Pan buggy, Sportster, or street legal UTV?

[heywebonya]

All,

I picked up an old school pan buggy recently because I wanted the back tires. As a side effect of the purchase, I have a decent pan buggy with swing axle and adjustable king pin beam. The pan has been shorted to a 75" wheelbase and that is a 2 gallon fuel tank!

I am wondering what is the "practical" plan of actions. I am planning to add an engine regardless.

1. Keep it as a pan buggy - Pros: very easy to do and maybe add a roll bar. Cons: has to be towed everywhere, not street legal

2. Make it into a Sportster - Pros: classic project and fun to build. Cons: dated look and may have limited appeal. I have not seen the Sportster plans and do not know how much work this requires.

3. Make it into a Street Legal UTV - Pros: updated project and interesting to build. Michigan law allows for Roadsters to be street legal. Cons: could look kind of Frankenstein-ish. Although using RZR parts could be incorporated.

Here are some photos to aid in discussion.

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If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy!

[didget69]

[heywebonya]

Based on the limited feedback and the requirements to make this street legal in Michigan, I am going to think about this for a bit.

Regardless, I am going to replace the seats with Jeep seats and add a roll bar for safety. I will build up a 1600DP this fall and put it in the buggy.

Current thinking is perhaps a Burro look-alike. Ugly and simple to build.
_________________
If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy!

[joescoolcustoms]

The Burro sounds like a good choice. There is a Facebook page dedicated to Burros and Scott D is the Admin, and very helpful concerning specs/history on Burros.

They do really well off roading.
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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

[yankee1919]

Hello Heywebonya,

Ultimately it's up to you to decide. How good are you in fabrication? Do you have a place to work on it?

What are the current laws in your state for modified vehicles?

Its great you have several ideas you are interested in.

Yes, Burros are not the most eye appealing but they have a huge following of racing proven rigs. The men who have them continue to add oil and gas to keep them going.

Yes, EMPI SPORTSTER owners are strange bunch, we take the idea that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

Good luck on the project.
Tony
Bakersfield, CA.