Difference between revisions of "Gavril Bluebuck"

Revision as of 14:16, 17 November 2019

Gavril Bluebuck
"The hunted becomes the hunter"
Overview
Manufacturer	Gavril
Production	1962 - 1963
Body and Chassis
Class	Fullsize
Body styles	2-door coupe 2-door hardtop 4-door sedan 4-door hardtop
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive

The 1963 Gavril Bluebuck is a 60s full-size American sedan. It was released with the 0.17 update on August 16, 2019. It is available with both straight six and V8 engine options. It takes a few cues from the Chevrolet Impala and Dodge 880, and is also the first official passenger vehicle ingame to share more than one factory body style.

All Bluebuck models are underpinned by an X-frame, which is reminiscent of the X-frames GM used on their full-size models from 1957-1964. It can be extremely unsafe during a side collision, due to a lack of structural integrity underneath the sides. The middle of the chassis intersects diagonally ontop the driveshaft, resulting in an "X"-like shape, thus bearing the name "X-frame."

Overview of the Bluebuck's X-frame.

Development

“A very typical early 60s full-size American sedan. Wraparound windows, massive bumper guards, and a decent helping of chrome.”

—Gabester, BeamNG Dev Blog, 28 January 2013

The Bluebuck's first visual representation was posted shortly after the first vehicle poll, in which the sedan was not included, was considered finished. Its result was eighth place in a later poll, however, hinting that the community did not desire the vehicle's immediate appearance in BeamNG.drive.^[1] This, along with the fact that similarly-classed vehicles have outnumbered other vehicle archetypes for a long while,^[2] has possibly contributed to the Bluebuck's delayed development schedule.

Little word was given about the state of the vehicle's development until 2018, when it has been stated that the Bluebuck was undergoing development once again.^[3] It was later confirmed to be in-game in February 2019, after over six years since its first announcement,^[4] the second-longest of any of the original vehicles from before the game's first release. An in-game video was posted that June, showing the Bluebuck chassis performing a suspension test on the Grid Map. In the same video, a second Bluebuck (with its body attached as well) can also be seen in the background driving behind some ramps, hypothesizing that it may be close to completion.^[5]

On July 26, 2019, video has been uploaded on Twitter showing the Bluebuck performing another suspension test on the Grid Map from the Bluebuck's interior camera, and can be seen lifting itself into the air, suggesting that a lowrider version with working hydraulics will also be planned.

On August 14, 2019, trailer for the Bluebuck was released. It revealed that the Bluebuck is the first car to have more than one body style, as there are both 2 and 4 door hardtop + sedan variations. It also confirmed the Lowrider configuration that had been hinted at before by Gabester and by the previous teaser from Twitter. The trailer also features the Bluebuck (likely in it's final form) in several configurations, such as normal civilian versions, but also a dirt banger similar to those of the Bruckell Moonhawk and Gavril Barstow, a drag configuration (called "Bad Bubu") and a race version.

Overview of models

The Horrible is a beater dirt racing version of the regular 232, but replaces the standard exhaust system with a hood-exiting exhaust system. The front bumper is replaced with a front guard (shared with the Barstow), and lacks bumpers, taillights, door panels, passenger seats, windows, and driver side headlights.

The 232 is the base production model, equipped with a 232 cubic inch "Super-Thrift" inline six.

The Taxi is equipped with a 232 cubic inch inline six, heavy duty suspension, vertical bumper bars, a taxi sign on the roof, and a green-and-yellow Firwood taxi livery.

The 291 is nearly identical to the 232, but equipped with a 291 cubic inch "Fleet-Power" small block V8.

The V8 Marshal is the mid-trim model, and adds chrome trim on the sides, a Bluebuck logo on the hood, Gavril lettering on the grille, whitewall tires, vertical bumper bars, and a 4-barrel carburetor. Users could choose between the 291, 353, which contains a 353 cubic inch "Super-Thrust" V8, and also has pillarless 2 and 4 door hardtop variants, and the 423 4-Door Hardtop, which contains a 423 cubic inch "Ultra-Thrust" big block V8, and adds rear fender skirts, and a white-colored roof.

The Police Package is based on the 353 V8 Marshal 4-Door Sedan, and adds twin antennas, a Firwood police livery, a red beacon light, heavy duty suspension, and removes the chrome trim and fender skirts.

The 423 Sport 2-Door Hardtop is the top trim, equipped with a 423 cui V8, heavy duty suspension, white-colored roof, and red-stripe tires.

The Police Interceptor is based on the 423 Sport 2-Door Hardtop, and adds a blue-and-white Firwood police livery, red beacon light, blackwall tires, and a single passenger-side antenna.

The 423 RoadSport 2-Door Hardtop adds twin 4-barrel carburetors, a black-colored roof, sport tires and suspension, and special hubcaps.

Performance Comparison

Gallery

• 

  Early body shell of the Bluebuck.

• 

  The background Bluebuck in Nadeox1's video.

• 

  Screenshot of the Lowrider, with wire wheels.

• 

  Teased screen grab of a police variant as shown in a YouTube video to do with starter sounds.

• 

  The garage preview image of the Lowrider, has the placeholder wheels that were seen in the Vehicle trailer.

• 

  The garage preview image of the Police Interceptor, seems like a placeholder.

• 

  The garage preview image of the Taxi, seems like a placeholder.

Trivia

Bluebuck is named after an extinct species of Antelope that was native to South Africa.

The Bluebuck has a few variants named Marshal (for example "353 V8 Marshal 2-Door Hardtop"), hinting that the Bluebuck could have been the spiritual predecessor to the 90s Grand Marshal.

The paint job for the Lowrider configuration is actually inspired by the "Gypsy Rose," a 1964 Chevy Impala lowrider.

Further Information

References

1. ↑ BeamNG Forums: Which vehicle would you like to see in-game next?
2. ↑ BeamNG Forums: 1963 Gavril Bluebuck
3. ↑ BeamNG Forums: Unreleased vehicles?
4. ↑ BeamNG Forums: Update speculation thread
5. ↑ BeamNG Forums: Development Media

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