New Buggy Build / Best Chassis to use ?

[Hacksaw44]

So what do you guys think is the best year of a chassis to use to build a dune buggy ?

[bruces]

2014 ,either a Barrett ,berrien ,or your own home built .

[joescoolcustoms]

1969 and later.
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Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

[EVfun]

If you will be able to register the buggy by the chassis year then I would go for something old. The vehicle requirements become more relaxed as the years roll back. I don't need seat belts, reverse lights, hazard lights, and a few other things because my buggy is considered to be a 1964 -- the year of the frame used. 1954 would have eliminated the requirement for electric turn signals. In some states there could also be smog testing requirements for later years. I'm partial to the '61 to '64 as parts are easy to get and equipment requirements minimal. I would avoid 1960 due to 1 year only slight movement of the engine and transaxle.

This could also make a case for repairing an existing buggy chassis. The way kit cars are registered have changed over the decades in many states, and the current rules may make in a 2014 vehicle. If a legal older approval can be retained it may save some headaches.
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[BL3Manx]

The best thing you can do is first figure out what you want to do with the buggy, then the right components and your budget will pick each other. Your profile says you live in the United States, is that Boston or Barstow?

Is this for two or a growing family, an every day driver, strictly street, cruising and shows, drags, slalom, dual sport on and off road, back woods, mud bogs, mountain trails, mid travel, long travel, or actually really for dunes?

[didget69]

Next best thing to do: confirm the title/registration/insurance requirements for your State...

bnc
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I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door.

[Dale M.]

[Hacksaw44]

Ok, I will work on it then. I would probably like to use it on road and off. Nothing extreme on the off road stuff just going thru trails and the like. I am in Florida so there is at least a few places to go lol

[BL3Manx]

A 69 and later chassis with a rust free tunnel which was shortened by someone who knew what they were doing, which has all its proper internal plumbing securely in place and with a clear title matching the numbers on the tunnel would probably be perfect for you.

[scarter302]

follow up question. If we go aftermarket- Berrian or Barrett. what do we use as a VIN? just go through a state inspection and get 1 created under a kit car clause. if said state has any? In MA I don't think it's super difficult 1 of our state reps is an avid kit car aficionado (factory five) so he put in a law to make it easier to get kit cars titled.

[BL3Manx]

The laws vary widely state to state. In California you actually have to get a new VIN number assigned by the CHP on all special construction vehicles, even on a buggy with a VW chassis and an old VW title.

[Hacksaw44]

No vin number. I am going to start back on this build as I have been on here looking alot more now. List it as a homebuilt ?

[Hacksaw44]

I found the vin number