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bugvert
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2005
Posts: 137
Location: Connecticut
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 Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:46 am Post subject: 1969 BOUNTY HUNTER DUNE BUGGY,prototype used in movie |
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Not mine ad is on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-BOUNTY-HUNTER-...230dc52884
Ad states it "this is the actual prototype of the famous "bounty hunter" dune buggy created for the 1969 movie "the big bounce"
What do you think?? Is it the real deal??  |
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jspbtown
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004
Posts: 5211
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20798
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 11:49 am Post subject: |
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Sigh.... Don't fall for marketing hype...... A Bounty Hunter is most likely a Bounty Hunter no matter what the hype.......
Friend of mine also has a Bounty Hunter (in pieces at moment) but can make the same claim as it was the "prototype"...
Only one that has any real claim is ACTUAL CAR used in movie with DOCUMENTATION to prove its identity...
Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns"
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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Letterman7
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004
Posts: 3230
Location: Downingtown, PA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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And asking the seller directly will quickly prove or disprove that. I've sent him an email asking for such documentation. Interesting how he's bumped it up another grand for the BIN.
*edit* and the response a couple minutes later:
hi,
fair question. as you know, 40+ years ago, the cinema wasn't particular about documentation on these type of things. i am glad to provide contact info, for the gentleman who purchased the vehicle directly from the movie production company, and whom guarenteed me this information as accurate. there are othe items which clue us in to this vehicle's prototype status (the tail has been redesigned several times, no fender hood lines, slightly different front nose treatment beneath the headlights, etc.). i also have the email from the bounty hunter's original designer. i hope some of this info helps. thanks. tomo 562/714-****
If anyone wants his number, just PM me. |
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20798
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Letterman7 wrote: |
And asking the seller directly will quickly prove or disprove that. I've sent him an email asking for such documentation. Interesting how he's bumped it up another grand for the BIN.
*edit* and the response a couple minutes later:
hi,
fair question. as you know, 40+ years ago, the cinema wasn't particular about documentation on these type of things. i am glad to provide contact info, for the gentleman who purchased the vehicle directly from the movie production company, and whom guarenteed me this information as accurate. there are othe items which clue us in to this vehicle's prototype status (the tail has been redesigned several times, no fender hood lines, slightly different front nose treatment beneath the headlights, etc.). i also have the email from the bounty hunter's original designer. i hope some of this info helps. thanks. tomo 562/714-****
If anyone wants his number, just PM me. |
Pass....
Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns"
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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Manx1173
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2005
Posts: 149
Location: Missouri
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Letterman7 wrote: |
| there are othe items which clue us in to this vehicle's prototype status (the tail has been redesigned several times, no fender hood lines, slightly different front nose treatment beneath the headlights, etc.). |
Probably a clone  |
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mekeys
Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2010
Posts: 124
Location: SWLA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 9:33 pm Post subject: Bounty hunter |
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| The Bounty Hunter now on E-bay is not the prototype The prototype had 5 inch headlights,no buldge on the hood and at that time there were no side pods made for it yet.And the front end design was different. |
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didget69
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004
Posts: 4941
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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I CALL SHENANIGANS in the Ebay advert!!!
Mel knows what was built -
This has been a Public-Service Announcement - please return to your buggy build, already in progress...
bnc
_________________
I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door.
Last edited by didget69 on Tue Feb 01, 2011 11:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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BL3Manx
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2006
Posts: 6768
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: Bounty hunter |
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| mekeys wrote: |
| The Bounty Hunter now on E-bay is not the prototype The prototype had 5 inch headlights,no buldge on the hood and at that time there were no side pods made for it yet.And the front end design was different. |
Mel, I'm very glad to see you've joined the Samba family and have made a comment on this thread. Since you are the original designer and creator of the Bounty Hunter prototype. I'd say your words above are pretty much gospel.
For everyone else's info, the post above was made by Mel Keys. For anyone who would like to read the story of one of the greatest original buggy designs, below is a link. His original design was copied and sold as the Bounty Hunter, Deserter GT, and as the Marauder. Its also been produced in Germany, France and the UK. BTW he also designed/built the original Starship Enterprise (the one in the Smithsonian now). Pretty damn cool, huh!
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2009/06/11/ncc-...starships/ |
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xirxious
Samba Member
Joined: November 12, 2007
Posts: 665
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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| To Me, Prototype means it predated whatever was actualy used. Its like a testbed that w as used to mock up ideas before the real one. |
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mekeys
Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2010
Posts: 124
Location: SWLA
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 12:19 pm Post subject: Bounty Hunter Prototype |
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Here are pictures of a scale model and a picture of the Bounty Hunter prototype. And a picture of the first body made. This was done in 1968, About 3-4 months were spent creating the prototype. Brian and I worked on this togehter. After we made a few bodies he changed the original design and went into business himself. I went on to other pursuits. Notice the original has 5 inch headlights. Brian's version had larger headlights,
and he added a bulge on the hood.
Melvin Keys
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mekeys
Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2010
Posts: 124
Location: SWLA
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 12:43 pm Post subject: prototype pictures |
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P.S. thats me in the buggy with more hair. And a picture of my son when he was four years old. I just had my 81st birthday last December and wanted to post these pictures for posterity before it's too late..
Mel Keys |
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SiggyManx#33
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2005
Posts: 881
Location: Southeast PA
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: prototype pictures |
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| mekeys wrote: |
P.S. thats me in the buggy with more hair. And a picture of my son when he was four years old. I just had my 81st birthday last December and wanted to post these pictures for posterity before it's too late..
Mel Keys |
Thank you....your design is timeless. |
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BL3Manx
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2006
Posts: 6768
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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Mel, Wow!, those are some very historic photos. Thanks for posting them
The 5" headlights definitely look best.
Love the design and love that 180hp Corvair Turbo engine!
Last edited by BL3Manx on Thu May 05, 2011 9:14 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Letterman7
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004
Posts: 3230
Location: Downingtown, PA
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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 Of course, the million dollar question is: where is it now, Mel? |
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wythac
Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2004
Posts: 2791
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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| One of the coolest buggy bodies out there. Great to hear stories from the designer. Hats off to Mel. |
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mekeys
Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2010
Posts: 124
Location: SWLA
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Letterman7 wrote: |
| Of course, the million dollar question is: where is it now, Mel? |
Well, I made a mistake. Brian wanted to break up the partnership and go into business for himself. So we each made a body off of the mold and then we cut up the original mold. I don't have any idea what Brian did with the mold he had. I was going to make changes to the body I had, but the Dune Buggy business tapered off, so I never pursued it after that.
Mel Keys |
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Deh Shark
Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2006
Posts: 706
Location: U.S. Virgin Islands
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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just to post a few from the US Virgin Islands.
_________________
AH TIYAD AH DAT DEH BAI!!!
Organize folks are just to lazy to look for stuff!!
55 3 fold Ragtop
Manx Dune buggy 2387cc |
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Letterman7
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004
Posts: 3230
Location: Downingtown, PA
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 5:37 am Post subject: |
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| Bummer about the mold; do you still have the car, though? |
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dune limo
Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2007
Posts: 125
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: Bounty Hunter Prototype |
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| mekeys wrote: |
Here are pictures of a scale model and a picture of the Bounty Hunter prototype. And a picture of the first body made. This was done in 1968, About 3-4 months were spent creating the prototype. Brian and I worked on this togehter. After we made a few bodies he changed the original design and went into business himself. I went on to other pursuits. Notice the original has 5 inch headlights. Brian's version had larger headlights,
and he added a bulge on the hood.
Melvin Keys
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A wonderful design--I take my hat off to you  |
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