Exclusive Military Contract Awarded to Sportsmobile West to Build 17 Elite Search and Rescue Response Vehicles

LOS ANGELES, April 1 -- Sportsmobile West (SMB), North America's premier tier-two manufacturer of Ford Econoline, Dodge Sprinter and Chevy vans, today announced that it has received a military contract from the Country of Qatar to build out 17 customized elite search and rescue response vehicles. As part of Qatar's humanitarian mission to the world, these response vehicles will serve as first responders to many disaster areas in third world nations.

"This is one of the biggest contracts Sportsmobile West has ever been awarded and we are proud to be developing these response vehicles for such a global cause," said Alan Feld, president, Sportsmobile West. "For nearly 18 years, Sportsmobile has specialized in building one of the very best off-road adventure vehicles on the market. With a 12-gear 4x4 system, we are sure our friends from Qatar will be very happy with the final product."

Sportsmobile first received interest from the Qatar Government in late 2007 when a special delegation came to the United States to visit Sportsmobile West's Fresno facility. Impressed with Sportsmobile West's manufacturing process, a government contract was issued to Sportsmobile to build all 17 vans.

After collaboration with Sportsmobile, Qatar placed an order in December to build 17 elite search and rescue response vehicles that include the following:

  17 Elite Search & Rescue Response Vehicles
  1 - Command vehicle
  2 - Support vehicles
  2 - K-9 vehicles (8 dogs per van)
  12 - Transport vehicles

  Ford Econoline (E350) Chassis:
  *  12 Gear Sportsmobile 4x4 System
  *  Dynatrac Pro-Rock 60 front axle
  *  Atlas 2 Transfer Case
  *  Hella powered top-mounted flood light system
  *  12,000 lb. front mounted Warn winch
  *  46 gallon gas tank (long range fuel capacity)
  *  Industry-leading Aluminess Front and Rear Bumper Package
  *  35-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires mounted on American Racing wheels