Are Dune Buggies JUNK?

[wythac]

Nice car Milo. Really like that blue. Did you build it or buy it complete?

Its good to keep in mind that the donor beetles are almost always sacked out and rusty POSs, otherwise nobody would carve them up and make buggies out of them. I didn't drive mine until it was done, but I don't have a problem with those folks who want to drive them while they work to improve them, or just leave them as they found them. Its a personal choice. Of course its a different story if you want to fill the car with neighbor kids and can only stop the car Flintstone style.

With the high frequency of maintenance that these cars require, buying a "finished" one is no guarantee that a car won't soon be junk again. All depends on who gets it and how deep their pockets or skill sets are.

[brettsvw]

I agree there is a lot junk buggies out there. The same is true with the trikes. If they are priced according to condition and quality it would be no big deal so warning others of what to look for is a good call.

I have bought three FG buggies and all three were junk. All three were very cheap and needed complete rebuilds.

There are some very nice buggies forsale but very expensive. With everyday life and other expensive family hobbies I can't afford a nice buggy. Cheap is what I look for. Cheap also means a lot of labor and time.
These days working full time and getting older. I have to question why I pick the harder route.

Am I missing something on compression fittings? I have seen many used and never seen a failure. Your home is full of compression fittings. No one wants a flooded house.

[MILO63]

[MILO63]

[EVfun]

[EVfun]

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

When I was first in the market to buy our first buggy ( a few years ago), the first thing I found was there are many...many levels of buggy's.

I looked at older builds, half ass'd assemblies, mid project = I give up projects, almost done projects and complete on all levels.

All priced accordingly.
I realized real quick.... I either needed to buy something that needed a complete reconditioning or something damn near done, as knowing my own mentality I would end up tearing the ones in between all the way down to start fresh.... I picked a long forgotten "kit" = 3 complete chassis (one shortened poorly), 1 engine, a glass body with roll bar and windshield that had traded hands several times since 1969 without ever being recompleted from the first time. Probably perfectly for me as then I could make it they way I like.

Yes I found there are plenty of junk ones out there....but most (not all) on the road today are not those
_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited

[brianbernal71]

I first read this post this morning, and its been on my mind most of the day. Makes me wonder how I ever got through my 30 years of vw's without this guy. All I know is I have owned many old Volkswagen's, and let me tell you, most of them were probably very unsafe to some standards, but I still drove them and still loved every one of them. I come to this site probably 10 times a day or more. Searching classifieds or just reading. I ask questions sometimes and listen to the advice given to me. Not that I always take the advice but do with it what I will. No one ever says you have to do this, or you can't do that. If that's how it was, I surely wouldn't have any interest coming here any more. Sorry if I like the look of mirrors on the fenders or if I have fiberglass seats. But I don't need some d bag telling me not to do that. I make due with what I have and do not have $10,000 to put into my buggy. So sorry if that's not up to your standards.

I need to remember your name so I don't waste my time reading your posts anymore.
_________________
62/70 Dune Runner Mini Mercedes "Eugene"
83.5 Westy "Skippy"
81 Rabbit Pickup "Betsy".

[didget69]

Well, we made it to Page 2...

bnc
_________________
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.

[glassbuggy]

Hey Crazies , you can talk all you want , but I haven't seen your junk buggy examples in two pages of discussion ! Lets have some fun with this, how about this dash idea
Bart

[img][/img]

[LeeVW]

Mine qualifies as being junk:

The mirrors are on the fenders (I can sort of see things in them since switching to convex. I would change to windshield mounted, but what do I do with the holes in the fenders?).

The seats slide back and forth but not easily (they are fine for all those who drive it, though).

My speedometer is off to the right, so one must take one's eyes off the road to glance at it. Bruce addressed this issue with later kits, but mine is a Siggy Manx, so it's like the original.

There are pits and scratches in the gel coat, thanks to the buggy logging 50,000 miles on and off road over the course of 14 years.

The good news is the horn button is in the center of the steering wheel, the wiring is organized and color coded, the fuel gauge is consistent (when it gets to 1/2 full, you have about 2 gallons left - I use it in conjunction with the trip odometer.), the windshield wipers work AND they actually clear the part of the windshield you look out of (I modified a set of Rabbit arms in order to accomplish this), and the suspension has been set up properly (Fox Shocks valved accordingly), thanks to many years (!) of trial and error.

I'm sure my buggy qualifies as junk to some, as it has no stereo, heated seats, Subaru engine, enclosed top, or any of a number of things people can't seem to live without these days. It's just a simple car, and it is a blast to drive. I'm ok with it!

Lee

[SBD]

[EVfun]

[glassbuggy]

don't know what it is from , best guess is mid 70's Ventura

[joescoolcustoms]

Here are some of what I have bought. These "modifications" were already done when I received the buggy's.

Trantula buggy with EMT Conduit roll bar with 4 - 1/4 20 bolts holding it in:

Same buggy, home made, leaking fuel tank:

Same Buggy, diamond plate dash:

My current Manx II project. Cut into 9 separate pieces, for doors:

Desert Fox Buggy with Vinyl graphics on aluminum side panels and diamond plate running boards:

My first buggy, APC Sand Shark with a home made air cleaner box on the rear. It had wire mesh, bondo and cardboard:

For me, less is more.
_________________
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

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

Damn Joe... you find all the good junk buggy's
_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited

[StevieC]

Mine was professionally built with all top notch stuff... mostly because I bought it that way and didn't have a chance to screw it up myself

the only offending item is the horn is not on the steering wheel

[joescoolcustoms]

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

[jspbtown]

I wish I had a picture of this but.....

When I bought my Aztec 7 (not a buggy but still a cobbled together VW "junk") I saw a circuit breaker designed for a house dangling from under the dash.

I never figured out what the intended purpose was...but it was there.