Cadillac-Inspired 'American Chopper' Auction Ending

DETROIT, July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As the auction for the two Cadillac design-inspired custom motorcycles from the "American Chopper" series comes to a close, one winner will be certain – CureDuchenne, the national non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for Duchenne, the most progressive and lethal form of muscular dystrophy.

The auction already has bids in excess of $150,000 for the two custom-built motorcycles. Bidding continues until the auction closes at 5:50 p.m. EDT on July 31. The auction proceeds will be added to more than $500,000 that Cadillac has helped the organization raise since last September.  

Leveraging the iconic Cadillac brand equity, the Discovery Channel's "American Chopper" series pit the highly competitive father-and-son duo Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr. in a contest to design and build the best Cadillac design-inspired chopper.

Over the months, the show has featured visits from Duchenne kids at the facilities of Orange County Choppers and Paul Jr. Designs, and the General Motors Technical Center, where the final choppers were unveiled last June.

"You guys captured all of the design cues we work so hard in the studio to create and you've put it together in a very expressive way," GM Vice President of Global Product Design Ed Welburn said at the unveiling. "The fact that they both look very different but are both very obviously Cadillac-inspired is very cool because it shows the breadth of Cadillac design."

Cadillac's partnership with CureDuchenne began in September 2010 in preparation for Super Bowl XLV. Cadillac donated ad space during the latter part of the NFL and college football seasons and auctioned Super Bowl tickets to raise nearly $500,000 to benefit CureDuchenne. That was followed by a Cadillac-sponsored auction and satellite radio ad campaign with Justin Bieber.

"Cadillac's support has been nothing short of incredible," said Debra Miller, president and CEO of CureDuchenne. "They have put CureDuchenne on the national radar in this country and that has helped mobilize a volunteer base that all want the same thing as we do – to find a cure for this devastating disease."

Duchenne is the most prevalent form of muscular dystrophy, affecting one in every 3,500 male births around the world. Approximately 20,000 boys and young men are living with the disease in the United States, many of whom will not survive their teenage years.

The CureDuchenne organization directs its resources to peer-reviewed research programs that have greatest potential to provide treatments and cures for the current generation of Duchenne boys.

"Their organization has an entrepreneurial spirit that Cadillac is drawn to as a brand," said Don Butler, vice president for Cadillac marketing.  "They are not afraid to create their own path of innovation toward new solutions and technologies."

Paul Teutul Sr.'s Cadillac-inspired chopper features a 160-hp diamond-cut and polished S&S wedge motor, large Brembo brakes, an angular frame, handlebars and lighting, and a centered rear exhaust similar to the CTS Coupe. The bike also features other Cadillac design cues, including a V-Series mesh tank area (containing a nitrous-oxide system), V-series badges and a CTS clock on the center tank.

"The wheels, lights, grilles are identical to the car," Paul Sr. said during the unveiling. "Because the CTS-V has a 560-hp supercharged engine, we made the air cleaner into a 'super-charged' intake and added fuel injection."

By contrast, Paul Jr.'s chopper has a more fluid design, blending curves around angular chevron design accents, side pipes and black diamond paint with Cadillac V-Series insignia. It also has a Crazy Horse motor, air suspension, large yellow V-inspired brake calipers, and taillights and trunk badges from a CTS sedan on the wide rear fender.

"When we were asked to build a bike for Cadillac, we immediately gravitated toward the CTS-V. It's exactly what we do with motorcycles" said Paul Jr. "The CTS-V has the lines, the power, the looks, so a lot of our design cues were pulled from the CTS-V."

Paul Jr.'s cycle is the favorite among fans with more than 138,000 members joining his Facebook page and bids for his chopper topping $110,000. Bids for Paul Sr.'s chopper have topped $50,000 with almost 10,000 Facebook members.

About CureDuchenne

CureDuchenne, a national nonprofit organization located in Newport Beach, Calif., is gaining international attention for its efforts to raise funds and awareness for Duchenne – a devastating and lethal muscle disease in children. One in every 3,500 male births results in a child being afflicted with the disease. Over 300,000 boys and young men are living with the disease worldwide, and many will not survive their teenage years.

About Cadillac

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology. More information on Cadillac can be found at media.cadillac.com.

SOURCE General Motors