GM’s infamous “Dustbuster” minivans were a notorious flop. In GM’s desperation to salvage the first generation Trans Sport, radical ideas were solicited from the marketing mavens and development experts. A few niches were discovered and described, and the result was several prototypes were commissioned, including this “Transvertible”. Why not an open-air mini-van? And not really a convertible either, as a folding top for a van was way beyond the technical expertise of the vaunted GM “skunk works.”
To be sold only in the Sun Belt, the Transvertible had a completely water-proof interior, borrowed from the boating industry. In fact, an advanced amphibious version was underway when the metaphorical plug was pulled on that overly-ambitious project. The prototype was last seen being towed out on a lake near the GM proving grounds, due to the difficulty in engineering a driveshaft for the proposed propeller.
But the “conventional” Transvertible prototype has survived, and miraculously ended up just blocks from my house. I’ve always hoped to run across a vaunted GM Motorama concept, like a Futureliner, but living in Eugene, I feel mighty privileged to be able walk past the Transvertible anytime I feel the need to steep myself in GM’s creative genius.
Speaking of steeping, Eugene’s rainy winters have not been overly kind to the interior components of the open-air concept. Perhaps that’s why it’s here, as part of a long-term weathering test. Although, according to a neighbor, it’s there because of “something to do with a divorce.”
Now that’s hard to figure. How could anyone’s wife not want to make sure she ended up with the ’vertible as part of a divorce settlement? Oh well; her loss is my serendipitous gain.
I’m smitten. Now that the sun’s out, and intimations of summer are in the air, I’m considering giving Dahlcraft Customs a call about having a similar conversion done on my car : the Xvertible.
Yeesh, now I know where Nissan got the inspiration for the new Murano convertible.
Is this a hot-tub on wheels??? Must be a real hit tailgating down at Outzen Stadium.
“Hack job” is what comes to mind…
Heh, the old GM sure didn’t know what they were doing, did they? I drove a rented Pontiac dustbuster van from Minnesota to Florida and back for a vacation, and the shortcomings of that van were many, none of which is the roof over our heads. Rather than commisioning this type of complete waste of money, they’d much better spent that money fixing what’s lacking in their minivan. Hopefully they know better now.
You are really on a roll with the April 1 articles. Cheers!
I like the rubber-grommet trailer lights bored into the tailgate, since the factory tail lights were originally on the rear pillar.
good april fools joke
Didn’t I see this on Top Gear UK?
Looks as if the saw used to remove the roof caused a few sparks to melt the top side of the visors. The whole thing resembles the “tub” of the old 20′s touring cars. Not sure how many “Naugies” had to give their lives to provide the padded “Naugahyde” trim? Is there a connection between Naugahyde and formaldehyde ? Is that’s what’s used in the “tanning” process to make this leather looking product from all those naugie critters?
If the owner ever wants to sell this baby, my advice is to place an ad in the New Orleans media shortly before Mardi Gras. Mod jobs like this are handy rides in the low-buck parades. Veteran carnival-car builders know it’s better to Sawzall the roof off of a BOF rather than a unitized vehicle–you get more parades in before the underbody collapses onto the street.
First the Dust Busters, then the 1997 narrow bodied vans, and then grafted the ‘SUV nose’ in 2005. Finally, GM gives up saying ‘minivans are out of style’. Tell that to Toyota, Honda and Mopar.