Oct. 13, 2010, LAS VEGAS—The National Auto Body Council (NABC) gifted five vehicles to families through its Recycled Rides project Tuesday during NACE.
The gifted vehicles included a 2005 Dodge Caravan, 2004 Ford Explorer, 2007 Honda Pilot, 2004 Chevrolet Venture, and a 2004 Toyota RAV.
“This is the best day of my life,” said Thomas Milton Sr., recipient of the 2007 Honda Pilot. “I can finally take my daughter to places we could never go before.”
The gifted vehicles were donated by three insurance companies: State Farm Insurance, All State Insurance and AAA. The vehicles were refurbished by 911 Collision Centers, Gerber Collision and Glass, and Sterling Autobody Centers.
Many industry suppliers stepped up in 2010 to make the vehicle restoration process successful and a lot less expensive, said Nick Notte, chairman of Recycled Rides.
AutoZone donated mechanical parts, 1-800Radiator donated radiator and cooling parts, LKQ Corp. paid for body parts, Autodata provided invoicing for every vehicle, and AkzoNobel donated the paint needed for the vehicles.
Five more vehicles will be gifted during SEMA, which will be held Nov. 2-5 in Las Vegas.
The NABC plans to donate 150 vehicles through the 2010 Recycled Rides project. A nationwide giveaway will take place over Thanksgiving weekend.
“The Recycled Rides project is a community relations program intended to build goodwill at the local level in communities nationwide,” Notte said. “It’s a real crowd pleaser.”
Visit autobodycouncil.com for more information.