If you have or can build a unique vehicle, you can earn a living from that vehicle in several ways.
The Smile Shuttle, pictured above, started life as a DC-3 airplane. The rumored history is quite colorful. It started flying in World War II. Later, when in service as a passenger plane for Allegheny Airlines, it was hijacked to Cuba, not once, but twice. On another occasion, while coming in for a landing at 180 miles per hour, it hit a goose going about 20 miles in the other direction. The poor goose broke through the fuselage, breaking the copilot’s legs. Another time while being serviced in Florida, a mechanic revved up an engine too much. The plane overran the wheel chocks, and crashed into a glass wall, narrowly missing passengers in a terminal.
Around 1976, it was purchased by a private person who made it into a motorhome by sawing off the wings and last 15 feet. The fellow who did the original work was very creative in reusing available components. There were seven different vehicles involved in the steering compartments. The steering wheel was from a Jeep Wagoneer. The column was from a Cadillac, The front wheels were originals on the International bus chassis. The flexible coupling from the steering shaft to the Ford steering gearbox was a 1/2-inch Craftsman socket set flexible joint. (That was quickly replaced by the new buyer:))
In the early 1980s, it was sold to a couple who decided it looked like the Space Shuttle, which was a very popular NASA program at the time. They invested in new paint and many other improvements including an 8-foot diameter clear Plexiglas dome to cap the back end. The interior was designed to be multi-purpose. Someone said that at the time, it was the second-most famous vehicle in America, behind the Oscar-Meyer Weinermobile.
At one point, the Smile Shuttle gridlocked Las Vegas, as thousands of people stopped or drove around the block to take another look.
They rented the vehicle for $250/hour for anything from private parties to parades. Sometimes, the action was inside, such as ferrying a group of executives to a special event. Other times, the action was more on the outside. For instance, the inside could be staffed with people who handed out advertising flyers to everyone who came close.
Later, it was made into a cafe, as shown in the picture above.
This promotional vehicle can be put to many purposes, but single-purpose promotional vehicles can make a big and profitable splash as well. You can rent your vehicle to movie production companies, attach advertising banners to it, or have it be an attraction at grand openings and special events. Your vehicle doesn’t have to be street-legal or even be in running condition for many purposes, as long as you can get it to where someone wants it.
Furthermore, it doesn’t need to be custom. Many small businesses would be happy to make use of your antique tractor, classic car, or any unusual vehicle in their advertising and promotion strategy.
