SAN DIEGO – The WD-40_®/SEMA Cares Mustang will make an appearance at the 2011 San Diego International Auto Show, Dec. 30 – Jan. 2, 2011, before being auctioned to benefit children’s charities at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Show and Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The 2011 Ford Mustang GT, rebuilt with high-performance aftermarket parts and well-received during its official introduction at the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in November, has a 5.0-liter V8 engine, produces nearly 600 horsepower, features a custom body kit and interior, entertainment system, and paint that emulates the WD-40 brand.

“This is a special project, as it pays tribute to automotive professionals and enthusiasts who trust WD-40 to get the job done in their shops and garages,“ said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing at WD-40 Company.  “San Diego is WD-40 Company’s hometown, and we’re excited to show the Mustang to friends, neighbors and employees here at WD-40.  We’re also proud that all proceeds from the sale of the vehicle will support two great charities.”

All proceeds from the sale of the vehicle will go to SEMA Cares, the charity arm of the Specialty Equipment Market Association.  SEMA Cares supports Childhelp_®, an organization that provides services to abused and neglected children, and The Victory Junction Gang_® Camp, which provides life-changing camping experiences to special needs and chronically ill children. 

After its appearance at the San Diego Auto Show, the WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Show and Auction Jan. 17-23 in Scottsdale, Ariz.  The winning bidder will also receive the blue and yellow Swisstrax modular flooring that appeared under the Mustang at SEMA, and O’Leary’s Truck Service will transport the vehicle, free of charge, in an enclosed truck to its new home anywhere in the lower 48 states.

WD-40 Company and SEMA Cares partnered with a number of aftermarket auto and technology companies, which donated parts, equipment and services to give the classic American muscle car a distinctive WD-40 look, including a custom body kit from Street Scene Equipment, Stillen AP Racing 6-piston brake kit with front calipers, Forgeline wheels and a Paxton supercharger system. A virtual version of the vehicle is also available to race in Nitto 1320 Legends, an online racing game and social network with more than 1.5 million members.

For a complete list of build partners, and to see video footage of how WD-40 was used during the remodel process, visit wd40.com/mustang-build/.

WD-40 Company, with headquarters in San Diego, is a global consumer product company dedicated to delivering unique, high-value and easy-to-use solutions for a wide variety of maintenance needs of "doer" and "on-the-job" users by leveraging and building the brand fortress of the company.  The company markets three multi-purpose maintenance product brands – WD-40_®, 3-IN-ONE_® and BLUE WORKSä – and eight homecare and cleaning product brands: X-14_® hard surface cleaners and automatic toilet bowl cleaners, 2000 Flushes_® automatic toilet bowl cleaners, Carpet Fresh_® and No Vac_® rug and room deodorizers, Spot Shot_® aerosol and liquid carpet stain removers, 1001_® carpet, household cleaners and rug and room deodorizers, and Lava_® and Solvol_® heavy-duty hand cleaners. 

WD-40 Company markets its products in more than 160 countries worldwide and recorded sales of $322 million in fiscal year 2010.

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Contact:             Greg Kershaw