Hey gang Alan here.
As I get older I have a craving for all the things I had as a young man. One of them is a VW dune buggy. I built one way back in the day and it was a blast.My search has been ongoing for the last few years. It will be a daily driver so I wasn't looking for show cars. That took the "top end" of the market out of the picture.
That's where the problems start. It's not hard to find a buggy that on the surface seems like a good ride in the 5-6 grand range. Pretty finish and lots of chrome stuff on the "newly rebuilt" motor. Well that always Leeds me to "who rebuilt it". Far too many times closer inspection showed cut corners and things that needed to go and shabby work.
After doing a little shopping for under 5 large I can buy a turnkey motor and trans and have it installed. Front beams are cheap enough and so are brake parts. Long story short I decided that all I was interested in was the pan and a body that want a total loss.
After seeing everything from a pile of rust for 1000.00 to full rolling pans for 2500.00 I found this Manx copy. Owner said it ran and it did. Except it's blown up! He never said it ran good, lol. The pan was fine and the body ok. The wiring, motor, brakes and front beam a total loss.
After a little back and forth, he wanted 4000.00 but needed to get it gone, I offerd 800.00 cash and he said no. I wasnt more than a mile away when he called an said if I take it right now he'll take a grand. Sold.
At this point I'm 100 miles from home so off to uhaul to rent a car trailer. Pick her up and onto I95 hapeading back home. At the end of the project I'll have about 7000.00 into her BUT I know how the work was done.
Thanks for all the help, I've been lurking !
Be Big,
AMAC
As I get older I have a craving for all the things I had as a young man. One of them is a VW dune buggy. I built one way back in the day and it was a blast.My search has been ongoing for the last few years. It will be a daily driver so I wasn't looking for show cars. That took the "top end" of the market out of the picture.
That's where the problems start. It's not hard to find a buggy that on the surface seems like a good ride in the 5-6 grand range. Pretty finish and lots of chrome stuff on the "newly rebuilt" motor. Well that always Leeds me to "who rebuilt it". Far too many times closer inspection showed cut corners and things that needed to go and shabby work.
After doing a little shopping for under 5 large I can buy a turnkey motor and trans and have it installed. Front beams are cheap enough and so are brake parts. Long story short I decided that all I was interested in was the pan and a body that want a total loss.
After seeing everything from a pile of rust for 1000.00 to full rolling pans for 2500.00 I found this Manx copy. Owner said it ran and it did. Except it's blown up! He never said it ran good, lol. The pan was fine and the body ok. The wiring, motor, brakes and front beam a total loss.
After a little back and forth, he wanted 4000.00 but needed to get it gone, I offerd 800.00 cash and he said no. I wasnt more than a mile away when he called an said if I take it right now he'll take a grand. Sold.
At this point I'm 100 miles from home so off to uhaul to rent a car trailer. Pick her up and onto I95 hapeading back home. At the end of the project I'll have about 7000.00 into her BUT I know how the work was done.
Thanks for all the help, I've been lurking !
Be Big,
AMAC
Attachment: image.jpg (59.3k)
Attachment: 2892image.jpg (50.8k)
Almost forgot. A old friend talked me into doing a rebuild instead of a turnkey. Saved a grand fast and the job was no biggie. He had a long block almost done so it went fast.
Living at the beach and a daily ride I opted to black out the tin as opposed to chrome.
Be Big,
AMAC
Living at the beach and a daily ride I opted to black out the tin as opposed to chrome.
Be Big,
AMAC
Attachment: image.jpg (423.2k)
Good looking Buggy! Looks like a Mark Dist. Mark II Sportsman. How bout a photo of the dash?
Kellison Jim
Here's a shot of the dash but I don't think its original. Steel dash over "carved up" glass dash.
Like so many of theses buggys it's like a geological expodition tearing it apart. I can find the handywork of more than one who has worked on it over the last 40 years. Some good some not so much, lol.
I have no idea who made the body. To be frank as I didn't need a showpiece it was all about value. I tried to ID it but after awhile they all start to look the same to me.
Be Big,
AMAC
Like so many of theses buggys it's like a geological expodition tearing it apart. I can find the handywork of more than one who has worked on it over the last 40 years. Some good some not so much, lol.
I have no idea who made the body. To be frank as I didn't need a showpiece it was all about value. I tried to ID it but after awhile they all start to look the same to me.
Be Big,
AMAC
Attachment: image.jpg (79.7k)
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