off for a great cause at Barrett-Jackson.”
This is the third consecutive year WD-40 has partnered with SEMA Cares, the philanthropic arm of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), to build a custom vehicle for charity. In 2009, the WD-40/SEMA Cares Camaro raised $75,000 for Childhelp and the Victory Junction Gang Camps, and last year the WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang raised more than $200,000 for those same charities.
Foose is partnering with a number of aftermarket automotive and technology companies that will donate parts, equipment and services to give the vehicle exceptional performance and a distinctive Foose design.
“We really want to build off of the success of the last two years, and partnering with someone like Chip, who’s the best in the business and has used our product all his life, was a great way to do that," said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing at WD-40 Co. “We hope this year’s vehicle honors automotive professionals and enthusiasts who use WD-40 Multi-Use Product to get the job done.”
Limited edition 8- and 12-ounce WD-40 Smart Straw cans that feature Chip Foose vehicle designs will also be introduced in November. The Foose collectible cans, available at select retailers nationwide, will each include a classic Foose design on the front. Designs include a 1956 Ford F-100, 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, 1956 Chevrolet Nomad and a 2009 Chevrolet Camaro.
