In 2012, Common Ground (Ok: mostly Dan) built the “TacoBike” for client Taco, Inc. – leading U.S. manufacturer for hydronic and HVAC technology. The machine was quickly purchased by Taco’s President and CEO, Johnny White, Jr. for display in their new Innovation & Development Center . . . and also for the occasional use at industry events.
Now, this was a really fun editorial project!
PDF excerpts:
Why, it’s as American as hot dogs, baseball and Taco’s 007. The biker spirit thrives at Taco.
“There’s no other machine like it on the road,” said Dan Vastyan. “From its Taco ‘tattoos’ and big, fat whitewall tires, hand-crafted leather seat with FloPro impeller and a WWII artillery shell casing air filter frame, to its custom and rigid frame, the machine was built to be like Taco in every way possible a bike could resemble a manufacturer and its customers.
“We now know so many people in the Taco camp, with loads of bikers at the company and among its customers,” Vastyan added. “The inspiration to build a bike honoring them was an easy thing to do – and a whole lotta’ fun in the process. “In fact, Johnny White liked it so much that he bought it to display it in their new Innovation and Development Center,” he said. The “Oil Heat Cares” motorcycle ride will include a trip to Taco and the state-of-the-art learning and training facility.