Brubaker Box
| Brubaker Box/Automecca sports van | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Automecca, Brubaker, Various |
| Production | 1972–79 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | kit car, minivan |
| Layout |
Longitudinal rear engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Platform | Volkswagen Type 1 |
The Brubaker Box was a kit car designed by Curtis Brubaker. It is considered the first minivan. Brubaker got the idea from Volkswagen Minibuses, and decided to try and update the concept. The kit was designed to fit on the chassis of a Volkswagen Beetle. In 1972 after a deal with Volkswagen could not be reached, Brubaker began buying completed Beetles and converting them to Boxes, selling the excess pieces. However, this scheme did not prove profitable, and very few boxes were ever constructed. Brubaker filed for bankruptcy the same year. Investors in the company tried to continue manufacturing the Box in various ways, the only success being Mike Hansen's Automecca, Chatsworth Ca in 1974 with its "Sports Van."
Construction
The Brubaker Box was assembled on a complete Volkswagen Type I chassis. Due to the extended length of the body compared to that of a standard Volkswagen Beetle the foot pedal assembly was relocated forward and up from the standard position. For increased safety the fuel tank was moved from the front to the center of the vehicle.
Constructed from fiberglass the body was made from 13 inner and outer panels, including a floor panel, riveted and bonded together. In the first prototypes stock front seats from Ford or VW were retained and a lounge-type seat was created for the rear of the vehicle. To add to the rear seating area a foot stool / cushion was added above the fuel tank. A single sliding door on the right side was the only entrance. The radio and switches were in the door panel to the left of the driving position. Shock absorbing bumpers of composite construction were designed to look like curved wood. The spare wheel was mounted to absorb frontal crash energy. For sunny days a large removable panel was positioned in the center of the roof panel. To reduce production costs parts from other vehicles were used. Front windshield was from an AMC Javelin, tail lights from a Datsun Truck and various other parts from a Ford Pinto.
Popular culture
- The Brubaker Box and several other vehicles produced by Brubaker were featured on the TV Show Ark II.
- One can be seen in the original release of Soylent Green in the Tree Museum scene.
- A Brubaker Box is used throughout the film Grid Runners (Also known as Virtual Combat) (1995) Directed by Andrew Stevens.
- Prior to production an article detailing the vehicle specifications and initial test drive appeared in the magazine Car and Driver issued March 1972