TheSamba.com :: View topic - Newbie - need a bit of help with my buggy project :)

Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:07 pm

Hi all, im new here and have just bought a 72 marathon 1300 beetle :)

anyway, i hope to convert it to a beach buggy. Not decided yet in whether to go swb or lwb as i am pretty tall and need a bit of leg room. Also hoping to do it as cheap as possible. Currently, the car is sorn and in my name on the v5 as a blue saloon beetle.

Here is what it looked like when i got it (after slight stripping as it was a complete car) :

This is what it looks like now :

At the minute, its nearly a bare shell. Just the wiring loom, doors and glass.

Next step is to get the body off and have it scrapped so its out of the way, its in bad shape anyway. anyone know a good place to do this?

Any advise or pointers will be highly appreciated and any info you think i could do with, please let me know

and if anyone is interested in any parts that i wont need for a buggy build, pm me

thanks :)

Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:22 pm

You say beach buggy, is that where it will be driven? First thing you have to decide is whether its for the street or on and off-road. The wheels, tires, suspension and even body and engine are all determined by what you plan on doing with it.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:41 pm

BL3Manx wrote: You say beach buggy, is that where it will be driven? First thing you have to decide is whether its for the street or on and off-road. The wheels, tires, suspension and even body and engine are all determined by what you plan on doing with it.

hi, no the buggy will just be for the roads. im not really bothered about having all the top spec suspension etc. just want to have a nice looking buggy to have a bit of fun in.

will probably get it finished and then upgrade the parts on it at a later date.

thanks for the reply :D

Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:45 pm

Beach Buggy is what us Brits call Dune Buggies 'cause we haven't got that many dunes over here...

if you don't mind painting it there's a shell for sale on eBay...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110488934058&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I friend of mine's 6'4" and has used a Buggy as his daily driver for 30 years now so swb shouldn't be a problem for you.

Buggy Club UK forum's at...

http://www.partsemporium.co.uk/BUGGYCLUBUKFORUM/phpBB3/index.php

...if you're interested.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:57 pm

manxdavid wrote: Beach Buggy is what us Brits call Dune Buggies 'cause we haven't got that many dunes over here...

if you don't mind painting it there's a shell for sale on eBay...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110488934058&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I friend of mine's 6'4" and has used a Buggy as his daily driver for 30 years now so swb shouldn't be a problem for you.

Buggy Club UK forum's at...

http://www.partsemporium.co.uk/BUGGYCLUBUKFORUM/phpBB3/index.php

...if you're interested.

thanks for the links pal. if i was a bit further in with the build and the shell was a bit closer i'd try and get that. Pity! i like the look of the prowlers too.

glad to hear a tall person can drive em, would have been gutted if i built it and couldnt get in lol.

and yeah.. ive made 2 registrations for the uk forum but the administrators havent got back to me yet so my account is inactive :( will just have to wait.

cheers!

Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:13 pm

I don't know how you do things in the UK but I haul stuff over to the local scrap yard. I would assume you have some sort of metal recycling or salvage yards over there somewhere.

If you don't have a pickup and trailer like I do you may find someone who will come and haul it away for you for free. The salvage yards pay by the tonnage on scrap metal.

I like the standard length chassis. I think its small enough already.

Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:49 am

Don't just up and scrap the body. Post it for sale. You'll probably find someone who needs the parts, wants to build a rat rod, has a pan that needs a body etc.....
Jeff

Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:18 am

The short/long wheelbase question is mostly about the backseat, and about the additional labor involved in shortening the frame...do you want a two seater or four?
With no disrespect to those who have them, I'm not a huge fan of the standard length kits. However, a four place car would allow more passengers, so if you are a family man, that is something to consider.