TheSamba.com :: View topic - Advice on fiberglass buggy body builder- Vegas Buggies

Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:41 am

Has anyone heard of "Vegas Buggies"? I like the look of their long body...but sure would like to hear from someone who has used them!

http://vegasbuggies.com/

Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:39 am

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=911290&highlight=vegas#911290

blue manx wrote: I am having Greg at Vegas buggys build me one. I pick it up on the 21st of this month. From what I've read these look the best.
http://vegasbuggies.com/

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=775912&highlight=vegas#775912

TurboLark wrote: I bought this body from Fiber Reinforced Products in San Marcos, CA.

Of all the bodies I looked at(FRP,RTS, Bandit, Vegas Bodies) this one was high quality and also the least expensive. 1350.00 for the body, hood, dash AND windshield. Most are 1500.00 without the windshield(125-200.00 more). The altered the gelcoat to make it brighter orange for me at no charge. Had it done for me in less than the 2 weeks quoted. Scott was great to deal with and answered all my questions, even let me crawl all over his dads car to see how it was.

Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:56 pm

I just drove from Portland OR to Las vegas and bought one of the long buggys from Vegas Buggies. It was a 2000 mile round trip, i spent a few days in 115 degree weather there.. I am very pleased with it and Greg the owner can make them in any color or flake on the web site. It cost me about 1800 including tax. It is hand laid fiberglass and looks good and it is stronger than shredded glass shot into the mold. mine is the Silver flake. I have just set the body on my pan and am fitting the windshield now. There are no holes drilled so you can mount it how you like. I looked all over the internet and found other shops but they all not as nice as Vegas Buggies. The price you will find is about the same, but these are better made. I looked for about 5 months before i heard of them and found the site. He makes them to order and only takes a few weeks to have one.

send me a PM if you have any Q?

Michael

Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:26 pm

That is good to know. post some pics when you can.

Wed Jul 27, 2005 5:51 am

I've been looking for a new body as well. Glad I saw this post. Thanks, and let us know how it goes. I have to go to Vegas for the SEMA show in November, so this may work out great!!!!

Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:45 pm

jeffh355 wrote: I've been looking for a new body as well. Glad I saw this post. Thanks, and let us know how it goes. I have to go to Vegas for the SEMA show in November, so this may work out great!!!!
Jeff, I'm over in Rancho Cucamonga if ya ever want to stop by and look at my body...errr the fiberglass body.

Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:00 pm

Quote:
Jeff, I'm over in Rancho Cucamonga if ya ever want to stop by and look at my body...errr the fiberglass body.

Thanks!!! Sent you a PM.

Wed Jul 27, 2005 10:57 pm

wish I would have sen this earlier. these a place in reno/sprake thats a gold mine for vw parts engine $99 trans 49 Thats out of any car they have. this is a huge j/yard every part is the same price no matter what kind or year car it comes off

Sun Oct 02, 2005 10:17 am

jeffh355 wrote: I've been looking for a new body as well. Glad I saw this post. Thanks, and let us know how it goes. I have to go to Vegas for the SEMA show in November, so this may work out great!!!!

If you are in So Cal feel free to drop by our shop on your way to Vegas. Along with the "Bandit 1" body, we now offer the "Bandit 2". Drop by and check out our quality in person. You can speak with myself (Tim) or Dan. Give us a call to set up an appt. or just drop by.

Sun Oct 02, 2005 10:38 am

Thanks guys. I now know that Vegas Buggies is the manufacturer of the body I have on my buggy. The picture at the top is the first one I have seen that matches mine in appearance. Mine is the shortened pan style.
Mine is older, green metalflake gelcoat very close to the one pictured. I have no idea how old it is, but it appears like it was laid up by hand, It is thick as hell, which is one of the reasons I bought this buggy that needed a total makeover...I knew I was starting with a solid body. The only work I have done is to fix the fenderwell to hood/cowl mating surfaces (see another string called "cowl shake." That was only necessary because several previous owners had drilled too many holes. The gel coat is good and thick. It had weathered in a few places. Cost considerations and the desire to fill and then re-format all my own holes for mounting the body to pan have dictated that I re-paint it a solid color, put the overall condition of what I assume is at least a 20-30 year old body is really good.
No cracks. Anywhere. Even on the headlight posts where it is common to see them.

Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:31 pm

I am in the same boat... seems no one has a picture of a Vegas buggies body installed on a finished project :(

Ken
Hemet, CA

Thu Oct 20, 2005 6:34 pm

Ken (kctrader),
Unfortunately, the only pics I took of my buggy complete were not of the digital variety. I have since torn it down, and only have an "exploded diagram" version of the car at present. If in a few months you have yet to see a photo, I may have mine closer to being in one piece, and will snap some digital photos and post them. I am convinced it is a quality body.
After discovering (only here, only recently) that the body I had was a Vegas Buggies body, I called them. The owner, Greg, called me back and was very helpful in confirming the identity of my body as one of their products. It isn't as old as I thought...maybe ten years. I have a shortened lime green metalflake one. He told me that his company also builds boats, and builds the heavier version of their buggy bodies to near boat hull tolerances. Mine is nice and thick where it counts. As I mentioned previously, the gelcoat was faded, and I could tell that the body had lived outside in less than ideal Pacific Northwest weather for most of it's life. Still structurally very sound. Having seen one, I would buy another if it became necessary.
My .02. Good luck.

Fri Oct 21, 2005 7:58 am

Michael (OR-Buggy) has been promising one. Chop chop Michael!

Fri Oct 21, 2005 8:22 am

I am in the process of building a buggy using a Vegas body - here is a link to some pictures:

http://community.webshots.com/album/233555749GQyeIi

First one shows the buggy being delivered by Greg last December.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Bill
Salt Lake City, Utah

Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:45 am

Hey Bill, what did you use to coat your pan? Looks great.

Fri Oct 21, 2005 10:05 am

After having it sand blasted I coated it with POR-15 by hand. Then sprayed it with a light coat of Duralast bedliner.

Bill

Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:58 pm

Bill....most excellent. Wondering about your CNC clutch assy. Does that come as part of a pedal cluster, with a brake M/C and gas pedal? Looks like a nice install. Pondering doing that with my buggy, as I am not sure my girlfriend will enjoy driving the car with a cable clutch...More accurately, I won't enjoy being in the car with my girlfriend using a cable clutch.....

Fri Oct 21, 2005 7:21 pm

Clutch assy came as a kit from SACO - does not include pedals. Can be used with early or late style.

Bill

Fri Oct 21, 2005 8:07 pm

project65@earthlink.net wrote: I am in the process of building a buggy using a Vegas body - here is a link to some pictures:

http://community.webshots.com/album/233555749GQyeIi

First one shows the buggy being delivered by Greg last December.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Bill
Salt Lake City, Utah

Thanks Bill...I'll keep an eye on your progress...so far looks great! This weekend I hope to find a good donor VW :)

Ken

Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:23 pm

I am in the process of building a buggy using a Vegas body - here is a link to some pictures:

http://community.webshots.com/album/233555749GQyeIi

First one shows the buggy being delivered by Greg last December.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Bill
Salt Lake City, Utah
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bill,

I was impressed with the look of your pan. I have a couple of questions
1. Who was the manufacture of the bar between your rear shock mounting points?
2. Will you install similar bars between the shock towers and the rear frame horns to prevent wheel chatter and strengthen the engine mounting area.
3. Did you re-weld or strengthen the rear frame horns?

From the pictures, your work very professional. What is the design objective for your buggy?

Mike