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phredo310
Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2010
Posts: 1
Location: LA Area
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 Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 4:59 pm Post subject: Brubaker Box - Automecca |
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| I found serial #1 of the Automecca Brubaker Boxes, anyone know of any groups or others out there still running? |
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Letterman7
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004
Posts: 3230
Location: Downingtown, PA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Great find. There are a few floating around and fewer still that come up for sale. I don't think there are any official web groups simply for the reason there weren't many of them... something like under 20 were built. |
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Cujo3131
Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2006
Posts: 443
Location: Sherwood, Wi
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:00 am Post subject: |
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PICTURES!
We need them!
Wopuld love to see more details of this thing... Have always been fascinated with the Box!
Thanks
Cujo
_________________
Find out the latest on my buggy build - 626 here
http://www.greatlakesgraphics.net/intro.html |
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Letterman7
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004
Posts: 3230
Location: Downingtown, PA
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blacktruck
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2005
Posts: 377
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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so effing cool,remember ark 2?
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Cujo3131
Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2006
Posts: 443
Location: Sherwood, Wi
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| Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 12:18 am Post subject: |
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Would love to find a box and modify it to the "roamer" version... would make a damn cool offroad vehicle....
The Roamer was a modified "Brubaker Box" (which was what is called a "kit car", or a car one could buy as a kit and assemble themselves). This car was based on a Volkswagen Bus chassis.
Although a Brubaker Box, the vehicle had some modifications: it was shortened, had a "T-top" cut-out roof, fold-down half door on the right side (rather than a full-size sliding door), a "futuristic" dashboard and it also came with automatic transmission. The reason automatic transmission was added is twofold: one, because the young Jose Flores was not considered a "good" driver and two, due to the scenes where Adam, the chimp, was supposed to be driving and when the car was driving itself by remote control. Of course, the car did not drive itself and the monkey didn't drive, either. The scenes were accomplished by having a stunt driver hide behind the dash and operate the wheel and controls. This would have been practically impossible with a manual transmission.
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Find out the latest on my buggy build - 626 here
http://www.greatlakesgraphics.net/intro.html
Last edited by Cujo3131 on Sun Aug 15, 2010 12:27 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Thanatos
Samba Psychopomp
Joined: October 14, 2009
Posts: 1729
Location: Earth
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| Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 12:25 am Post subject: |
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Out of curiousity, where does the curved glass in a Brubaker Box come from?  |
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Cujo3131
Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2006
Posts: 443
Location: Sherwood, Wi
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| Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 1:05 am Post subject: |
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Good question....
Best detailed pics I have found of a Box are here:
http://amphijeep.de/html/brubaker_box.html
I am sure someone here is more knowledgeable on the vehicle.
I saw one recently on eBay for sale...
but it wseems i can't find the listing again... seems like it was around $5000 or something like that....
Cujo
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Find out the latest on my buggy build - 626 here
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veeweeman
Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2009
Posts: 940
Location: New Port Richey, FL
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| Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 7:40 am Post subject: |
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I will agree that the BB is one of the most unique VW kits on the market...of the hundreds of car shows I have been to, both VW and street custom I have yet to see one in person...I have only seen pictures...Popular mechanics I believe still sells the plans on how to build one of these cool mini vans.  |
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Letterman7
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004
Posts: 3230
Location: Downingtown, PA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| veeweeman wrote: |
| Popular mechanics I believe still sells the plans on how to build one of these cool mini vans. |
Wrong van. Those are of the RQ Riley variety. Brubaker was it's own manufacturer and was never sold through Popular Mechanics. Like a lot of kit manufacturers, glass was often bespoke to the kit. There was a Bru as Carlisle for a number of years until the guy sold it a few years back. In talking with him I seem to remember him saying that the windshield was part of the kit, but I'm not 100% on that. The rest of the glass is flat, so that would be easy to have made from any glass shop.
Cujo... wasn't that the one I listed earlier? Ended with no bids. |
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m_motorsports
Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2010
Posts: 1
Location: Sheffield, Ma.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 5:26 am Post subject: Brubaker Box Molds... |
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| Believe-it-or-not, I met a guy in my area who claims to have the original molds for the Brubaker Box - I may be able to track him down if you are interested |
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vpogv
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2008
Posts: 230
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| Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 5:59 am Post subject: Re: Brubaker Box Molds... |
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| m_motorsports wrote: |
| Believe-it-or-not, I met a guy in my area who claims to have the original molds for the Brubaker Box - I may be able to track him down if you are interested |
I don't think it's a matter of "if" rather than a matter of "heck yes track him down!"  |
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MotoMike
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 120
Location: Durango, CO
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| Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:47 am Post subject: |
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Bump form the past.
I just found this thread after a google search. My friend's father is Mike Hansen, who owned AutoMecca in the 70's. I have spent many, many hours riding around in the "Box"!
Anyway, Mike is intent on finding one and getting it on the road. If anyone hears anything, please shoot me an email. I know there weren't very many produced and time marches on, but I'm sure someone knows where one is. |
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Letterman7
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004
Posts: 3230
Location: Downingtown, PA
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MotoMike
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 120
Location: Durango, CO
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| Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Thank you Letterman, yeah, I'm a noob. I did some searching but didn't see that one. |
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martinprice2004
Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2013
Posts: 37
Location: United Kingdom
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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I would welcome some more information about the brubaker box.
What is the front glass from?
If anyone can trace where the molds are please let me know. You can contact me through my website below.
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My website www.HeliumFrog.com |
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kazmij
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2012
Posts: 22
Location: Delta, PA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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There is one listed in the classified right now, a little out of my price range but its only 45 minutes from me. Almost worth the drive just to see it.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1558465
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1981 Aztec 7
2007 FJ Cruiser
2009 Buell XB9 |
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Letterman7
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004
Posts: 3230
Location: Downingtown, PA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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Been drooling over that myself. I keep saying I don't need another project. My wife agrees... 
But I would like to know what the windshield is from.. |
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martinprice2004
Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2013
Posts: 37
Location: United Kingdom
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| Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 4:22 am Post subject: |
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The brubaker on the classifieds is sold I am afraid.....to me!
It needs a new windscreen, so any ideas what car it is from.
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kazmij
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2012
Posts: 22
Location: Delta, PA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 6:55 am Post subject: |
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Awesome!, I see you have the pics on your web site, Good Luck with it! That windscreen is pretty big, and if you think 1972, it's even harder to think of something with glass that big. Almost looks like it could be rear glass from some fastback muscle car of the era.
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1981 Aztec 7
2007 FJ Cruiser
2009 Buell XB9 |
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