Dunebuggys are fun little pieces of automotive history. Follow along with my discussion about their origins, construction, and if one is maybe right for you.
I’ve built 3 and I’m currently restoring #3 which sat idle while raising 6 kids. Built my 1st one at 19 in 1968. All were street legal and I used them as a daily driver from April to the end of October. This video inspires guys to return to their younger years. I’m excited as hell to get rolling again and so are my six kids. I’m 76 this year but a project like this keeps you moving. One word of advice, take care of yourself so you too play like kid in you senior years👍🏻
I've wanted a Buggy since I was a kid, I'm 46 now and have finally bought a GP1 on a '72 short chassis. I drove it 30 miles home on a cold and dark Scottish evening and can honestly say I haven't had as much fun in years! Lots still to do to get it tip top but they are unique little monsters, who needs a roof or heater anyway 😀
Worked for RH fiberglass in the 80s used to do the buggy , Madison , Porsche spider , and baja kits , I had the first baja in England on the front cover of Kit Car magazine 1984. Building one with my son he should have it finished this summer . Have fun with your buggy .
Always loved them too! Ultimate 70s icon. Greetings from the highlands! My dad used to have an old bay window Volkswagen transporter, that thing was unstoppable off road with snow chains fitted, stuffed full of oak logs for firewood!🤣🏴💪
I've had fiberglass buggy for over 35 years, it's a Glitter Bug body, very stout. We have put untold miles on it, am a auto tech, and after a day of working on the cars of today I find it relaxing to come home and work on my bug, its so simple in design and functional in use, it's just amazing, its never left us stranded as long as I have my multi tool I could make repairs to get home, just a magnificent fun vehicle to own.
Great video. Very informative, and full of a lot of accurate information. I'm fortunate to not only own an original Manx (and. Tow'd that I'm working on restoring) I've completely restored and repainted it TWICE at Bruce Meyer's house. Lucky enough to live near him and consider him a friend over the last 10-15 years. He was a great man, who lived a very adventurous life. Our buggy adventures were always the best. Living in San Diego, my Manx is actually my daily driver. And as far as driving on the freeway, several years ago Bruce lead a group of dune buggies on a trip from San Diego, all the way across the country to North Carolina. We called it the Sea to Sea trip. I think we left with 17 buggies and several support vehicles, and over the course of a week or two we ended up with over 100 fiberglass buggies on the Outer Banks of No Carolina. One of many amazing trips (loved having Bruce ride in my buggy and tell me stories as we toured through the historical roads and beaches of Baja). Thanks for posting a great video
Thank you! It's funny you mentioned the trip to NC. I know the guy who helped put together the "Manx on the Banks" event then when you , Bruce and others went out there. You may recall his beautiful blue Manx he restored complete with a surfboard I think he made for it too. I'm from that area originally but I had car trouble and couldn't attend. I was disappointed because I wanted to see Bruce and Winnie and actually see a bunch of buggies and buggies people at once! I know you Can highway travel technically ( met a guy who drove to the Outer Banks from Canada)...Mine always had a weird shake over 55 I could never get out lol. I still kick myself for selling my first buggy that I didn't post pictures of. It was a real Manx and still in the original gelcoat big flake red paint with Crager rims. It was a Manx II.
@@autochatter I know the guy you're talking about. Vince. I actually got to ride with him in his buggy on the beach when I was out there. I've metal flaked my buggy (twice actually) with a lot of support from Vince (many emails and phone calls). I also got to see Vince when he came out for Bruce Meyers birthday-memorial buggy event. The buggy community is pretty great
@LaVern Brock Yeah he's awesome. Long live the buggy community! Small world huh? If I didn't have severed clutch cable on order then,we would have met.
Somehow I landed up down the internet rabbit hole again, and this time it brought me to the history of the Dune Buggy. Looked on web pages and videos and this video is not just the gold standard for information, but what a lovely tribute to the creator of the buggy and the car itself. This was a lovely video!
I have owned two fiberglass buggies and 3 rail buggies. I still own a Chenowth framed desert buggy I run in the California desert. It runs a built 2200 V.W. Engine 13:1 compression that runs 110 octane fuel. It has power, rack and pinion steering, disk brakes, steering brakes, oil coolers, 5 point harnesses, etc. it was built in the 1980s and it’s in great shape. I’ve owned it for about 15 years and run it every season. V.W.s make great off road vehicles.
My dad got his buggy in 1971 and I built one like it over 20 years ago and use it daily when not winter. I swapped the VW drivetrain for a 2.5 SOHC Subaru for a few reasons. It's a shortened pan and not twitchy and quite stable and regularly drives 85mph on the highway. The most fun is on twisty back roads though.
When I was a kid growing up in upstate NY, I remember there was a place in town that converted Bugs into Buggies. It was a two stall garage with a flat roof. On one side of the building above one of the stalls, there was always a stack of fiberglass Buggy bodies. Back in the 70s, one could pick up a used Beatle for $50. By the time I was old enough to drive, the Buggy conversion shop was gone. The Dune Buggy always looked like so much fun.
Indeed they are, when they came out in the market I was around 17 years old, those buggies stole my heart, and I learned everything by heart, every chance that I get when I see one I get closer, ask permission to look it close, check every detail to learn something new, enjoy your toy, share it with your love ones, be safe, blessings to you and your family, from the endless summer paradise Puerto Rico Jesus Torres.
Not bad at all! Bruce had mentioned that he was a beach bum and saw all the water pumpers on the beach getting stuck, but there was a guy in a vw chassis that just skated over the sand easily. He had an artistic background and went to design the Manx from and aesthetic rather than a practical eye. He also said that since he wasnt in the automotive industry, it didnt restrict him in what he designed. He also is credited with the fiberglass racing car bed from the 70s and the first fiberglass hot tubs from the 70s. Additionally, he was a survivor of the attack on his vessel in WWII in the Pacific. An exceptional man. My wife and I are one of the people that have driven our dune buggy from coast to coast. Was it difficult? Not really, but it was more fun than exhausting! All the thumbs up and photos being taken, and of course, the talks at fuel stops. We went with 5 other buggies to Big Bear California for the Big Bear Bash that the Manx Club holds annually. We followed Bruce in "New Manx" up the mountain and he never slowed down! What a great ride! Since then, we have organized many events and rides that encourage buggy ownership. The buggy community is family, and Bruce knew this. We are very blessed to have had his outlook on life changed by that trip to France!
What a really great thorough video that doesn't pull any punches and doesn't blow any opinions out of proportion..... I'm not even interested in these size vehicles myself(@6'6"&270lbs) but I might start looking around to see what there is out there on the market just for shits and giggles. (I think I have to get the extended length version.)
Thank you! There was some buggy bodies where you didn't cut the frame length down....Like the newer Manxsters. I wouldn't reccomend a Miata like I have currently either. At 5' 11", I'm about at the limit LOL.
great video. Hard to believe I didn't see this video a year ago. I've been a buggy guy since July 1975, and still today driving the same buggy and couple years ago, bought me an anniversary 2014 Manxter...more smiles per mile. Met Bruce Meyers the first and only time in Tucson, AZ on his 2013 sea to sea trip...thanks for sharing...
Loved the video,agree with most of what you say about bugs, my 1967 buggy is very comfortable,its got bucket seats which ive lowered,i suffer from a damaged back and have done several ,well over 120 mile round trips ,without any back pain. Ive had myn for many years and wont sell,just a great fun reliable easy to work on summer ride. I rebuilt the gearbox with new german parts as the syncros needed replacing,fitted electronic ignition,rewired etc. Mods ,1600 Dual port AS motor with Engle 100 cam,dual Dellorto carbs,flame thrower coil with Pertronix MK2 electronic ignition,spent a fair bit of time getting the carbs set up right,jets inlet trumpets,K&N filters. Take time to get linkage perfect, i do a carb balance every couple of years. Has straight through cannon stainless exhausts,loud but better looks and so easy for valve adjusting,which i do every few 1000 miles,this is very important,makes for a reliable engine,ive fitted smiths oil pressure, temp ,volts gauges on dash,not really necessary,but i like to know how engine is performing. Fitted adjustable swinger plates,these make ride height so easy to adjust. Has disc brake conversion on front, centerline spun aly wheels,with big cooper cobra tyres for that nice look.There are plenty of books on the subject. I love my buggy,especially when i feel down,i just go for a drive and feel good again. Thank you for upload.
My dune buggy is a combination of 1967-1969 VW chassis and engine and various parts. It's been great to rebuild and kept my son in High School (He could drive it his Senior year if he helped rebuild/weld and work on it.). He wanted to cover it in black rhino lining. So, it is not shiny like yours, but it still gets the looks and talking points. I loved your video and the tribute to Bruce Meyers.
Built my Beach Buggy (UK) in ‘69/70, short wheelbase GP kit in red. ‘57 chassis, 1500s twin carb engine. Great fun. Stopped a few times by the police, not because I was breaking the law, no they just wanted to have a closer look! According to UK database, it’s still around. Great video
I have a 1972 based vw sand rail modified to run in the Pennsylvania coal region. Sadly, I haven drove it for awhile due to broken suspention($$$). Used to tow it flat. Had lots of fun. Can't bring myself to sell it. One day I'll fix it
I found a buggy in Indiana behind a barn covered in snow, bought it for a song trailered it home did some research and found out it was a California Clipper. In the process of bringing it back to life. Can’t wait to drive it!!!
back in the Mid to late 80s i live just outside of L.A. in a city where a gang was nuts about VWs. anyways mom had a 72 she got back in 77, my first VW was a 65 square-back, slammed but stock. sold it and got a 67 VW Bug that turned into a money pit. i bought the car but didn't drive it for 6 months because i didn't have enough money to build the engine i wanted, so i had to eat noodles and save. that 67 was the first car i ever wrench on every bolt on the vehicle. thank u for the vid, cuz it took me down my own memory-lane
I’ve always thought that each & every single Dune Buggy are so cute, cuddly, fun, sweet, beautiful, & adorable as heck!! I so dearly love them all❤️❤️❤️❤️. We have 5 in our huge garage. They’re soooo cute❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!!!!
@@autochatter your amazing channel is fun to watch. So full of facts I didn’t know, stuff I can learn. I’m a huge fan of classic & concept cars, monster trucks, dune buggies, etc. You have a wealth of knowledge that you share with us all, & it is greatly appreciated. Merry Christmas Auto Chatter…
@@autochatter sweet!! I have a car book that shows that un-named dastardly ne’er-do-well German dude with the small black mustache & weird black hair who drew up the first sketches of our beloved VW Bugs. He was helped by beloved Dr Ferdinand Porsche. It’s just so weird that someone who was bad made a car that was so cool
Great video. I have a JSC long body I built from a 67 bug over 30 years ago. I decide this year I needed to do a little winter project and am in the process of cleaning up and putting on a small blower to double my HP. I have always said my buggy gets the highest smiles per mile of any other car.
When I was young at a family picnic my uncles were jumping a dune buggy up off a twenty foot hill toward railroad tracks nearby. After the last time there was silence, and then I saw them pushing it around from the road into the driveway with the whole center folded upwards in the middle. NOW I know why. Lol
Sweet video. I just posted my 1972 Manx Clone for sale, and your video got suggested to me by TH-cam. It was good to learn about their history. I’m also in Florida, cheers 🎉
WAYway back in my high school days [80's], my friend had a baha bug. We had a blast in that thing. The clutch went and he just kept driving it for at least a month starting it in first gear. Stop lights were interesting and your really had to plan your trips. lol. then the reverse died. WE would just park on an incline or just push it back we would all jump back in . start in first and head to the next teenage adventure. I remember that back dash . or whatever you call it was big enough to fit two 12 in woofers . So we ripped apart some house speaker and dropped them in. ahhh the good old days.
I have a homebuilt rail buggy, welded up over a 74 beetle floor pan. It is very stiff and with 205-55-16 tires it really handles great. I have leather buckets from a Mercedes a nice real wood dash , 4 wheel disc brakes and it is fully street legal. I have owned it now 5 years and every year add new parts and make it better some way. I only have less than 3 K in it and it is very popular at car shows, like you said everybody wants to talk about a old beetle or dune buggy they owned or rode in. After owning a couple classic cars that really needed to be babied I found this to be much more fun to own and drive. I am near 70 and don’t see myself letting go of this vehicle for a long time to come.
I just ordered the electric one. I don’t even know what the prices. But I can’t wait to hear what price they put on the dreams of my youth so I can pay it as soon as I can.
Buddies and I in Oregon built our first one in 1970 and had a ball on the Oregon Coast. However, we did it the "traditional" Oregon way. Straight VW body with the top cut off and roll cage put on. The cowling around the engine was cut off and we upgraded the hubs and brakes. We had so much fun and it was street legal in Oregon because it had fenders.
I'm finishing mine up right now , it was a 1962 VW and then converted ! I took out the back seat and put a 2009 Hayabusa engine in it ! It has a Miata diff and VW CV joints and axles , a ford ranger ring gear and starter motor for reverse ! For the shifter a electric powered shifter for clutch less shifting this buggy is going to scream , I'm hoping by New Year's eve , and it will be warmer by then ! Thank God for Florida !
I had a '65 beetle in Germany that i bought for $150.00 drove for three years then sold it to another soldier for $150. The starter eventually went out and i didn't even try to get another, you only had to push the car about three feet then jump in and pop the clutch and off you go!
I remember a "small lemon" lot on base . I did the same with a Celica Supra and a shipmate who took me to the airport with it, drove it away when I got out.
yes is the answer. no one who bought a dune buggy regrets it.. neighbors dad had one as a kid. we had no dunes to buggy in but we sure had fun riding around town on hot summer nights in it..
When my daughter was 16 I got her a Baja Bug for her first car...we lived in Cali.....she was stoked. She headed straight to the Pismo Dunes...never saw her again LOL..
I have a 1966 sandpiper buggy wish could apply pictures it's very fun and would love more of the history about this build it was my father's 1st project car we had 6 show cars at 1 point down to 2 presently but the buggy is still in the family and have no desire to let it go thanks for this was very interesting information
I have owned two fiberglass dune buggies I still have one it was built in the seventies and it has a Corvair drivetrain and a fiberglass roof I've painted it drove it last summer I'm going over and detailing it this winter can't wait for summer fun and I'm 62 years old
@@autochatter yeah I bought it just for the body I was told the motor was bad got it running and the thing is a ball to drive it's weird though it's a three speed
I had a 66 GP short body buggy, put it on full steering lock and rev the engine hard, 50/50 whether it spun the rear wheels, or lifted the front and straight lined
I just remembered the heater in a beetle is ducted through the floorpan so you can have heat (as it is) in your dune buggy, side curtains and soft top are workable, remember English sports cars? Austin Healy sprites or MG midgets had these for decades
I didn't have heaters in mine (as it is). I can only imagine how much less efficient it would work versus a hardtop Beetle. Prob better off with a electric one.
@@autochatter Dave here, you are absolutely right about using an electric heater, it would be very likely that an alternator upgrade from the original generator system would be at the top of the list of things to do in my opinion
I endoed my Manx in a Baltimore golf course and broke it in half with a friend, previous owner, aboard. The original 1961 seat belts worked. The roll bar put all the stress on the welded floor and broke the car in half. The hood and gas tank flew out. We lived but it was more dramatic than it sounds here.
@@autochatter this was in the early 70's. Rust was not an issue. It came down hard upside down . The front end weight pushed the nose down and the engine pushed down the rear using the rollbar as a fulcrum
Its the mid 80s and all the older cooler kids had cars,while we were still in bicycle or dirt bike mode. Anyways , one of the kids had bought a dune buggy that was more of a show car ,but he proceeded to beat it to death like his other cars he had. I wont mention the Lil red express he had. Anyways ,being it was light enough he could do a high rpm clutch dump and get daylight under the tires. Not too shabby for a 50-60hp engine(it was stock) !
@@autochatter Oh it gets better. It was his mom's she handed down to him, probably around 86-87. He didn't wreck it ,but really used the heck out of it. And that lil red was half a his and hers that her husband bought new in 78. Yes ,2 of em in the same driveway. That was always cooler than fans to ride by and see em parked. He ran his till the late 90s and even had the vision when he bought them new ,that he bought all the decals and put em away for just in case.
@@autochatter no doubt on the power to weight. I grew up in the despised water cooled VW era. Loved my modded 83 GTI with around 120hp, it was definitely spirited.
Bought mine in NJ based on a 63 and drove it to California. the 63 had no gas gauge just the flip tank. ran out of gas 2 times, the first time was almost a disaster, the nearest gas station was 17 miles away and closing in 20 minutes heading to Pella Iowa. Nice family drove me both ways and had me over for dinner. the second time I was across a cow field from a gas station. It had a cracked distributor neck and would vibrate and do anywhere from 60 to 75 and back again. It had an 8 track player in the back under the seat so basically I could only change it when stopped. I had the Physical Graffiti double album and basically listened to it for 2900 miles. it was a sparkle green baby with a 12 volt dc system and a 6 volt starter that sounded like starting the Batmobile. wish I had it still....
My brother bought a dune buggy back in the 1970's with a volkswagen engine and manual trans and we went to the junkyard and pulled a Corvair 6 cylinder and auto trans from a wreck and put it in the dune buggy. Ran like stink. Had to watch out as it would pull the front wheels off the ground when accelerating. I remember he carried a yard stick around with him to check the gas level in the tank. LOL
Its not a dune buggy, but more closely resembles a beetle.. im talking about Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch! It was my ultimate favorite cartoon when i was about 4 years old. I still love it
Under a tarp in my driveway is the one and only ever 1965 VW Explorer, my daily driver for years, an Australian kit car looking like a TR7 or X1/9 without doors or roof. Awesome fun car, but no way I'll ever re-register it, since a tourist driving on the wrong side of the road put a bend in the roof of the Nissan Skyline I was driving, and taught me a valuable lesson about crumple zones. Was way cool last century. Might buy it a new tarp, for old time's sake.
@@autochatter You can see it in the background of some videos on my channel, as a bike rides by. Might make a video about it soon, as 'My Crap Car' for the Unicorn Circuit. Was awesome fun daily driver, so I get your love for the Manx, driving along thinking how is this even legal!
@nugley Pretty cool! Looks like you have a Isuzu Rodeo too or whatever they may be called down under lol. I think a video on your VW would be a great idea.
It amazes me that a real Myers Manx is worth a small fortune, ten thousand dollars for a very poor example is not unheard of, these were available for only a couple hundred dollars not long ago,
A few years ago, I went to look at a dune buggy, thinking that I would bring it home with me, but discovered my size 12 wide feet were too big to operate three pedals in such a small foot well.
I'd prefer the bug with the fiberglass add ons because of the weather we have. You get the same attention, nothing like a bus load of kids running to the rear of the bus to watch you follow them with mud tires on the back and a strait up exhaust pipe.
My first car was a '71 or '72 super beetle I don't remember but I sure wish I still had it. I traded it for a rifle if you can believe that. Today you could get ten very nice rifles for what I essentially gave away. The problem for me was the stereo. There was a buzz in the speakers that kept pace with the RPM of the motor and it's hard to go 60 and listen to Boston 🙄
On the back of this trend you could get nice coupes based on the VW beetle platform. Fiberglas FTBonito sprjngs to mind. It was supposed to look like a Ford GT40 supercar. There was also the Vanclee Highway, a buggy with a pop-up roof. You could also get kits that looked (a bit) like Bugatti type35.
At 57, I can honestly say I hated the vw beetle. An ugly little car. Even the vw emblem looked ugly. But put a jell-coat , fiberglass body, some wide tires. You have one sweet ride.
I didn't know the Dune Buggy had a shortened frame. I would love to have an old 1970s DB with the heavy orange metallic paint job. I had a COX toy orange dune buggy. .
@@autochatter Most fiberglass dune buggies had the chassis shortened 14.5 inches. There were a few exceptions like the Empi Imp which was shortened only 12 inches. There were also a number of full pan buggies like the Maxi Taxi, Berry Mini T-4, Sand Dancer and Tuff Tub.
The drum brake adjustment does NOT require the drum be removed, in fact the drum MUST be installed to adjust. Just lift the wheel off the ground, leave the tire on, remove hubcap and there is the hole for putting a screw driver to turn the adjustment gear. easy peasy!
In SoCal they are NOT cheap. Even a project will go for several thousand and a ready to go will be nearer 10K ! VW engines are easy to work on BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE. I've worked on many and they are crap for longevity BUT they do have appeal.
Supply and demand in the area? 10k ain't bad if it's ready to go nowdays.alot of other collector cars that were pretty cheap 10 years ago are much higher now.
LOL...Yes. My advanced studio suffered from a feline breach. Apparently the cat snuck in and required immediate attention in the form of scratching under her neck. Fortunately the purring did not seem to be captured on the audio.
great fun car !!!! but buy one built by someone else at your peril !!!!!!!! ive seen lots of these most are very poorly built bad welding etc they were an old car before they were a beach buggy be very careful b4 spending your money !!!!!!!!!!
His name was Hitler .you can’t use his name .but they’ll let you use any other warlords name name .idi amin.he was as bad or if not worse than hitler .but they let you use his name ..
@@autochatter I got your joke ,it’s the hypocrites who run these things that boil my waste water .same with Facebook you put something on there and the message comes back .not within community standards ,but then they’ll allow a picture of a pick-up bed full of decapitated heads which they deem fine ..I really do question the morals of these platforms.
@EMP Powersports and Marine I did mention a rail I had for a few years and it was a Chenowth in between my original Manx and the orange one in the vid. I liked it, but preferred the glass buggies.
@EMP Powersports and Marine I like the rail, but two things about it brought me back to a glass buggy. One was it was more open so wife never wanted to ride in it.I had a windshield which helped but still. Other was alot more sand got on you driving on the beach.Especially from the front wheels Lol. It was actually pretty practical because it was a 4 seater frame but where the backseat was I made a large diamond plate trunk basically with a lockable top lid.
It does what it was made to. Go offroad and have fun. I can't fault a Ferrari for not having room for groceries. I have seen people put a full top on one and run a electric heater. Some states don't like kit cars at the DMV that's true.
@@autochatter It is not a problem to title one is the state I live in. Just title it as whatever VW it was made from with the original VW title. If it has required lights ,horn and other safety equipment no problem. Same with insurance,it is a VW beetle.But I don't live in one of the want to be authoritarian communist states. I never owned one but I did shorten the chassis on one for a friend in about 1970.
I really enjoyed your Dune Buggy video and subscribed to your channel as well. You have a very good documentary style voice that keeps the listener interested during all phases of the video! I've been talking to a gentleman about a Manx clone that is a project, but wouldn't take a lot to complete. He lives about an hour away, so hope to go visit him next weekend and see it. I have wanted one since I was 5, when I saw my cousins! I'm almost 60 and now time to make this dream happen! Is there a way I can contact you, such as email? I would like to get your opinion about the buggy I'm looking at. Thanks! Terry Pate
Thank you for the kind words. I'll try to answer any questions you have. Almost forgot.. Go to thesamba.com . VW classified and a very active message forum for all air-cooled including dune buggies. I got alot of info from those fine people over the years.
WOW! Myself having been a 1967 VW Beetle owner; decades later a dune buggy owner, I AM VERY IMPRESSED with all that was covered in this video . . . "Auto Chatter" touched on all the points with owning/driving one, with one exception: _periodic oil changes._ The stock air-cooled four cylinder engine lacks an oil filter, so it means having to change the oil every 1K to 1.5K miles to prevent engine wear/oil burning. I did the 1K ~ 1.5K miles oil changes with my '67 Bug; which was using the quality engine oils available in the 1970s. After 100K-plus miles, it didn't burn oil. With regards to safety and fun with a dune buggy: I'd equate it to being a motorcycle that doesn't require the rider to have a sense of body-balance on two-wheels, as the four wheels provides solid stability with no need to balance oneself on the vehicle.
I’ve built 3 and I’m currently restoring #3 which sat idle while raising 6 kids. Built my 1st one at 19 in 1968. All were street legal and I used them as a daily driver from April to the end of October. This video inspires guys to return to their younger years. I’m excited as hell to get rolling again and so are my six kids. I’m 76 this year but a project like this keeps you moving. One word of advice, take care of yourself so you too play like kid in you senior years👍🏻
Good advice I'm glad you enjoyed my little vid!
I've wanted a Buggy since I was a kid, I'm 46 now and have finally bought a GP1 on a '72 short chassis. I drove it 30 miles home on a cold and dark Scottish evening and can honestly say I haven't had as much fun in years! Lots still to do to get it tip top but they are unique little monsters, who needs a roof or heater anyway 😀
It's hard to describe how fun buggies are to someone who never experienced one. Cheers!
Worked for RH fiberglass in the 80s used to do the buggy , Madison , Porsche spider , and baja kits , I had the first baja in England on the front cover of Kit Car magazine 1984. Building one with my son he should have it finished this summer . Have fun with your buggy .
What you need is an Eberspacher heater. I think it puts out 12,000 BTUs.
Always loved them too! Ultimate 70s icon. Greetings from the highlands! My dad used to have an old bay window Volkswagen transporter, that thing was unstoppable off road with snow chains fitted, stuffed full of oak logs for firewood!🤣🏴💪
I've had my bugle swb for 19 years! Best thing I ever spent money on, makes me smile every time I drive him, he's called the gremlin
I've had fiberglass buggy for over 35 years, it's a Glitter Bug body, very stout. We have put untold miles on it, am a auto tech, and after a day of working on the cars of today I find it relaxing to come home and work on my bug, its so simple in design and functional in use, it's just amazing, its never left us stranded as long as I have my multi tool I could make repairs to get home, just a magnificent fun vehicle to own.
Glitter bugs were great bodies!
Great video. Very informative, and full of a lot of accurate information. I'm fortunate to not only own an original Manx (and. Tow'd that I'm working on restoring) I've completely restored and repainted it TWICE at Bruce Meyer's house. Lucky enough to live near him and consider him a friend over the last 10-15 years. He was a great man, who lived a very adventurous life. Our buggy adventures were always the best. Living in San Diego, my Manx is actually my daily driver. And as far as driving on the freeway, several years ago Bruce lead a group of dune buggies on a trip from San Diego, all the way across the country to North Carolina. We called it the Sea to Sea trip. I think we left with 17 buggies and several support vehicles, and over the course of a week or two we ended up with over 100 fiberglass buggies on the Outer Banks of No Carolina. One of many amazing trips (loved having Bruce ride in my buggy and tell me stories as we toured through the historical roads and beaches of Baja). Thanks for posting a great video
Thank you! It's funny you mentioned the trip to NC. I know the guy who helped put together the "Manx on the Banks" event then when you , Bruce and others went out there. You may recall his beautiful blue Manx he restored complete with a surfboard I think he made for it too. I'm from that area originally but I had car trouble and couldn't attend. I was disappointed because I wanted to see Bruce and Winnie and actually see a bunch of buggies and buggies people at once! I know you Can highway travel technically ( met a guy who drove to the Outer Banks from Canada)...Mine always had a weird shake over 55 I could never get out lol. I still kick myself for selling my first buggy that I didn't post pictures of. It was a real Manx and still in the original gelcoat big flake red paint with Crager rims. It was a Manx II.
@@autochatter I know the guy you're talking about. Vince. I actually got to ride with him in his buggy on the beach when I was out there. I've metal flaked my buggy (twice actually) with a lot of support from Vince (many emails and phone calls). I also got to see Vince when he came out for Bruce Meyers birthday-memorial buggy event. The buggy community is pretty great
@LaVern Brock Yeah he's awesome. Long live the buggy community! Small world huh? If I didn't have severed clutch cable on order then,we would have met.
A wonderful experience you have had.
I'm looking for a Manx. A life long dream
@@kennethcooley3445 Agreed. I'm so jealous of him!
Somehow I landed up down the internet rabbit hole again, and this time it brought me to the history of the Dune Buggy. Looked on web pages and videos and this video is not just the gold standard for information, but what a lovely tribute to the creator of the buggy and the car itself. This was a lovely video!
Thank you very much! It's one of my earlier videos, but it's been my most successful so far.
@@autochatter You and your viewers got lucky that such a fine example of your work gets the attention.
@@TheRadioAteMyTV Now I'm blushing LOL. Thank you again!
I have owned two fiberglass buggies and 3 rail buggies. I still own a Chenowth framed desert buggy I run in the California desert. It runs a built 2200 V.W. Engine 13:1 compression that runs 110 octane fuel. It has power, rack and pinion steering, disk brakes, steering brakes, oil coolers, 5 point harnesses, etc. it was built in the 1980s and it’s in great shape. I’ve owned it for about 15 years and run it every season. V.W.s make great off road vehicles.
Cool! The rail I had was a Chenowth too.....with a 1600dp.
My dad got his buggy in 1971 and I built one like it over 20 years ago and use it daily when not winter. I swapped the VW drivetrain for a 2.5 SOHC Subaru for a few reasons. It's a shortened pan and not twitchy and quite stable and regularly drives 85mph on the highway. The most fun is on twisty back roads though.
That's got to be so much fun with a Subie swap!
When I was a kid growing up in upstate NY, I remember there was a place in town that converted Bugs into Buggies. It was a two stall garage with a flat roof. On one side of the building above one of the stalls, there was always a stack of fiberglass Buggy bodies. Back in the 70s, one could pick up a used Beatle for $50. By the time I was old enough to drive, the Buggy conversion shop was gone. The Dune Buggy always looked like so much fun.
Yeah..From what I've been told, alot of towns had at least one shop building them.
Exactly. Great summary of ownership. Mine is one of the most fun vehicles I've owned. Fast isn't always the most fun.
So true...Couldn't summarize it better than that.
Indeed they are, when they came out in the market I was around 17 years old, those buggies stole my heart, and I learned everything by heart, every chance that I get when I see one I get closer, ask permission to look it close, check every detail to learn something new, enjoy your toy, share it with your love ones, be safe, blessings to you and your family, from the endless summer paradise Puerto Rico Jesus Torres.
@@autochatter The 18 wheelers I drove were governed at 62 mph and I never once got run over!
@alan6832 LOL Hitting a 18 wheeler is gonna hurt alot more than a 1300lb dune buggy.
Had a manx clone in high school back in the 70's. So much fun. Now I'm in my late 60's and want another one. Maybe one of these days.
Yeah,I miss having one in the garage too.
I met Bruce Meyers and his wife, Winnie, a few times at the Twin Cities Volkswagen Club's Annual Bug-Ins in St. Louis Park, MN. Nice people.
I'm jealous!
@@autochatter I bought a Meyers Manx AMT model kit a few years ago and asked Bruce to sign it. It's on my shelf, never to be opened.
Not bad at all! Bruce had mentioned that he was a beach bum and saw all the water pumpers on the beach getting stuck, but there was a guy in a vw chassis that just skated over the sand easily. He had an artistic background and went to design the Manx from and aesthetic rather than a practical eye. He also said that since he wasnt in the automotive industry, it didnt restrict him in what he designed. He also is credited with the fiberglass racing car bed from the 70s and the first fiberglass hot tubs from the 70s. Additionally, he was a survivor of the attack on his vessel in WWII in the Pacific. An exceptional man.
My wife and I are one of the people that have driven our dune buggy from coast to coast. Was it difficult? Not really, but it was more fun than exhausting! All the thumbs up and photos being taken, and of course, the talks at fuel stops. We went with 5 other buggies to Big Bear California for the Big Bear Bash that the Manx Club holds annually. We followed Bruce in "New Manx" up the mountain and he never slowed down! What a great ride!
Since then, we have organized many events and rides that encourage buggy ownership. The buggy community is family, and Bruce knew this. We are very blessed to have had his outlook on life changed by that trip to France!
Thank you! If I had the opportunity to pick your brain before making it, I'm sure it would have been a hour longer and more exciting!
What a really great thorough video that doesn't pull any punches and doesn't blow any opinions out of proportion.....
I'm not even interested in these size vehicles myself(@6'6"&270lbs) but I might start looking around to see what there is out there on the market just for shits and giggles.
(I think I have to get the extended length version.)
Thank you! There was some buggy bodies where you didn't cut the frame length down....Like the newer Manxsters. I wouldn't reccomend a Miata like I have currently either. At 5' 11", I'm about at the limit LOL.
great video. Hard to believe I didn't see this video a year ago. I've been a buggy guy since July 1975, and still today driving the same buggy and couple years ago, bought me an anniversary 2014 Manxter...more smiles per mile. Met Bruce Meyers the first and only time in Tucson, AZ on his 2013 sea to sea trip...thanks for sharing...
Hey..Thanks for watching and living that Buggy life!
Loved the video,agree with most of what you say about bugs, my 1967 buggy is very comfortable,its got bucket seats which ive lowered,i suffer from a damaged back and have done several ,well over 120 mile round trips ,without any back pain. Ive had myn for many years and wont sell,just a great fun reliable easy to work on summer ride. I rebuilt the gearbox with new german parts as the syncros needed replacing,fitted electronic ignition,rewired etc. Mods ,1600 Dual port AS motor with Engle 100 cam,dual Dellorto carbs,flame thrower coil with Pertronix MK2 electronic ignition,spent a fair bit of time getting the carbs set up right,jets inlet trumpets,K&N filters. Take time to get linkage perfect, i do a carb balance every couple of years. Has straight through cannon stainless exhausts,loud but better looks and so easy for valve adjusting,which i do every few 1000 miles,this is very important,makes for a reliable engine,ive fitted smiths oil pressure, temp ,volts gauges on dash,not really necessary,but i like to know how engine is performing. Fitted adjustable swinger plates,these make ride height so easy to adjust. Has disc brake conversion on front, centerline spun aly wheels,with big cooper cobra tyres for that nice look.There are plenty of books on the subject. I love my buggy,especially when i feel down,i just go for a drive and feel good again. Thank you for upload.
You are welcome! Thank you for the story.
@@autochatter No problem.Happy New Year to you and your family.
@@enoz.j3506 Same to you!
@@autochatter TY.
My dune buggy is a combination of 1967-1969 VW chassis and engine and various parts. It's been great to rebuild and kept my son in High School (He could drive it his Senior year if he helped rebuild/weld and work on it.). He wanted to cover it in black rhino lining. So, it is not shiny like yours, but it still gets the looks and talking points. I loved your video and the tribute to Bruce Meyers.
Thank you very much! I'm glad you liked it!
I had a Green Metal Flake with slotted mags dune buggy back in the 70s😊, loved that car
Classic!!!.Love the big flake paint! I HAD A RED manx 2 in original.gel.coat red
Built my Beach Buggy (UK) in ‘69/70, short wheelbase GP kit in red. ‘57 chassis, 1500s twin carb engine. Great fun. Stopped a few times by the police, not because I was breaking the law, no they just wanted to have a closer look! According to UK database, it’s still around. Great video
Thank you! I remember being pulled over in 2003 and the cop admitted he wanted a closer look at my 03 Nissan 350z.
I have a 1972 based vw sand rail modified to run in the Pennsylvania coal region. Sadly, I haven drove it for awhile due to broken suspention($$$). Used to tow it flat. Had lots of fun. Can't bring myself to sell it. One day I'll fix it
Ahh..a ""woods buggy".
I found a buggy in Indiana behind a barn covered in snow, bought it for a song trailered it home did some research and found out it was a California Clipper. In the process of bringing it back to life. Can’t wait to drive it!!!
Nice! The red one I have photos of in the video was at a Barrett Jackson i attended .It may be a California Clipper too.
back in the Mid to late 80s i live just outside of L.A. in a city where a gang was nuts about VWs. anyways mom had a 72 she got back in 77, my first VW was a 65 square-back, slammed but stock. sold it and got a 67 VW Bug that turned into a money pit. i bought the car but didn't drive it for 6 months because i didn't have enough money to build the engine i wanted, so i had to eat noodles and save. that 67 was the first car i ever wrench on every bolt on the vehicle. thank u for the vid, cuz it took me down my own memory-lane
No problem. I made it as a memory lane for myself too of sorts.
I’ve always thought that each & every single Dune Buggy are so cute, cuddly, fun, sweet, beautiful, & adorable as heck!! I so dearly love them all❤️❤️❤️❤️. We have 5 in our huge garage. They’re soooo cute❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!!!!
It's like a Pokémon collection to you eh? Enjoy them all!
@@autochatter totally a Pokémon collection😁😁!! 3 Meyers Manx in our collection
@@autochatter your amazing channel is fun to watch. So full of facts I didn’t know, stuff I can learn. I’m a huge fan of classic & concept cars, monster trucks, dune buggies, etc. You have a wealth of knowledge that you share with us all, & it is greatly appreciated. Merry Christmas Auto Chatter…
@Michael Aldredge-Greenwell Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too! VW Beetle is next!
@@autochatter sweet!! I have a car book that shows that un-named dastardly ne’er-do-well German dude with the small black mustache & weird black hair who drew up the first sketches of our beloved VW Bugs. He was helped by beloved Dr Ferdinand Porsche. It’s just so weird that someone who was bad made a car that was so cool
Great video. I have a JSC long body I built from a 67 bug over 30 years ago. I decide this year I needed to do a little winter project and am in the process of cleaning up and putting on a small blower to double my HP. I have always said my buggy gets the highest smiles per mile of any other car.
Winters a great time to upgrade!
When I was young at a family picnic my uncles were jumping a dune buggy up off a twenty foot hill toward railroad tracks nearby. After the last time there was silence, and then I saw them pushing it around from the road into the driveway with the whole center folded upwards in the middle. NOW I know why. Lol
Yeah...not many cars would survive one leap like that lol.
@@autochatter I would think it would break down. Did it bounce up? I don't know. But...evidently where it was welded together.
@Vince Parke It had to be funny to see it look like a pretzel lol.
@@autochatter my uncles didn't seem too surprised. Funny.
Sweet video. I just posted my 1972 Manx Clone for sale, and your video got suggested to me by TH-cam. It was good to learn about their history. I’m also in Florida, cheers 🎉
Weird how Google works lol. Thanks for liking it! Put a link up if you want if your selling it online.
@@autochatter I just got notified of your comment 3 days ago unfortunately. It’s been gone since January.
@@arielr3200 Thats weird
WAYway back in my high school days [80's], my friend had a baha bug. We had a blast in that thing. The clutch went and he just kept driving it for at least a month starting it in first gear. Stop lights were interesting and your really had to plan your trips.
lol. then the reverse died. WE would just park on an incline or just push it back we would all jump back in . start in first and head to the next teenage adventure. I remember that back dash . or whatever you call it was big enough to fit two 12 in woofers . So we ripped apart some house speaker and dropped them in. ahhh the good old days.
Baja bugs were great.A guy was close to selling me a 69 at one point with a 1776 engine.
I have a homebuilt rail buggy, welded up over a 74 beetle floor pan. It is very stiff and with 205-55-16 tires it really handles great. I have leather buckets from a Mercedes a nice real wood dash , 4 wheel disc brakes and it is fully street legal. I have owned it now 5 years and every year add new parts and make it better some way. I only have less than 3 K in it and it is very popular at car shows, like you said everybody wants to talk about a old beetle or dune buggy they owned or rode in. After owning a couple classic cars that really needed to be babied I found this to be much more fun to own and drive. I am near 70 and don’t see myself letting go of this vehicle for a long time to come.
Sounds like alot of fun!
Had one on a shortened pan- Manx clone- 30 years ago. Now that my kids are grown would like to get another. Unsafe? Heck Yeah! Fun? H*LL YEAH!!!!
It's amazing how often the two go hand in hand lol
I just ordered the electric one. I don’t even know what the prices. But I can’t wait to hear what price they put on the dreams of my youth so I can pay it as soon as I can.
I am jealous! I'm sure it will be a blast!!!
I owned and built numerous dune buggies, but only one was an actual Manx body. They were the source of many wonderful memories.
Thank you!
Buddies and I in Oregon built our first one in 1970 and had a ball on the Oregon Coast. However, we did it the "traditional" Oregon way. Straight VW body with the top cut off and roll cage put on. The cowling around the engine was cut off and we upgraded the hubs and brakes. We had so much fun and it was street legal in Oregon because it had fenders.
Kinda made a convertible Baja bug out of it lol.
Love the story. Just completed a 71 Manx and loving it.
That's awesome! If I had the garage space, maybe I'd have another one.... And thank you!
I'm finishing mine up right now , it was a 1962 VW and then converted ! I took out the back seat and put a 2009 Hayabusa engine in it ! It has a Miata diff and VW CV joints and axles , a ford ranger ring gear and starter motor for reverse ! For the shifter a electric powered shifter for clutch less shifting this buggy is going to scream , I'm hoping by New Year's eve , and it will be warmer by then ! Thank God for Florida !
That sounds crazy fun!
Great video 😊 it took me down memory lane
@@LeonMurphey Thank you! It's one of my first ones.
I had a '65 beetle in Germany that i bought for $150.00 drove for three years then sold it to another soldier for $150. The starter eventually went out and i didn't even try to get another, you only had to push the car about three feet then jump in and pop the clutch and off you go!
I remember a "small lemon" lot on base . I did the same with a Celica Supra and a shipmate who took me to the airport with it, drove it away when I got out.
I had three speed automatic that my aunt gave me in 1987 and my dad restored a buggy 81 in Arizona.
An autostick...Cool.
yes is the answer. no one who bought a dune buggy regrets it..
neighbors dad had one as a kid. we had no dunes to buggy in but we sure had fun riding around town on hot summer nights in it..
They are not the fastest,practical, or safest cars I've ever owned...But they still managed to be some of the most fun.
@@autochatter ever seen a sad person in a dune buggy? no you havent! LOL
Cheers!
Great video
My son bought one a couple years ago that was in nice shape wish I got to ride in it
In the 70s while in Texas they where pretty popular
Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
When my daughter was 16 I got her a Baja Bug for her first car...we lived in Cali.....she was stoked. She headed straight to the Pismo Dunes...never saw her again LOL..
That's awesome! My daughter wanted a bug too..Shes got a Mazda but it is a 5 speed. Rare seeing a teen with a stickshift today.
I've had my 64 Manx here in Adelaide Australia over 5 years now. They are great fun. I'll never sell it.
That's awesome!
I have a 1966 sandpiper buggy wish could apply pictures it's very fun and would love more of the history about this build it was my father's 1st project car we had 6 show cars at 1 point down to 2 presently but the buggy is still in the family and have no desire to let it go thanks for this was very interesting information
I think my orange one was a Kellison Sandpiper. Thank you for commenting and the kind words.
They're like a Harley they mark their spot
Lol yep!
Great advice good vidio Beach buggys are so much fun love mine
And I'm the wrong side of 80 like Clint Eastwood said, don't let the old man in.
Thank you! Even being on the wrong side of 80, I read buggy ownership can knock off a few decades!
My back also starts taking to me after 5 hours of sleep. 🤣
HaHa!
I have owned two fiberglass dune buggies I still have one it was built in the seventies and it has a Corvair drivetrain and a fiberglass roof I've painted it drove it last summer I'm going over and detailing it this winter can't wait for summer fun and I'm 62 years old
Sounds like a blast! I never drove a Corvair powered one.
@@autochatter yeah I bought it just for the body I was told the motor was bad got it running and the thing is a ball to drive it's weird though it's a three speed
@James Yates Guess it has the Chevy trans? I'm not sure if that was more popular or a adaptor plate where you use the vw trans.
I knew A body shop man in Fitchburg Massachusetts named Bob philto (not sure of the last name spelling) built the first dune bugy in the middle 60's.
I haven't heard of him.
I had a 66 GP short body buggy, put it on full steering lock and rev the engine hard, 50/50 whether it spun the rear wheels, or lifted the front and straight lined
That sounds like a awesome buggy!
brought back some great memories thank you
You are quite welcome! Thank you!
I just remembered the heater in a beetle is ducted through the floorpan so you can have heat (as it is) in your dune buggy, side curtains and soft top are workable, remember English sports cars? Austin Healy sprites or MG midgets had these for decades
I didn't have heaters in mine (as it is). I can only imagine how much less efficient it would work versus a hardtop Beetle. Prob better off with a electric one.
@@autochatter Dave here, you are absolutely right about using an electric heater, it would be very likely that an alternator upgrade from the original generator system would be at the top of the list of things to do in my opinion
@Dave Baker oh yeah definatley.
I endoed my Manx in a Baltimore golf course and broke it in half with a friend, previous owner, aboard. The original 1961 seat belts worked. The roll bar put all the stress on the welded floor and broke the car in half. The hood and gas tank flew out. We lived but it was more dramatic than it sounds here.
Ouch! Rust or someone didn't weld it back well maybe?
@@autochatter this was in the early 70's. Rust was not an issue. It came down hard upside down . The front end weight pushed the nose down and the engine pushed down the rear using the rollbar as a fulcrum
@@michaelannen4168 any accident you can walk away from lol
i remember sell vic Edelbrock VW chassis in early 60's from my speed shop in NJ. TO MADE BUBBY .,Also sold him 6-71 super chargers
Thats cool!
Its the mid 80s and all the older cooler kids had cars,while we were still in bicycle or dirt bike mode.
Anyways , one of the kids had bought a dune buggy that was more of a show car ,but he proceeded to beat it to death like his other cars he had.
I wont mention the Lil red express he had.
Anyways ,being it was light enough he could do a high rpm clutch dump and get daylight under the tires.
Not too shabby for a 50-60hp engine(it was stock) !
Power to weight is everything. Didn't take much to move around a Buggy. He tore up one of those Dodge trucks too...What a shame!
@@autochatter
Oh it gets better.
It was his mom's she handed down to him, probably around 86-87.
He didn't wreck it ,but really used the heck out of it.
And that lil red was half a his and hers that her husband bought new in 78.
Yes ,2 of em in the same driveway.
That was always cooler than fans to ride by and see em parked.
He ran his till the late 90s and even had the vision when he bought them new ,that he bought all the decals and put em away for just in case.
@@autochatter no doubt on the power to weight.
I grew up in the despised water cooled VW era.
Loved my modded 83 GTI with around 120hp, it was definitely spirited.
@@MrTheHillfolk I'm a fan of pre radiator VWs LOL. And those Lil Red Expresses were neat.
I believe Steve McQueen's was Corvair powered.
It may have been. Corvair swaps were popular.
Bought mine in NJ based on a 63 and drove it to California. the 63 had no gas gauge just the flip tank. ran out of gas 2 times, the first time was almost a disaster, the nearest gas station was 17 miles away and closing in 20 minutes heading to Pella Iowa. Nice family drove me both ways and had me over for dinner. the second time I was across a cow field from a gas station. It had a cracked distributor neck and would vibrate and do anywhere from 60 to 75 and back again. It had an 8 track player in the back under the seat so basically I could only change it when stopped. I had the Physical Graffiti double album and basically listened to it for 2900 miles. it was a sparkle green baby with a 12 volt dc system and a 6 volt starter that sounded like starting the Batmobile. wish I had it still....
LOL..The fuel guage in my orange one stopped working for awhile. I used a stick to check my fuel level untill I got it fixed.
Great narrative!… informative & FUNNY!…😂
Thank you.
My brother bought a dune buggy back in the 1970's with a volkswagen engine and manual trans and we went to the junkyard and pulled a Corvair 6 cylinder and auto trans from a wreck and put it in the dune buggy. Ran like stink. Had to watch out as it would pull the front wheels off the ground when accelerating. I remember he carried a yard stick around with him to check the gas level in the tank. LOL
Hey the stick gas Guage works great. My father in law used that for his.
Its not a dune buggy, but more closely resembles a beetle.. im talking about Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch! It was my ultimate favorite cartoon when i was about 4 years old. I still love it
I drove a VW trike once...It was pretty cool.
Nice pros/cons summary
Thank you!
Can anyone else hear the cat pleading for attention around the 7 minute mark?
LOL...Your not the first to pick up on that, it's just been awhile since I read a comment about it!
Under a tarp in my driveway is the one and only ever 1965 VW Explorer, my daily driver for years, an Australian kit car looking like a TR7 or X1/9 without doors or roof. Awesome fun car, but no way I'll ever re-register it, since a tourist driving on the wrong side of the road put a bend in the roof of the Nissan Skyline I was driving, and taught me a valuable lesson about crumple zones. Was way cool last century. Might buy it a new tarp, for old time's sake.
Looks kinda like a Bradley GT kit?
@@autochatter You can see it in the background of some videos on my channel, as a bike rides by. Might make a video about it soon, as 'My Crap Car' for the Unicorn Circuit. Was awesome fun daily driver, so I get your love for the Manx, driving along thinking how is this even legal!
@nugley Pretty cool! Looks like you have a Isuzu Rodeo too or whatever they may be called down under lol. I think a video on your VW would be a great idea.
@@autochatter You and I and few others know the joy of driving such a sled.
@nugley lol..yeah..I even did a vid on Isuzus. We don't have them here anymore not counting commercial trucks.
It amazes me that a real Myers Manx is worth a small fortune, ten thousand dollars for a very poor example is not unheard of, these were available for only a couple hundred dollars not long ago,
Yeah..I think the appreciation for them had a delay. Was like that with Datsun Z cars for a long time but now they are getting pricier.
A few years ago, I went to look at a dune buggy, thinking that I would bring it home with me, but discovered my size 12 wide feet were too big to operate three pedals in such a small foot well.
Yeah..that could be a problem.
I'd prefer the bug with the fiberglass add ons because of the weather we have. You get the same attention, nothing like a bus load of kids running to the rear of the bus to watch you follow them with mud tires on the back and a strait up exhaust pipe.
I went buggy because it was lighter than a Baja on the beach.
@@autochatter That makes sense, there are no beaches or sand where I live. Sand rails for off roading and mud are common here also.
The best buggy kit ever made was the Belgian APAL buggy.
Not familiar with that one
My first car was a '71 or '72 super beetle I don't remember but I sure wish I still had it. I traded it for a rifle if you can believe that. Today you could get ten very nice rifles for what I essentially gave away. The problem for me was the stereo. There was a buzz in the speakers that kept pace with the RPM of the motor and it's hard to go 60 and listen to Boston 🙄
Interference from the ignition.
@@autochatter oh, well, I tried everything imaginable to stop it and could not.
@@thomandstacieverroad8417 annoying wasn't it?
@@autochatter enough to cause me to trade it off for a rifle you can buy for $600 today so....
@Thom and Staci Everroad lol...Totally get it...Depending on the rifle.
My buggy had the full convertible white top like the my mother the car style😊
Cool!
The tragedy was that Meyers was way too small a company to remotely keep up with the demand for the Dune Bug.
Yes
On the back of this trend you could get nice coupes based on the VW beetle platform. Fiberglas FTBonito sprjngs to mind. It was supposed to look like a Ford GT40 supercar.
There was also the Vanclee Highway, a buggy with a pop-up roof.
You could also get kits that looked (a bit) like Bugatti type35.
Yeah...I'm actually planning on a vw kit car episode...Or just a kit car one in general.
we need an electric peddle powered solar dune buggy camper with seats that fold down into a camp bed
We have a EMPI Sportster, it’s been in my wife’s family since the late 60’s . The pan is from a 1960 vw very fun machine
They have to be pretty rare nowdays.
Should we buy a buggy?
The answer is yes !!!!!
Good answer!
At 57, I can honestly say I hated the vw beetle. An ugly little car. Even the vw emblem looked ugly.
But put a jell-coat , fiberglass body, some wide tires. You have one sweet ride.
The styling of a Manx I always thought was just beautiful
14 inches cut off, where the rear seat is that gives you a shorter chassis.
Yes
The only time and vehicle I outran a cop I just went way out in the mesa .
Guess that would be another reason to buy one? LOL.
I didn't know the Dune Buggy had a shortened frame.
I would love to have an old 1970s DB with the heavy orange metallic paint job. I had a COX toy orange dune buggy.
.
The original Manx did and alot of the clones. There was some made back then using a full length frame.
@@autochatter Most fiberglass dune buggies had the chassis shortened 14.5 inches. There were a few exceptions like the Empi Imp which was shortened only 12 inches. There were also a number of full pan buggies like the Maxi Taxi, Berry Mini T-4, Sand Dancer and Tuff Tub.
@Tim Byrnes yes but the full length ones look weird without a body lift
Awesome info but.......I can't believe you didn't do the Speed Buggy voice...
This one is one of my earlier videos and I'm still learning as I go. I guess poorly done impressions can be done at a later date lol.
Absolutely nothing like a VW in any form Absolutely nothing. Had a '79 camp mobile from Germany. Would I like to have a Dune Buggy? You betcha!!!!!
Father bought one in 1984 I was fourteen, it was called a 'daytona'
Probably was a Allison Daytona. Good looking body
@@autochatter new Zealand, so don't know if built here or imported
@@markfisher5628 ok
I'll trade my 2002 PT Cruiser for one of them buggies anytime I'll even throw in my 84 Bronco 2.. it's now a lawn ornament
Lawn ornament = 3400 lb paper weight lol.
Fascinating!!!!
Thanks!
Nice info i had no idea.,
I have always liked the different styles of the dunebugy the ones with cabin 4 seaters !
Yeah there's been alot of different styles. The original Manx is my fav!
The drum brake adjustment does NOT require the drum be removed, in fact the drum MUST be installed to adjust. Just lift the wheel off the ground, leave the tire on, remove hubcap and there is the hole for putting a screw driver to turn the adjustment gear. easy peasy!
Yes..there are adjustment holes..Its easy..but not as easy as some drum brake cars where just backing up does the job. Lol
Today you can’t build anything for under $40k.
Gets more expensive yeah. I just checking Hemmings for dune buggies and only one was over 20k
In SoCal they are NOT cheap. Even a project will go for several thousand and a ready to go will be nearer 10K ! VW engines are easy to work on BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE. I've worked on many and they are crap for longevity BUT they do have appeal.
Supply and demand in the area? 10k ain't bad if it's ready to go nowdays.alot of other collector cars that were pretty cheap 10 years ago are much higher now.
Do I hear a cat meowing in your video?
LOL...Yes. My advanced studio suffered from a feline breach. Apparently the cat snuck in and required immediate attention in the form of scratching under her neck. Fortunately the purring did not seem to be captured on the audio.
RIPeace…Bruce…
Yes. Thank you.
the guy you talked about was austrian, not german!
Yes..A Austrian who ruled Germany.
hey pal yer dissing my 20 year old Corolla
LOL
Here's a link to when Bruce Meyer was on Jay Leno's Garage.
th-cam.com/video/PYYPJ-ExM-M/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=JayLeno%27sGarage
Yeah.. I watched this year's ago. Bruce brought old red to Leno. Great link!
Brian Bealer chanel, round em up. he will find them.
great fun car !!!! but buy one built by someone else at your peril !!!!!!!! ive seen lots of these most are very poorly built bad welding etc they were an old car before they were a beach buggy be very careful b4 spending your money !!!!!!!!!!
Good advice. Fortunately it's usually not too hard to spot a poorly assembled one.
@@autochatter buy a cheap one pull it apart and start again ,remember your kids will want to ride in this it has to be right !!
Volkswagen Vanegan had 47 horsepower
What year Vanagon was that low on hp?
His name was Hitler .you can’t use his name .but they’ll let you use any other warlords name name .idi amin.he was as bad or if not worse than hitler .but they let you use his name ..
It was meant as kind of a joke. I guess it flopped lol.
@@autochatter I got your joke ,it’s the hypocrites who run these things that boil my waste water .same with Facebook you put something on there and the message comes back .not within community standards ,but then they’ll allow a picture of a pick-up bed full of decapitated heads which they deem fine ..I really do question the morals of these platforms.
@@craigpimlott204 Yep.Its unfortunate. There's certain "illegal actions" you can't say by name or risk getting strikes or whatever.
Stop smacking your lips and you should have mentioned Gil George’s Funco and Lee Chenowth’s cars.
Yeah..This is one of my earliest vids and the lip thing I've made a effort to eliminate. I didn't get into sand rails as much thats true.
@@autochatter overall good video which I enjoyed and I am somewhat biased, as I own a 1972 Funco SS1
@EMP Powersports and Marine I did mention a rail I had for a few years and it was a Chenowth in between my original Manx and the orange one in the vid. I liked it, but preferred the glass buggies.
@@autochatter I know Lee and Chenowth’s are very special cars but we all have our preferences. A glass buggy is a lot more practical.
@EMP Powersports and Marine I like the rail, but two things about it brought me back to a glass buggy. One was it was more open so wife never wanted to ride in it.I had a windshield which helped but still. Other was alot more sand got on you driving on the beach.Especially from the front wheels Lol. It was actually pretty practical because it was a 4 seater frame but where the backseat was I made a large diamond plate trunk basically with a lockable top lid.
Geee your DEPRESING 😢
Well..Did this one awhile back LOL.
Can lock anything up in it. Almost impossible to get it inspected in lots of states. No heat no defroster. Not much of a car.
It does what it was made to. Go offroad and have fun. I can't fault a Ferrari for not having room for groceries. I have seen people put a full top on one and run a electric heater. Some states don't like kit cars at the DMV that's true.
@@autochatter It is not a problem to title one is the state I live in. Just title it as whatever VW it was made from with the original VW title. If it has required lights ,horn and other safety equipment no problem. Same with insurance,it is a VW beetle.But I don't live in one of the want to be authoritarian communist states. I never owned one but I did shorten the chassis on one for a friend in about 1970.
@@WesB1972 I had to title my orange one as a 2007 vw roadster as that was the year I put it on the road.
Audio Mumble.
I tried to improve production as time went on.This was one of my first vids.
@@autochatter thanks for taking notes constructively✌️
@John Perkins Of course!
I really enjoyed your Dune Buggy video and subscribed to your channel as well. You have a very good documentary style voice that keeps the listener interested during all phases of the video!
I've been talking to a gentleman about a Manx clone that is a project, but wouldn't take a lot to complete. He lives about an hour away, so hope to go visit him next weekend and see it. I have wanted one since I was 5, when I saw my cousins! I'm almost 60 and now time to make this dream happen! Is there a way I can contact you, such as email? I would like to get your opinion about the buggy I'm looking at.
Thanks!
Terry Pate
Thank you for the kind words. I'll try to answer any questions you have. Almost forgot.. Go to thesamba.com . VW classified and a very active message forum for all air-cooled including dune buggies. I got alot of info from those fine people over the years.
@@autochatter I just sent a message to your yahoo email. Thanks for your reply!
Why is it that yanks call the beetle a bug
Not sure actually.. Slang word for the car just developed I guess.
WOW! Myself having been a 1967 VW Beetle owner; decades later a dune buggy owner, I AM VERY IMPRESSED with all that was covered in this video . . . "Auto Chatter" touched on all the points with owning/driving one, with one exception: _periodic oil changes._ The stock air-cooled four cylinder engine lacks an oil filter, so it means having to change the oil every 1K to 1.5K miles to prevent engine wear/oil burning.
I did the 1K ~ 1.5K miles oil changes with my '67 Bug; which was using the quality engine oils available in the 1970s. After 100K-plus miles, it didn't burn oil.
With regards to safety and fun with a dune buggy: I'd equate it to being a motorcycle that doesn't require the rider to have a sense of body-balance on two-wheels, as the four wheels provides solid stability with no need to balance oneself on the vehicle.
Thank you! I ran a upgraded oil pump with the spin off filter. Changed it annually because it wasn't a daily driver.