SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro looks cool, needs more stickers

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Coupe, Auctions, Chevrolet, Specialty

2010 WD-40 Chevrolet Camaro - Click above for high-res image gallery

With a 600-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 residing underhood, we'd happily spray ourselves into the seats of this WD-40 showcar. The legendary lubricant company actually contracted a slew of top-shelf builders to do the custom outfitting, they just sponsored it. Either way, this blue-and-yellow 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is for a good cause - it was built to support the SEMA Cares charity and will be auctioned off at the next installment of the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale. Proceeds will benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang charities, among others.

The WD-40 Camaro also serves as a nice tribute to recently deceased company founder, John Barry. While the car was certainly well guarded, we wouldn't say we were that tempted to steal it. Don't get us wrong, it's not a bad looking Camaro. Although WD-40 had it parked in the darkest corner we found in all of SEMA, it still looked pretty striking in that bright yellow and deep blue combo. Our only complaint is that it didn't go far enough. The tiny WD-40 stickers on the fenders are way too small - this thing needs huge ones on the doors, hood and/or trunk too. And it seems almost blasphemous for them to have missed out on one of the most iconic features of the WD-40 cans, the bright red cap! Those wheels are just begging for them. Follow the jump for WD-40's full press release and check out our gallery below.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro

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SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro looks cool, needs more stickers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John Barry, the man behind WD-40, dead at age 84

Dan Roth — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

Who among us doesn't have at least one blue-and-yellow can sitting on the shelf near the tools? WD-40 and its secret formula has been often imitated, but the small San Diego firm long resisted the temptation to spread itself thin with too many other products. Under the leadership of one John S. Barry, the company took a single product - one that had taken 40 tries to get right - and built it into the Kleenex of lubricant products, good for $317 million in sales last year. The man who kept his focus firmly on making the best single product of its type has passed away at the age of 84.

John Barry's demeanor as the top dog of WD-40 Co. is an admirable example for fatcat CEOs that are so addicted to costly perks. Barry himself acknowledged that his style was that of "breaking all the Harvard Business School rules." He answered his own phone. He flew coach. Meetings were sometimes held at Denny's. The proof of Barry's keen instincts can be seen by the myriad of copycat products laid to waste by WD-40's dominance.

Despite the assertions that a single-product company would never make it, WD-40 is very much still around thanks to John Barry's refusal to tinker with his product and its ever-increasing list of unique uses. The company now has other highly regarded products in its porfolio, such as Spot Shot carpet cleaner, Lava soap, and 3-in-1 Oil - perhaps the only other lubricant that's nearly as universal and also has a delightfully distinct aroma, just like its blue and yellow shelfmate.

[Source: The Los Angeles Times]

John Barry, the man behind WD-40, dead at age 84 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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