A special-edition Ford Raptor pickup truck dubbed “Patriot” has netted $250,000 at auction for the MobilityWorks Foundation.
The truck was auctioned Sept. 6 by Mecum Auction Company at an event in Dallas. West Coast Customs, the legendary automotive fabricator, installed a custom grille and embroidered logos representing each branch of the United States military.
West Coast Customs Operations Manager Alex Anderson described the custom paint scheme, which runs the length of the truck, as “an American flag, flapping in the wind.”
Mecum Auction said the proceeds from the sale will benefit MobilityWorks’ Cars for Troops Vehicle Donation Program, which provides accessible automotive vehicles to veterans with disabilities and their families.
In a blog post about the auction, MobilityWorks thanked sponsors Ford Motor Company, West Coast Customs, BraunAbility, Magnaflow, Bully Dog, LM Tire & Wheel and BDS Suspension.
A Marine Corps Color Guard escorted the Raptor to the auction stage. MobilityWorks President/CEO Bill Koeblitz was on hand in Dallas to watch the auction first hand.
In a video about the Raptor project, Koeblitz describes its goal: “To help veterans regain their independence and personal freedom. Our veterans have given everything. They’ve sacrificed their lives, many times, and in our situations, their limbs. How can we not help them and give them everything they need to live a fulfilling and wonderful life and to get out and stay active?”
MobilityWorks, a national mobility dealership chain, is headquartered in Richfield, Ohio.
