Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Transit Connect Wagons Get Ultimate Upfits

Ford and MAKE magazine are highlighting the Transit Connect's flexibility and upfit possibilities with this year's Maker Faire, an all-ages event celebrating the do-it-yourself spirit

by Staff
May 14, 2014
Transit Connect Wagons Get Ultimate Upfits

Photo: Ford

3 min to read


Photo: Ford

Ford and MAKE magazine will show two creative takes on personalizing the all-new Transit Connect Wagon as part of Maker Faire, an all-ages event celebrating the do-it-yourself spirit.

MAKE magazine put on the first Maker Faire in 2006 in the San Francisco Bay Area, bringing together tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, hobbyists, engineers, and artists. It has since grown, with several Maker Faire events taking place around the world. Last year, about 195,000 people attended the two flagship Maker Faire events, held in San Francisco and New York. This year, Maker Faire events will take place in more than 60 cities in North America and beyond.

Ad Loading...

Hackmobile and Happy Mutant Mobile Transit Connect Wagons will make a public appearances at several of the events, including those in San Francisco, San Mateo, and New York City.

“Transit Connect Wagon is exactly what customers want it to be,” said Minyang Jiang, brand manager for Ford Transit Connect Wagon. “Whether it’s used as a people mover or to carry cargo, the spirit of the vehicle is in how it can be transformed by its owners to express their passions. We think these two vehicles are a perfect example of the unminivan, of how to inspire the imagination in a new way.”

Hackmobile, a fabricating workshop on four wheels, was the winner of MAKE magazine’s Ultimate Maker Vehicle Challenge, a competition that saw 10 teams vie to create the ultimate Ford Transit Connect Wagon for the do-it-yourself enthusiast. As part of winning the contest, Ford commissioned California-based builder CGS Motorsports to build Hackmobile.

The winning design team, Twin Cities Maker, is part of a Minnesota-based community nonprofit that operates a shop called Hack Factory, where members build projects and hold classes for the community.

Photo: Ford

The concept was for a Transit Connect Wagon to be designed and built around a machine the team dubbed “The Fabber” due to its use as a multipurpose tool in fabricating. Hackmobile has shelving and storage for tools to do woodworking, metalworking and 3D fabrication.

Ad Loading...

Happy Mutant Mobile was developed in collaboration with MAKE magazine and Boing Boing, a Web-based magazine devoted to technology and culture.

Boing Boing’s editors designed Happy Mutant Mobile to be as original as its name, serving as an official vehicle for the site.

The custom-designed exterior features a large screen that can roll down to show outdoor movies, a hood ornament that blows bubbles and LED signs mounted to the roof. The interior is decorated in dark custom woodwork and green leather upholstery. It houses a mix of oddities and knickknacks, a 3D printer, camera equipment, magazine rack and computer equipment.

Theresa Contreras of California-based LGE*CTS Motorsports, which served as builder on the project, said the whimsical design features, like the bubble machine on the hood, make it one of the most unique builds the team has worked on.

“Transit Connect is a great platform for any build of this magnitude, or for the weekend warrior, for that matter,” Contreras said. “It’s amazing that the minute everyone lays eyes on this vehicle, they start thinking about how they would use it. I’ve heard everything from office desks to mountain bikes to band equipment. The unminivan can be a vehicle for everyone.”

More Operations

A blue Automotive Fleet graphic representing the weekly AF News Recap series.
Operationsby Faith HowellMay 4, 2026

From Waffle House to AI: Fleet Trends You Need to Know

In this AF news recap, host Faith Howell covers how Waffle House stepped up during disaster response and new AI tech on the market.

Read More →
OperationsApril 30, 2026

Fleet Operations in the Age of AI: Navigating Ethical and Legal Challenges

AI is no longer a future concept for fleets—it’s already embedded in the tools, data, and decisions that operators rely on every day. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, recorded live at Fleet Forward, industry leaders take the conversation beyond hype to examine what responsible AI adoption really looks like in fleet operations.

Read More →
OperationsApril 30, 2026

Factory Installed vs. Aftermarket: Choosing the Right Telematics Path & Managing the Data

As fleets rethink how they capture, manage, and act on vehicle data, telematics is at a major inflection point. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most pressing questions facing fleet leaders today: Should you rely on OEM factory-installed connectivity, aftermarket devices, or a hybrid of both?

Read More →
Ad Loading...
OperationsApril 30, 2026

What Real-Time Data Reveals About EV Cost, Performance, and Scalability

Experts from telematics analytics, fleet-as-a-service operations, and national EV benchmarking share how real-time data is reshaping fleet strategy—dispelling assumptions, validating best practices, and exposing costly missteps.

Read More →
OperationsApril 30, 2026

Planning Through Policy Shifts: What Fleets Must Track in 2026

A powerhouse panel featuring experts from the American Automotive Leasing Association, CalSTART, and municipal fleet leadership dives into the realities of navigating shifting emissions rules, regulatory waivers, federal agency actions, the future of the EPA’s endangerment finding, and the push for unified standards. They also examine the impacts of tariffs, autonomous vehicle policy, battery innovation, and the accelerating global EV market.

Read More →
OperationsApril 30, 2026

Managing Market Turbulence with Strategic Fleet Insights

This episode kicks off with a deep dive into the technologies and market forces reshaping today’s fleet landscape. Host Chris Brown is joined by Laolu Adeola (Leke Services), Tyson Jomini (J.D. Power), and Richard Hall (ZappiRide) to break down real-world data, shifting incentives, and practical strategies fleet leaders can use right now.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Clipboards with flooded cars in background.
Disaster Responseby Chris BrownApril 30, 2026

Adapting Fleet Policy When Disasters Strike

In the middle of natural disasters fleet managers must shift priorities to protect people and assets. What policy items should be loosened, and when should the line be held?

Read More →
OperationsApril 24, 2026

EV Reality Check: How Fleets Are Managing Policy Shifts, Safety, and Scaling Challenges

In this episode, fleet leaders from municipal, university, and private-sector organizations share a candid EV reality check. From infrastructure setbacks and policy whiplash to grant funding, total cost of ownership, and charging resiliency, this conversation dives into what it actually takes to scale electrification in the real world.

Read More →
2019 Automotive Fleet Hall of Fame inductees Joe LaRosa Bob Miesen Bud Morrison Theresa Ragozine portraits
Operationsby StaffApril 21, 2026

Fleet Hall of Fame Honorees Through the Years

A running list of the fleet industry’s most influential leaders, recognized for their lasting impact on commercial fleet management.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Operationsby Chris BrownApril 20, 2026

2026 Salary Survey: Six-Figure Fleet Manager Salaries Become the Norm

After a decade of lagging compensation, fleet manager pay is climbing. But expanding responsibilities, larger fleets, and growing complexity continue to redefine the role.

Read More →