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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.
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| Flying Spinner in Film |
Flying Spinner on Tour |
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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.
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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.
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| Paul Sammon with Gene |
Paul Sammon with Spinner |
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| Entrance to Winfield Shop |
Spinner Wheel |
Aluminium Back Frame |
Paul Sammon and Gene |
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| Gene, Trial-Fitting Molding |
Gene Shows Gary
how Molding Fits |
Spinner Front Close Up |
Gene Showing Original
Hand Controls |
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Repaired Panels
Placed on Frame |
Original Seats |
Don Snodgrass Prepares Mold |
Gene in Office |
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| 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.
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| Gene Working on New Canopy |
Rear of Spinner Detailed |
Interior Assembly |
Checking Front Lights |
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| Gene Making Adjustments |
Gene Working on Door |
Syd Mead Taking Photos |
Gene and Don Snodgrass |
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| Gene and Syd Mead |
Gene and Syd |
Gene and Syd with
Overhead Monitor |
Fitting Plastic
to Roof Lights |
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| 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.
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| Bryan Creating the Decals |
Completed Decals |
Completed Decals |
Bryan Applies the Decals |
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| The Proud Builder |
Spinner Ready
to be Shipped |
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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.
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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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