KISS edition MINI Countryman charity auction starts tomorrow

KISS edition MINI Countryman charity auction starts tomorrow, May 29 at 4 PM PST on eBay. The anticipation has been building up for the past month with lots of media exposure and MINI Rocks the Rivals event, and there seems to be rather high interest among die-hard KISS fans. These 4 KISS-inspired, custom painted and autographed MINI Countrymans are sure to become collector's item. So get your checkbook ready! Click here to ebay page

Read more for official release.


OFFICIAL RELEASE :

LOS ANGELES – May 27, 2011… KISS, the most iconic band in the history of rock, isn’t just taking the show on the road this summer. They’re also taking it to eBay (www.eBay.com) for a ten-day Father’s Day Charity Auction, starting May 29 at 4 pm PST. Auction participants can bid on any of the four MINI Countryman vehicles, each autographed by the entire band and custom-painted with the iconic makeup for each band member. All of the proceeds will benefit UNICEF to help children in Japan and other emergency relief efforts worldwide.



“Helping others is a gift we can give ourselves, but here’s a four wheel bonus!” said KISS co-founder Paul Stanley. “The KISS MINI’s are the ultimate way to show your KISS Army colors while helping our friends in Japan who have been devastated by the recent earthquake and floods. We’re asking everyone to open their wallets to help UNICEF raise money for children who are still coping with the effects of these disasters.”

The custom-painted vehicles are the all-new 2011 MINI Countryman, and feature the iconic makeup and costume association of one KISS member including co-founder and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley (Starchild), co-founder and bassist Gene Simmons (The Demon), lead guitarist Tommy Thayer (Spaceman) and drummer Eric Singer (Catman).

All of the MINIs will also be autographed by all four members of KISS (www.KISSonline.com).
   
“The KISS MINIs are the perfect Father’s Day gift for the man who has everything,” said KISS co-founder Gene Simmons, “But this ain’t your father’s car. It’s bigger, better and the very best for the man who has the rest. It’s KISS, baby. The custom-painted MINI Countryman would be the ultimate collector’s item for a KISS fan or curator of rock band memorabilia, and would be the perfect addition to a car collector’s garage; plus the new owner will have the satisfaction of knowing they’ve supported a great cause.”

“MINI has a long history of philanthropic activities as part of our MINI Motoring Hearts program, which is all about giving back to the community,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President - MINI USA. “These efforts support that and we are happy to help UNICEF make a difference in these kids’ lives.”



The original artwork for all four vehicles was painted by a team of three BMW Group employees, mostly after normal business hours and on weekends. The designs were influenced by each band member’s iconic makeup, as well as some attributes of their costumes. Each car was taken apart and components were painted individually to ensure proper coverage and a quality finish that will last.

“It’s been a lot of hard work, but the team is thrilled to help contribute to this much-needed cause,” said Dan Doot, BMW Group Paint and Body Team Leader. “We have a real passion for this type of work.”