Dobbertin Surface Orbiter
Jan 19

Dobbertin Surface Orbiter

Rick Dobbertin is an old school hot rodder turned global explorer. Back in the 80s, he made some amazing street machines that I drooled over in the pages of Hot Rod and Car Craft, including a mind-bending Pontiac J-2000 that still defies all description (yes, those are two superchargers, two turbochargers, and two nitrous injectors).

What does this have to do with geeks? Well, Dobbertin switched gears in the early 90s, and sold off most of his hot rods to build the Dobbertin Surface Orbiter. He started with a milk tanker trailer and turned it into the thing that your pansy little Hummer has nightmares about.

Not one to sit around and ponder his geekiness, Dobbertin then drove the Surface Orbiter halfway around the world. In 1995, he took it to South America, logging over 30,000 miles on land and 3,000 miles on sea in waves up to 18 feet high (unlike the Terrawind, this baby can hit the water with no prep time — just drive until the road ends and keep going). He even took it through the Panama Canal. Apparently he was going to try to go all the way around the globe, but ran out of money halfway through. Too bad.

Still, the Surface Orbitor stands as an awesome monument to the geek in all of us.

(A sad postscript to the story is that the adventure took a toll on the Dobbertin marriage and the Orbiter went on the auction block for $200,000 to settle the divorce. This was 1999 — I’ve lost track of it since. Anyone know what happened to it?)

by Deane   January 19, 2004 10:17 PM    |   Follow Gadgetopia on Twitter

Comments

Anonymous
by ,   February 10, 2004 11:27 PM  

Deane, my husband I saw it in Alexandria bay in the 1000 Islands Region for sale a couple years ago. He was intrigued by the workmanship so I researched it on the net. I don't know if it sold or not but January 04 Popular mechanics has a feature story that tell what Rick Dobbertin is designing now. WOW - A very sleek hydrocar-that can go twice as fast on land and 5o mph in the water. Check it out! I want one!

Dave Dave
by Dave,   February 11, 2004 7:42 AM  

I checked the Popular Mechanics article, and they point you to Dobbertin's website, www.hydrocar.us. He showcases his Orbiter and his new Hydrocar, as well as his other major projects. Lots of nice pictures. One of the most impressive projects is his "Mild to Wild in 55 Hours", where he & his team turned a bone-stock pickup into a pro-street machine in 55 hours!

gurbauer gurbauer
by gurbauer,   April 20, 2004 12:45 PM  

I am going with the gentlemen who purchased the Orbiter in the first week in May to bring to the Chicago area.

Heidi Heidi
by Heidi,   May 15, 2005 8:46 PM  

Rick Dobbertin is the man and his wife is the most beautiful woman I know!

paul paul
by paul,   November 24, 2005 7:55 PM  

I new rick back in the 80's. I watched him build the nova. He is a very nice and down to earth person. I hope this new project works out for him.

Gordon Gordon
by Gordon,   January 10, 2008 10:35 AM  

Hello, The dobbetin surface orbiter is in Great Britain now, it was featured on tv by a university that bought it.

Joe Joe
by Joe,   October 15, 2009 9:05 PM  

awsome

T.J. T.J.
by T.J.,   February 14, 2012 9:49 AM  

hes my gandpa

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