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TRAINMASTER
BY WERNER MEER US-RAILROAD-SHOP KILCHBERG |
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updated: 8/23/2013
Cadillac Minivan (based on 2012 Chrysler Town & Country) |
During March 2013, I decided to get an almost new (2012) Chrysler Town & Country. Since Fiat took over Chrysler, the Chrysler minivans are sold in Europe as Lancia Voyager. I really do not like to drive a Lancia, even it is actually a Chrysler. So, my Town & Country was direct imported from the USA thru my Garage. It is a white car with beige/brown interior. No question, my van was personalized with Trainmaster lettering etc. Because of being a Cadillac lover, I was "converting" this Chrysler to a Cadillac van. Of course, Cadillac did never ever produce a van, but this Chrysler is having lots of options to be a luxury van. There you go - we have the only Cadillac Minivan in town ! |
August 18, 2013: No more Chrysler lettering on my special "Cadillac" Minivan. The conversion is finished. |
The rear panel (above "Town & County") required
heavy modification to remove the Chrysler wing logo. The 50 cm space had to
be filled with filler, sanded down to proper curvature of the panel and be
painted white. Red Trainmaster and blue US-Railroad-Shop lettering and stripes made by SchrittMedia GmbH, Germany: http://www.schritt-media.de/werbetechnik-luenen/fahrzeugbeschriftung-fahrzeugbeklebung.html |
The 4 chrome trim moldings for all 4 doors have been replaced by those without Chrysler letterig. Therefore we got another car identity: Cadillac ! |
Left front door with Chrysler lettering and afterwards with the new "neutral" trim molding. |
The Cadillac Crest logo is actually a "trailer hitch cover" which I bought at a Pomona Swap Meet in California. |
The wheel caps with Chrysler wing logo was sanded down and covered with a Cadillac Crest logo. The Cadillac Crest logo on the trunk is a sticker. |
Cadillac lettering is plastic 3D (self adhesive) and Foose Design is a sticker (copyright by Chip Foose). |
Cajon and Trainmaster logos are both stickers made by RS Graphic: http://www.rsgraphic.ch/ |
Foose Design Logo copyright by Chip Foose (first class car designer): https://www.chipfoose.com/ |
Cadillac decals made by Automobile Riekmann (A): http://www.automobile-riekmann.at/ |
Well, to be honest my dream was always to
have a customized car made by Chip Foose. Because of living overseas
(Switzerland) it would have been not easy. On top, any modification on a car
would be very hard to get an approval of the Swiss DMV. Therefore, I had to
find a way to fulfil my dream. I got a lot of strong inspiration of the
outstanding designs Chip Foose made in the past. So, I was doing
my own design. Even it is actually a "Meer Design", to
honor the great inspiration of Chip Foose, I added "Foose Design" stickers
on my car. Please note: The copyright belongs to Chip Foose of Huntington Beach, CA (USA). Official website of Foose Design Inc: https://www.chipfoose.com/ |
This car was imported by Garage Dutli AG, Fine
US-Cars, Zurich - http://www.dutli.ch/
Chevy Volt - Electric Power
photos copyright by Michael Dutli
August 23, 2013: LED-Lights for Daylight Driving |
After January 1, 2014, all cars in Switzerland
must use their lights during daytime. Therfore, I ask my Garage to install
additional LED-Daylight lamps in front. Once you start the engine, these lights will be automatically on. If you are using the regular lights of the car, the LED's will be dimmed automatically. Here, you can see the result. My Garage did an excellent job as it really looks like factory installed. |
left side - it really looks like factory installed - right side |
now the LED's are fully lit for daylight driving |
left - the LED's are off - right - the LED's are on |
The first Cadillac Minivan in Switzerland Lots of photos How things are changed from a Chrysler Town & Country Limited to a Cadillac Van. See the different steps of the conversion. updated: 8/23/2013 click here |
go back to American Cars main page - click here
Bonus photos from above |
all photos copyright by Werner & Melinda Meer