Downey’s Dream Cars
It's not a dream. You can drive Robert Downey Jr.'s car–and his mother's car, too. Six iconic cars from Robert Downey Jr.'s private collection are available to win through a sweepstakes. The extra-cool catch: All six have been eco-modified to 2023 environmental standards and to reduce their carbon footprint. Sweepstakes proceeds will benefit Downey's environmental and technology organization, FootPrint Coalition, which is focused on the adoption of technologies that will advance human systems toward a cleaner environment. All six cars will be showcased at the New York International Auto Show.
Chris Mazzilli, the founder and owner of Dream Car Restorations/CMC Motors in Plainview, New York, led the modifications and initiated this project. It was Mazzilli's modification of a custom 1973 Ford Bronco that got Downey Jr. interested in eco-modifying his impressive collection. "Robert and I got on the phone, and I asked what he wanted to do with the cars. Robert said he wanted to sell them to fund his charity, FootPrint Coalition. I suggested that instead of selling the cars, we could give them away in a national sweepstakes.” Mazzilli recounts.
Because the timing was incredibly tight, Mazzilli assembled a team of eco-restoration experts from around the country. “We had to build six cars in 18 months. Normally, that is how long it takes for one build. We reached out to other shops, and it was an all-out team effort," Mazzilli said. The eco-modification experts involved include Dave Bloom, Rick Weber, Charles Brunett, Jerry Garcia, and Rich Benoit.
When asked specifics about the modifications, Mazzilli says, "We didn't just replace the engines, but the interiors as well. We converted the 1969 Mercedes Benz 280 SE, which was Robert's mother's car, to biodiesel, so now it basically runs on French fries, and the seats are made from recycled plastic bottles,” he says. The modification took 725 hours and increased the car's value from the $6,461 original MSRP to the current value of $100,000. For the 1972 VW bus, Mazzilli says they doubled the horsepower by putting in an electric motor. That modification took 3,850 hours and boosted the car's original MSRP of $3,848 to its current $200,000 value. A special feature of the 1985 Chevrolet El Camino is the solar roof panel that powers the two electric bikes racked in the car's bed. Mazzilli notes, “Another cool thing about these cars is each one would cost $200,000 to be modified like this,” he says.
The cars and modifications:
1969 Mercedes Benz 280 SE – among the modifications were installing a modern diesel engine, converting the fuel system to biodiesel, and replacing the suede interior with one made from recycled plastics.
1972 VW Bus – modifications included replacing the 1100 CC air-cooled engine with an EV West electric motor conversion and custom battery rack and adding a solar-powered electric barbeque that slides out of the back of the bus. 1966 Buick Riviera – among the eco-friendly changes were replacing the stock 425 cubic inch V8 engine with a first-generation modern hybrid engine and adding a first-of-its-kind prototype Aclima airquality sensor.
1972 K-10 Pickup – modifications included turning it into a full EV pickup with a custom electric motor and battery pack.
1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible – among the changes were replacing the 327 Small Block engine with a modern electric motor and installing a one-of-a-kind mushroom-based interior.
1985 Chevrolet El Camino – modifications included replacing the stock engine with a modern 4-cylinder Chevy turbo truck engine and adding a solar-powered bike rack in the bed of the car.
To learn more about the project and see the modifications in action, watch Downey's Dream Cars on Max. You'll see that “Robert talks the talk and walks the walk,” Mazzilli says. “Robert was involved in every aspect, every color, every finish," he says. In the final epi and th get into the modified 1972 VW bus, complete with dedicated surfboard racks, drive to the beach in Malibu, and pop out the solar-powered grill.
If you want to live that quintessential beach life, enter the sweepstakes for your chance to win the VW bus and other vehicles. The sweepstakes is live and one winner a month will be picked through July. The first winner, who scored the 1972 Chevrolet K10 Pickup, has been selected and will be announced during NYIAS Press Day. The entry period for Drawing #2 has closed, and the winner of the 1985 Chevrolet El Camino will be selected at the end of March. To participate in the sweepstakes with or without donating to the FootPrint Coalition and learn more, please visit www.rdjdreamcars.com.
— Joanne Kroeger