By Chris Yow
Editor
TRUSSVILLE — McSweenney Designs, a Trussville-based aftermarket car design company, has teamed up with Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham to create a limited edition Nick Saban Signature Series luxury van. The van houses three televisions with high-tech audio and video, as well as a cooler, among many other amenities.
Designed for tailgaters or corporate entertaining, the van is priced at $200,000, and only 15 vans will be produced.
Specifically, the Nick Saban Signature Series is precisely that, as Saban’s iconic signature is embroidered into the headrest of the seats. There are nine total seats in the van, including seven in the back of the van with heated and cooling seats. There is also a power massage integrated into the seat as well.
Two of the televisions in the cabin are 40-inch screens, with a third television, a 48-inch curved screen, in the rear of the van. A mobile DirecTV satellite system is built into the van as well to allow for a cable-ready system.
“Coach (Nick) Saban was very involved in steering the standard and letting us know what features he wanted in the vehicle,” Jeffrey Hunter, who oversees McSweeney Designs, said.
The idea for the product was brought together by several people involved at Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham, and the idea was presented to McSweeney Designs. McSweeney immediately jumped at the opportunity to work with Saban and the dealership.
“Anyone would’ve been honored to do this, and the fact that they came to us after weighing all the options humbles us,” Hunter said. “Being hometown Trussville guys, getting to produce something like this is a great experience.”
Hunter said the same style van is very popular in other parts of the country and the world, but expects the Nick Saban name will make this limited edition a very popular vehicle in Alabama.
“It’s a big part of our company,” Hunter said. “We’ve been overwhelmed at the response so far. We expected the it would generate a lot of buzz because of the parties involved, but there have already been a flurry of calls wanting to know about the vehicle. This will remain a very exclusive vehicle, though, with only 15 to be made in 2015-16.”
The company is an approved after-market upfitter for Mercedes-Benz, and has long been producing vehicles such as off-road trucks and luxury transport vehicles. Then company also works with a number of vehicle manufacturers to produce armored, as well as racing vehicles.
“This is the most innovative our company has been able to become,” Hunter said of the project. “We’re excited to continue to pursue these types of opportunities.”