The DECO LINER Zephyr Sedan Delivery and matching DECO SCOOT custom Harley Sportster took three years to build and is the realization of a dream owner Terry Cook of Long Valley, NJ has had since 1999. The unique front-wheel drive chassis was designed by Gary Brown, who owns the firm that did the majority of the construction of the car. Starting with a new DECO RIDES fiberglass Zephyr sedan delivery body, the car and bike was finished for the 2008 summer season in a six month marathon thrash by Gary and Dylan Brown and Robert Winningham of BROWN’S METAL MODS in Indianapolis.

Cook conceived the concept of tucking a ’92 Harley Sportster inside the delivery after designing the car’s body shape with artist Frank Nicholas of Illinois. It required the use of a front-wheel drive platform to eliminate the rear differential so a minimum height rear floor could be attained to house a 39.5 inch tall motorcycle. Because a low cross member was required for a 9-foot long ramp holding a lowered bike to fit inside; for the rear suspension, Gary chose a Fat Man Fabrications front suspension setup with Air Ride Technologies air bags. Short tie rods attached to the frame prevent the spindles from steering in the rear. A nine foot long aluminum U-channel ramp, powered by an electric motor that turns an equally long threaded screw, moves in and out of the back of the car at the touch of a switch. The bike is rolled onto the ramp, strapped in position, and the ramp is electrically moved into the car.

Another metal man involved in the project was Denny Jamison of AUTOMOTIVE HAMMER ART in Gasoline Alley in Indianapolis. After Juan “Motyme” Rice of Chicago started the ’92 Harley Sportster construction, Denny hand-shaped both the streamlined aluminum body for DECO SCOOT as well as the metal trim for the bike and the back door of the delivery. Chrome plating for the trim was done by The FINISHING TOUCH of Chicago. Prior to this project, Cook never realized how much work and artistic talent is involved in achieving a really top quality chrome finish. As is the case with a great paint job, surface preparation is the key to top quality plating. Juan Rice also fabricated the three matching tail light lenses for the car and bike by hand from 2 x 2 x 12 pieces of clear Lucite.

Brown used one pair of linear actuators (electric screw jacks) to raise and lower the hood while a second pair operate the rear door. Brown’s Metal Mods not only engineered and built the entire car and had a hand in the bike, they also did all the bodywork and paint using RM Carizzma True Violet pearl pearlescent purple. The headliner is painted suede Matte Uno Fed-X purple by RM. Because the body comes with a smooth inner fiberglass liner, the upper rear quarter panels and headliner do not have to be upholstered and can be painted. One nice design feature of the inner body is the streamlined shape of the inner wheel well humps. Another point of interest is the 1960-’62 Chrysler 300 “goldfish bowl” instrument cluster.