Fozzie's 1951 Studebaker Charity Car Project

"I've got a dream too. But it's about singing and dancing and making people happy. That's the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with. And, well, I've found a whole bunch of friends who have the same dream. And, well, it kind of makes us like a family." - Kermit the Frog

TL:DR - We're building an art car to serve charities!

Hi, ho! Shawn "Obi-Shawn" Crosby here, art car enthusiast and perpetual charity volunteer. You might know me from my H-wing and Z-wing Star Wars "Carfighter" art cars that I've built to use in charity visits over 20 years and 2500 appearances. Those projects are my personal passion, but this one I want to be a communal effort - by "the lovers, the dreamers, and me."

WHAT:

It's been a hope of mine to return to the thing that started me into charity work in the first place: The Muppets. With Kermit on my arm, I made visits to hospitals, military bases and senior centers to laugh, sing, and engage with those that could use some humor and hope. In this reboot -and in addition to the puppets-  I'd like to replicate the 1951 Studebaker Commander used in the 1979 film - Fozzie’s “Natural Habitat,” rainbows, stars, bubbles, confetti and all. 

WHY:

Portraying Star Wars characters, the warm welcome I and my fellow costumers get is amazing, and the aid we've been able to give the community is immeasurable. A big part of that has been Master Yoda, who makes the rounds with me; because he is a life-sized puppet, he's been able to visit children in the isolation wards, ICU, NICU and other limited-access areas where families can use a distraction from the serious troubles that brought them to the hospital.  Kermit, Fozzie, Piggy, Rowlf and others would have the same effect, and using the Studebaker as a base of operations (as I do my Star Wars cars) lets us make a great presentation at outdoor community events like cancer survivor picnics, autism festivals and NICU reunions.

HOW:

The plan is to find and decorate the car, and then populate it with the characters we love; when a child or adult approaches the car, they will be greeted by fuzzy friends from every window, where they can interact, talk, sing, take photos and just hang out for a while. The characters are open call - anyone that wants to help at an event can sit in and work their own Muppet magic with us. Dibs on Kermit!

INVOLVEMENT:

All through the build, we want you to be involved. Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook... We'll have as much of a presence as we can, on whatever medium you want it. We plan to livestream the creation process, and then continue to stream at the events we attend (where allowable) when it's ready to go. 

If you're in Southern California, you're welcome to come puppet with us. If you have an event and the calendar's clear, let us come serve your event! If you have other donations for consideration, up to and including a Studebaker, let us know. We're looking forward to being "old friends who've just met"!

INTEGRITY:

In my past car projects, we built and operated them from our own pocket - crowdfunding one is new for us, and we don't enter into it without considerable thought. Because we use copyrighted characters, we work hard to maintain the integrity of both them, and the parent company, as I have been doing for Star Wars and other properties for decades. We do not hire out to kids' parties, and we don't charge charities an appearance fee, This is how we give back and will "pay forward" the kindness and generosity shown by you who contribute. 

THE PLAN:

Find a Car: 1950/1951 Studebaker Commanders are unusual, but not impossible; the cost, however, can go from $5k to $35k, so I've set the bar in the middle. Mechanically sound is the most important thing, and it's worth it to get that at the start to ensure a successful project. If the best car is in the East of the US, we may end up on our own "movin' right along" road trip!

Paint/Body: If we get a car with a poor exterior finish, we'll hand-paint the car like Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem did in the movie. If we end up with something closer to show quality, we'll wrap the car to preserve the integrity of the finish - it's a 70-year-old classic car, after all! The interior can remain "stock" but we may make allowances for the comfort of the puppeteers.

The Gang: The number of characters is limited only by funds - the more money we have left past the car's purchase, the more friends we'll build. Kermit and Fozzie are mandatory, then Gonzo, Piggy, Rowlf, and others are welcome to join in.

The Mission: This car is meant to serve community events; we aren't building it to be a daily driver, take to the playa, and it isn't intended as a trailer queen or show car. We will take it to hospitals, schools, libraries, orphanages, fairs, military bases, air shows,  parades,  charity shows, conventions, and anywhere we are able to support or promote kids, charity or community. 

Legacy: With nearly 30 years of art-car experience, I build to last; I've driven my other cars 10-15 years,  and up to 250,000 miles. But like the Muppets themselves, this is a timeless, lifetime project - the one that we will do until we just can't anymore. 

“Life’s like a movie. Write your own ending.” Thanks for your consideration and generosity in helping write ours, and considering our dream. 

-Obi-Shawn

DISCLAIMER:
I am not affiliated with Walt Disney Productions, The Jim Henson Company, or any other keepers of The Muppet properties - I am merely a rabid fanboy that has been able to use his passion for pop culture, knack for puppetry and character voices, and insatiable desire to help other people as a springboard for  unusual community projects. This is done without permission but with great respect, and without compensation or profit by an ad hoc group of volunteers.