Hey everyone. 
My brother had a buggy that he was restoring when he passed away.  His friends fixed it up and gave it to me as a gift.  I love it and couldn't be more honored to get my brothers pride and joy back. 
The problem I have is that I know next to nothing about it.  I believe that the body was a 69? and the engine is a from 1974 and is a 1600 that has been converted to an 1825.    I have looked everywhere on it for any identifying marks but I can't find anything.  When I try to look up the VIN number from the old title it is short 2 numbers.   I was told that there was an ID or VIN plate that was mounted just behind the emergency brake that was lost by the guy that did the body work.    I have looked all over the web for a match to it but can't find one.  Here are some pictures of it and I hope you can all help me out. 

Thanks for all the help!

I'm sure someone here will ID it.
All I call tell you it's a very nice Buggy!

Be Big,
AMAC

Found it!  Moab Buggy.
Here is a discussion on the Moab: http://www.dunebuggyarchives.com/forum/topic_show.pl?tid=1615

this might be the Fran that is talked about: http://www.archesandcanyonlands.com/fa-barnes-and-terby-barnes-canyon-country-publications/

I read the articles about Barnes, but I don't know how you linked my buggy to him.  In those links I didn't see any mention or pictures of his buggies.
It would make sense since I live in Utah and both my brother and I had spent countless days down in and around Moab.   
Was there something that I was missing on those links?

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

Dave

No, I found those links based on what John had said the name of the person who came up with the Moab.  That fellow would have had the expertise to build such a buggy.  Did you also look at the pictures in the Buggy ID section I linked to?   I knew I had seen that hood design somewhere.  There is also a similar one in the X files of buggies but is different.  Keep in mind, a person could make a mold off of an existing buggy and then change some things to avoid copy right issues.  The linked one looks like they either left off the engine cover or cut it off.  Take a look at the dash and see if it looks like yours.   Also take a look at some of the meyer manx pictures, it was a body style that was much copied.   I like the looks of yours.

Lloyd

Lloyd,

Thanks for all the help.  After I replied to you I tried to look up some more stuff on that.  I agree that the Moab is almost a dead ringer.  One of the few changes I could see was where the fuel tank fill is.  I am sure that it is either a clone of the Moab or an actual one.  Do you know if there is any way that I could positively ID it if it is?  I have also attached a picture of the dash.  It isn't the same as the Moab, but it's pretty close.

Since I am new to this buggy/VW world I don't know a lot about the parts for them.  I look at buying stuff for it, but I have no idea what year or style of VW bug that was used to put it together.  Currently there is some work that needs to be done with the front end.  The tire rods and possibly steering box needs to be replaced.  Is there a way to find out what year they came from without taking them off first and then driving them to a VW shop?

Dave

"Tie" rods are either based on a link pin or ball joint front end.

Get the VIN number from the pan and post it. It is located just ahead of the shifter to tranny coupler access hole on the pan. Once we know what year the pan is you can start getting parts.

Many, many parts or either "link pin front with swing axle rear" or a "ball joint front with IRS rear". In other words the suspension set up will give you the basic years the chassis was produced and you order parts that way.

VIN first though.

Thanks for the response Jeff.

The only problem with the VIN is that I believe that the plate that it was on was lost by the guy that did the body work on it.  Here is a picture of where I believe that you are talking about.  I will just drive it down to my local VW shop and see what kind of info they can give me. 

Thanks

Dave

That cut out is right where the stock factory VIN would be stamped into the metal of the chassis. VW did not put a VIN tag there. If there was a separate VIN tag applied to that missing chunk it may have been a state issued VIN. Unless you find the missing piece you won't know.

Mike T

I know that the plate was there before the body work was done.  My brothers friend was the one that did the body work and he said that when they were working on the emergency brake they lost the plate.  I really wished that they wouldn't have lost it, it makes my job of identifying it that much harder. 

Thanks again for all the help.

Were you able to register the car with that missing plate? I know where I live you need to have a VIN that matches the title to get it on the road.

Hopefully you are somewhere where that isn't required.

I think if you look at your dash with a wide view, the shape is the same.  The configuration on a dash of gauges and things are entirely up to what a person wants/needs.  As for your vin not being there, If you have a title that states a year of the bug, go with that.  Otherwise, follow what these fine fellows give as advice.  If you need to "chat" let me know.  I will contact you via e-mail.

Lloyd