Newton van painted by Knievel’s artist

A van now in the possession of a Newton man has some connections to some of the wildest era in daredevil stunt history.

Dave Bonnett recently purchased “Cool Blue” — a 1976 Econoline E-150 van airbrushed by artist George Sedlak many years ago. Sedlak, a Quad Cities-area artist, became well-known in the 1970s for painting the motorcycle and other items used by stunt rider Robert “Evil” Knievel.

“I don’t even think the guy I bought it from knew its story,” Bonnett said. “And no one really knows the whole path of owners it’s had through the years.”

Sedlak, who couldn’t be reached for this story, is an artist who met up with Knievel more than three decades ago and became the stunt motorcyclist’s exclusive artist, designing and painting everything from helmets to jackets to fuel tanks, and many other vehicles in between.

Photos of the van appear in some of the many van hobbyist magazines published in the 1970s, common when the large, low-to-the-ground, “party” touring vans were coming into vogue. It graces the cover of the January 1978 issue of “Travelin’ Vans, Mini Trucks & Pickups.”

In May, Bonnett was shopping online for a van from that era — a “hippie van” that wouldn’t be an everyday vehicle. He found “Cool Blue” available for sale from a young Utah man who had lost his driving privileges and needed quick cash. Bonnett said he won’t disclose the asking price, but it seemed low, but after talking with the Utah man at length, he decided to wire him money and found a suitable wrecker headed east to Iowa. “Cool Blue” showed up at Bonnett’s front door in Newton.

“The kid didn’t really know the history of the van, and it’s probably had a bunch of owners,” Bonnett said. “But my neighbors looked up George and found pictures of ‘Cool Blue’ online, so they said ‘I don’t know what you’ve got, but it’s something unique.’”

Bonnett said he eventually contacted Sedlak, who still maintains a busy schedule, and verified the artist had indeed painted ‘Cool Blue.’ Sedlak pointed out the solid brass and other irreplaceable components that were initially part of the van, and seemed happy to know it was still around.

“Cool Blue’s” main visual tie to Sedlak is his name near the base of one of the back doors. The theme is a tribute to a nuclear submarine that a good friend of Sedlak’s served on in the U.S, Navy, known for its missions at the north pole. A polar bear and a blue Ford van are waiting to great the USS Skate as it surfaces in one of the depictions.

For Bonnett, “Cool Blue” is less a reminder of the partying lifestyle associated with the mysterious vans as it is a reminder of how long an older, well-decorated vehicle can last. The engine has been rebuilt at least once. It’s also a reminder of the courage and unique nature of Knievel’s lifestyle.

At the time Sedlak was working on the van, Knievel was rising to greater fame with each death-defying stunt. Sedlak’s artwork was a part of Knievel’s gear as he wowed audiences with his mixed success in leaping such items as a canyon and an ever-increasing number of vehicles — a tradition even Knievel’s son, Robbie, would carry on.

Sedlak’s work has been featured at shows in several countries and is in the Smithsonian. Some of his pieces are owned and appreciated by Jay Leno.

Some of Sedlak’s work holds is value decades later. The helmet Knievel wore for his 1975 jump of 13 buses in London’s Wembley Stadium sold at a 2013 auction for more than $60,000.

Bonnett said he advertised the van for sale briefly, but it’s no longer for sale. He wants to keep it and care for it as part of history. He said he’s no celebrity — but he can’t say the same for the van.

“It’s not really about the partying or whatever trouble kids used to get into in these vans back in the day,” Bonnett said. “It’s about preserving a well-crafted, durable vehicle and taking pride in something built to last.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com