Spotted in Tacoma WA shopping mall

[Marc]

Now serving as a home for claw machines

[sideshow]

I have been told that there is one near me, but it is entirely fiberglass. Have you tried a magnet?

[babysnakes]

The only parts of that that may be bus are the head/tail lights and the windshield.

[Marc]

I didn't have a magnet with me and we were on our way to my grandnephew's birthday party so I didn't take time to look closely, but my impression was that it's had the front door window openings welded up (to fit fixed glass) and a generous slathering overall of Bondo to cover the vents and body seams and smooth the driprails. If I go down there again I'll have a closer look, but that may be a year or so.

If it's a fiberglass fake, it's very convincing - and I want one (less the claw machines). ...I'd drop that sucker over a buggy chassis in a heartbeat.

It's outside the Super Jump Party Zone at the Commons Mall (1928 S Commons in Federal Way WA)

[babysnakes]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BH74h7iZv24/S ... C03400.JPG
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BH74h7iZv24/S ... 3397_2.JPG

Seen in S.Cal.

[Steve Arndt]

They have one in the Boise mall. It is a germ magnet, I don't get near it

[Marc]

There were no urchins at the one in Tacoma, but you make a good point. I'll take a magnet AND some Purel if I go down to have another look

I guess it's not as unique as I had thought, I found others, including one at Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham WA by Googling "Volkswagen Bus Claw Machine". Still haven't found out who's making them (and I still want one if it's 'glas!)

http://www.vwcamperblog.com/category/weird-wild/page/2/

[Steve Arndt]

The one in our mall has a peace sign on the front and no actual vw parts. It is made to only resemble a bus but not enough to bring out the lawyers I think.

[Lotrat]

I saw one at a mall here in Oceanside CA too. Not sure if it's still there. Haven't been to a mall in years.

[heli-easy]

That would be cool at an arcade with video games in it. Wait, are there any arcades anymore?

[Marc]

The only parts of that that may be bus are the head/tail lights and the windshield.

I have been told that there is one near me, but it is entirely fiberglass. Have you tried a magnet?

Grandnephew's birthday is coming up and the party's planned for the same venue. This time I'll take a magnet - and some antiseptic wipes - and spend more time examining it.

[Lotrat]

A quick google shows that there are a bunch of these out there. I wonder who makes it? Google let me down there...

Jerod Gilliam
Posted February 1, 2014 at 12:10 PM

I was one of the guys that built the vw crane machines. I happened to be the last person that drove the original vw bus that was used to make the fiberglass mold out of. We had to change some of the features of it to not infringe upon vw copyright. The windshield on some of the earlier units had actual 1968 vw windshields and wheels… The later ones were flat panel windshields. The company that i worked for was called W.C. Designs.


http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-conte ... achine.png
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3361/3492 ... 4591_z.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/or ... cfec9e.jpg

While I couldn't fine the maker of the crane game, I did find this for you bus guys: http://www.gamesforboys.net/games/cool/ ... uning.html