As drivers, the main way we experience our vehicle is from the inside.
The interior is what we see, touch, and generally interact with more than any other part of our vehicles. For our trucks, @robertbollingermotors sought to find that perfect balance between Brutalist design and functionality. The flat panels of the B1 & B2 dash are a blank canvas left for one’s personal modifications or simply to be left alone.
Designer @huntererdmanworked tirelessly on all the details of the interior, including gauges, switches, overall dash refinement, audio, seats, armrests — every aspect of what you see and touch.
One example was the need to create a center console that wouldn’t impede the path down the center of the truck or otherwise obstruct the Bollinger patented cargo passthrough. The resulting design for the center console is more of a table than a traditional console, allowing us to rethink the usability of the front interior space for the end user. We included a simple removable tool box and ensured the space under the console remains completely openfor storage, even for long items through the passthrough — but if that’s not enough room, the whole thing is quickly removable without the use of tools. We also used the same reclaimed Detroit wood used in the floor strips and pull handles for the touchpoints to continue carrying our style throughout the vehicle.
Another example is the dome light. Hunter saw the incredible opportunity to capitalize on our passthrough, and thought: What if we highlight that — literally — and run a light down the center of the truck? We sketched out and mocked up ideas, tried a few different things before landing on an entirely sealed IP67 rated LED light strip down the center rail of the roof from front to back of the trucks. The result is a beautiful soft glow throughout the vehicle. It’s got the aesthetic of warm studio lighting and the functionality of a good work light. The perfect balance.
Overall, the interior of the B1 and B2 interior were designed to be tough, clean and not distracting. Function was the primary goal. Get sand in there? No problem. Mud? Hose it down. There’s no plush carpet, no seven layers of leather and alcantara — it’s rugged elegance. The hope is that 50 years from now, when the trendy designs of modern truck interiors are as dated as shag carpet, these trucks will still be regarded for the timeless attention to detail and functional minimalism that people still love today about many automobiles similarly designed more than 50 years ago.