TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Feb 08, 2013 5:51 pm

BL3Manx wrote: Your buggy is gorgeous and its and your Dad's place in dune buggy history are awesome.
Thank you!

Sat Feb 09, 2013 11:11 pm

Very well done glad you were able to get it back on the road. I like to see the before pictures they don't always show these in the magazine to show all of your hard work.

Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:50 am

Nice clean ride. What's the windshield? Your design? Looks refreshing for a change. I like it.

Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:03 pm

porkey wrote: Nice clean ride. What's the windshield? Your design? Looks refreshing for a change. I like it.
My dad and I came up the idea to build it with no top bar, kinda like an old hot rod and my brother in law machined the billet aluminum. Those that are on the car are actually just the prototypes but I didn't get the other ones done in time for the photo shoot.

Sat Feb 16, 2013 8:59 pm

I have a Sandwinder, but I thought they (and the California Clipper) were made by J.C. Fiberglass? Is this not correct? Did both companies make them?

Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:33 pm

Sandwinder bodies were built by R&H Fiberlass owned by my dad Don Rountree. He made two styles the one like mine with the manx type rear end and later one with a spoiler. The california clipper was a copy. The hood design was also used on the first wide eye baja kit that my dad built.

Sun Feb 17, 2013 7:55 pm

So, here is my buggy. Pretty much original right down to the gelcoat finish. Mine has the battery well behind the front passenger seat...I've seen some with no battery well. I'm in the middle of doing some changes to it this winter to make it more "mine". Changing to blue interior among other things.

Was this made by your dad's place? Is there any place to obtain an original type sticker for the front hood?

Thanks to your Dad for his contribution to this hobby!

Mon Feb 18, 2013 5:33 pm

gohunt wrote: So, here is my buggy. Pretty much original right down to the gelcoat finish. Mine has the battery well behind the front passenger seat...I've seen some with no battery well. I'm in the middle of doing some changes to it this winter to make it more "mine". Changing to blue interior among other things.

Was this made by your dad's place? Is there any place to obtain an original type sticker for the front hood?

Thanks to your Dad for his contribution to this hobby!

I don't think that is a Sandwinder but if you would like a Sandwinder decal I will send you one when I get some made. I keep saying I'm going to do it now I just need to get it done.

Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:19 am

Is there anyway to tell what year the body was made? Here is mine the day i bought it, redoing it currently.

Wed Feb 20, 2013 6:03 pm

vwtopia wrote: Is there anyway to tell what year the body was made? Here is mine the day i bought it, redoing it currently.

No way to tell that I know of. I'm calling mine a '68 because thats what its registered as even though its on an earlier pan. I would say yours later by the decal on the hood it appears to be the second variation. I will be getting new decals made soon.

Sun Mar 03, 2013 10:20 am

I changed the exhaust on my buggy to a Tri Mil sidewinder. We took the car to the desert two weeks ago and I can tell a difference in performance over the duals that I had on there before.

And yes the car is still dirty from that trip.

Sat Mar 09, 2013 8:33 am

A buddy of mine has a Sandwinder that he bought new in 1968.
I will have to ask him if he bought it from R&H direct or someone else.
Did your dad have a dealer network at all?

Sat Mar 09, 2013 9:15 am

Buggy looks awsome! It must feel great to have that kind of family conection and heritage with the buggy.

I have a question. I bought a buggy about a year or so ago and come to find out it's a Sandwinder! My question is did your dad sell the molds to some one? because my nose badge says supercat. But I know it must be a Sandwinder. Here's a few pics to show you what I've got. I would apreciate knowing for sure that I have one of these fine buggies.

Sat Mar 09, 2013 10:08 am

House wrote: A buddy of mine has a Sandwinder that he bought new in 1968.
I will have to ask him if he bought it from R&H direct or someone else.
Did your dad have a dealer network at all?
I'm sure my dad sold some direct to the public but most were sold through dealers like Virgils Bush Buggys, Bobs Dunebuggies and many others these are just a couple of local ones that I know of. My car was sold by Virgils, the original decal was still on it when I got the car.

Sat Mar 09, 2013 10:28 am

lilstnkr wrote: Buggy looks awsome! It must feel great to have that kind of family conection and heritage with the buggy.

I have a question. I bought a buggy about a year or so ago and come to find out it's a Sandwinder! My question is did your dad sell the molds to some one? because my nose badge says supercat. But I know it must be a Sandwinder. Here's a few pics to show you what I've got. I would apreciate knowing for sure that I have one of these fine buggies.

I think yours is a copy, there was a lot of that going on back then not just of my dads cars just look at how many copies of the Manx are out there. The way that I can tell the difference between a Sandwinder and others is the headlight mounts my dad never molded his in he always used aluminum spacers under the headlights. It doesn't matter what it is as long as you just have fun with it. If you want a decal I can send you one when I get them.

Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:04 pm

Sandwinder2 wrote: House wrote: A buddy of mine has a Sandwinder that he bought new in 1968.
I will have to ask him if he bought it from R&H direct or someone else.
Did your dad have a dealer network at all?
I'm sure my dad sold some direct to the public but most were sold through dealers like Virgils Bush Buggys, Bobs Dunebuggies and many others these are just a couple of local ones that I know of. My car was sold by Virgils, the original decal was still on it when I got the car.

He doesn't remember offhand, so he will have to go look at his records,
but he thinks his may have come from Palmdale...

Mon Jul 01, 2013 4:50 pm

I have foun a don roundtree "bollweevil" racecar..have been working on restoration for about a year,,is there a market for this, or do i just have a cool toy?i can be reached at 520-425-7320....i already have too many cars

Tue Jul 02, 2013 7:19 am

I'm so happy to see other Sandwinders on here! Here's a recent photo of my rebuild project.

Come to think of it, I should probably go update my build thread...

Anyway, NICE BUGGIES GUYS!

Sun Nov 03, 2013 11:47 am

Sad news, my dad Don Rountree the man behind Sandwinder dune buggies and race cars passed away Oct. 16 2013.

Sun Nov 03, 2013 11:55 am

I am sorry for your loss.