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Written By: Gary Willoughby and Bryan Ebenhoch
Edited By: Richard Gunn
Additional Photographs Supplied by Bryan Ebenhoch, Paul Sammon and Don Snodgrass

Spinner Rising: The Restoration of the Flying Spinner

The Blade Runner Spinner had its moment in history in 1992 when it officially became airborne and broke-free off a transport truck and crashed onto a Florida Highway. Its destiny as a permanent display in the American Police Hall of Fame in Miami Florida was short lived. The spinner was eventually put back in one piece, but the puzzle of a project did not result in its original appearance as it was featured in the film. Years of overseas touring later would continue to be unkind.

Flying Spinner in Film Flying Spinner on Tour
Flying Spinner in Film Flying Spinner on Tour

After the sale of the Flying Spinner at the Profiles in History auction on December 12, 2003, a curious group of loyal fans wondered what would become of the famous vehicle next, if it would ever be seen again or in its original screen appearance. After hearing news from a friend, I investigated a lead that the spinner might be destined for display in the new Science Fiction Experience museum in Seattle, Washington. The founder of the museum was none other than Paul Allen, the Co-founder of Microsoft. See www.sciencefictionexperience.com.

A few months would pass and reveal a surprise phone call from Gene Winfield to Bryan Ebenhoch at Planet Hollywood. Gene stated he had just picked up the spinner and was approached by the curators of the museum. Bryan was aware of the spinner's history (see his detailed article) and had approached Gene a few years earlier about providing one for the restaurant's Time Square location. Bryan had notified me on the confirmed news and I contacted Gene Winfield and he confirmed he had been asked to restore the spinner to its former glory. Bryan offered to assist Gene in the restoration and made arrangements to fly in on the weekend for the May 8th visit at Gene's.

Bryan and I made plans to visit the Winfield Shop "Rod and Custom Construction Inc." in Mojave on Saturday morning and document the restoration. When we arrived we were surprised to meet Paul Sammon, author of "Future Noir" the making of Blade Runner. We all had an enjoyable time watching the Winfield guys making fiberglass parts for the spinner and we all took many photographs to document the restoration. Gene Winfield spent a lot of time with us explaining what was happening with the restoration.

Paul and Gene Paul and Spinner
Paul Sammon with Gene Paul Sammon with Spinner

Entrance to Winfield Shop Spinner Wheel Steel Back Frame Paul Sammon and Gene
Entrance to Winfield Shop Spinner Wheel Aluminium Back Frame Paul Sammon and Gene

Gene, Trial Fitting Molding Gene Shows Gary how Molding Fits Spinner Front Close Up Gene Showing Original Hand Controls
Gene, Trial-Fitting Molding Gene Shows Gary
how Molding Fits
Spinner Front Close Up Gene Showing Original
Hand Controls

Repaired Panels Placed on Frame Original Seats Don Snodgrass Prepares Mold Gene in Office
Repaired Panels
Placed on Frame
Original Seats Don Snodgrass Prepares Mold Gene in Office

Gene and Bryan Bryan and Spinner Gary and Spinner Gene and Gary
Gene and Bryan Bryan and Spinner Gary and Spinner Gene and Gary

Our Blade Runner day continued as we drove from Mojave to the Bob's Big Boy restaurant in Burbank where we joined Blade Runner's Production Illustrator Tom Southwell and Assistant Art Director Stephen Dane. Bryan and I heard what life was like working behind the scenes and on the set of Blade Runner.

The next day on May 9th Bryan spent the afternoon at Tom Southwell's house where they poured over Tom's vast personal Blade Runner archives. They discussed the new spinner restoration and made arrangements to provide accurate decals for the spinner car based on the original artwork Tom produced.

Over the following weeks after his return home, Bryan worked with Tom's support while Gene provided patterns and measurements of the spinner to get the decals produced. Bryan also assisted Gene with additional photographic reference and missing parts, pinpointing areas that were modified by the film's crew after he delivered it to the set. Phone calls and packages later, the decals were finished and produced on 3M reflective vinyl from files Bryan produced in Adobe Illustrator, just in time for the return visit to Gene's for installation.

On May 27th we returned to the progress of the restoration. We suspected the construction would be finished when we arrived. It wasn't much, there was much left to do. We were again surprised to find another Blade Runner luminary, Syd Mead. Mr. Mead was delighted to see that the spinner was once again going to be a thing of beauty. The paint on the spinner was breath taking and the craftsmanship of the repairs first rate. The Winfield crew was performing the final detailing like installing lights and the interior. It was great to see Syd Mead, Gene Winfield and the spinner. It was another Déjà vu moment. It was a reunion of two legendary masters in the automotive design industry with the Icon of Blade Runner, a shiny newly restored Spinner. Photographers at hand, Gene and Syd posed with the Spinner as well as Bryan and myself.

Gene Working on New Canopy Rear of Spinner Detailed Interior Assembly Checking Front Lights
Gene Working on New Canopy Rear of Spinner Detailed Interior Assembly Checking Front Lights

Gene Making Adjustments Gene Working on Door Syd Mead Taking Photos Gene and Don Snodgrass
Gene Making Adjustments Gene Working on Door Syd Mead Taking Photos Gene and Don Snodgrass

Gene and Syd Mead Gene and Syd Gene and Syd with Overhead Monitor spinrise3_12_63.jpg
Gene and Syd Mead Gene and Syd Gene and Syd with
Overhead Monitor
Fitting Plastic
to Roof Lights

Laughing It Up Gary and Spinner Gary and Spinner Gary and Spinner
Laughing It Up Gary and Spinner Gary and Spinner Gary and Spinner

The next day Bryan assisted Gene with some of the Spinner panel's alignment and component mounting followed by installing the many decals he had made for this project. The bumper was the most difficult of the batch due to the compound curves, but admiration was expressed for the attention of detail from Gene and the museum's Project Manager.

Bryan Creating the Decals Completed Decals Completed Decals Bryan Applies the Decals
Bryan Creating the Decals Completed Decals Completed Decals Bryan Applies the Decals

The Proud Builder The Spinner Ready to Be Shipped
The Proud Builder Spinner Ready
to be Shipped

On Wednesday the spinner was loaded into the enclosed trailer for its trip to the Science Fiction Experience Museum. It was unloaded without incident and a large crane raised it to a large opening in the museum's exterior wall. It later found its new home when it was suspended from the ceiling of the museum.

Read for Crane Hooked to Crane Lifted into Museum Spinner on Display
Flying Spinner
Ready for Crane
Spinner Hooked
to Crane
Spinner Up
and in Museum
Flying Spinner Safely
Installed in Museum

It may have taken over two decades, but the Spinner car is now respected and cherished by fans around the world and now has its place in a museum of like wonders. Gratitude is given to Director Ridley Scott, Visual Futurist Syd Mead, Production Illustrator Tom Southwell, the magic of Gene Winfield and crew of Rod and Custom Construction, Inc. and the thoughtfulness of Paul Allen , a Blade Runner fan himself, for making it possible to achieve this restoration and provide a new home with a place to preserve it.

Gary Willoughby

Bryan Ebenhoch

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