It is one of only 17 remaining.
Curtis Brubaker, an early 70s designer, had the brilliant idea of restoring the spirit and design of the original Volkswagen Beetle & Microbus by creating a new vehicle based upon the same bones. The designer was unable to reach an agreement with the German automaker so he decided to carry on the project. Instead of getting unused platforms straight from the factory, Brubaker had the task to convert used Beetles into vintage-looking buses and sell the remaining components.
Here’s a brief summary of the story about how the Brubaker Box was created in 1972. The project was not profitable for its creator, and Brubaker only managed to finish three copies of the original Box. One of the Boxes was later used as the Roamer in the TV series Ark II. Brubaker’s bankruptcy filing was not the end of the story. However, investors saw the potential for the production to continue and Automecca, a California-based company, built 25 additional units in California.
We are now at the vehicle in the gallery, which is currently for Sale by Driven.co. This bus is one of only 17 that still bears the Sportsvan moniker. After Automecca purchased the production, the new name was applied to the vehicle. It follows the same design and technology of the original Brubaker Box. Many components were taken from other cars including the windshield of an AMC Hornet and taillights from a Datsun pickup, as well as various parts from Chevrolet El Camino.
This particular example has been restored to factory condition. The exterior has a striking red finish with black accents at the front fascia, and side sills. The original Sportsvan had a fiberglass body that could be bolted directly to an unmodified Beetle chassis. The interior features a unique design, with two front seats and one lounge-type seat at each end. You can only access the cabin through the large sliding door to the right of the vehicle.