street buggy without bumpers / engine cage?

[rodjr]

I'm not really a fan of the weight or looks of bumpers on a buggy and am considering not running any on my manx clone.
Just wondering how many of you are running with no bumpers?
Have you had any issues with the law for no bumpers?

[Tom_Kathleen]

I normally run with no bumpers. Have never been pulled over. I had a cop look at the car one time and he asked me if I was using the exhaust for the back bumper! Sure, why not! Tom
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Manxter #16, 1968 Meyers Manx & Kick-Out SS #16 (WIP)
Manx Club & CVA

[oprn]

I am with you on that! Mine had none when I bought it and I really like the clean look. I have added an engine cage since simply because I could not figure out a way to tow a trailer without it. The front remains bumperless.

[drs1023]

I've bought and/or fabricated a bumper on the 4 buggies and rails I have built. Just makes sense to me to protect the delicate parts from those who follower too close or inattentive parking lot backer-uppers. I use 1-1/2" thick wall tubing and an inexpensive 16 ton manual pipe bender. I bolted on the first one at the transmission mount, but the last 3, I made them removable by pulling some clevis pins at the 4 points of attachment.

Just my 2 cents in

[cbeck]

Bumper, never needed them.

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My cut in half and rebuild thread
www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647779

[rodjr]

Just spent a bit of time researching Washington state law.
I just assumed that bumpers would be mandatory, but what do you know....
bumpers and hoods are considered optional equipment on street rod, custom and kit cars! Nice!
I never looked before because i was sure there was no way i was going to get away with no bumpers.

[Hot Air]

No bumpers here..

Made a removable tag bracket

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73' Bug
85' Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2

[Q-Dog]

I have a Manx type tube bumper for the rear, just never got around to mounting it.

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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[Dale M.]

No bumpers on my street buggy... Never been stopped or questioned about 'anything' by law enforcement on my street buggy...

Dale
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“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[joescoolcustoms]

I to like the clean look. But my fears of my hard work getting wasted overcome my likes.

I think it is a personal choice. I have run both big bumpers and almost no bumpers, (small nudge bar on rear and no bumper on front). Depends on what I am either going for in the looks department, or what I expect to put the buggy through. But never have I, or other buggies traveled with been stopped over bumpers all across US in my travels in the last 5 years.

This is an extreme situation, but Don Prudhomme pounded us in Baja, the bumper caved to within a 1/32 inch of the exhaust, and allowed us to complete the race with nothing more than superficial damage. Otherwise, we would have been totally done, and a high possibility of body damage would have happened in addition to a complete loss of engine and transaxle. Note the hitch. I built it straight out the back. No welds broke, just bent/twisted.

And as the old saying goes, "You should have seen the other guy!".

At the finish line having a Beer with Don.

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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]

[rodjr]

I decided i am going to cut up some cheap baja bumpers i have here, and build a couple of small "push bar" style bumpers. I will get them powder coated with a bunch of other stuff that needs coated and put them in the garage attic.

If for some reason i decide i want to add them later, i'll just bolt them on.

[scooterperth]

[oprn]

Nice clean looking Buggy!

[Glasser]

No rear bumper here, god I hope I never get rear ended.....

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Brent
My build up http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=265364&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Project#2. Neighbors build up. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=327008

[stevemariott]

I'm running a chrome buggy bumper on the back, but it doesn't provide any real protection. I've never been pulled over (knock on fiberglass).

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1963 Manx copy
1968 Bus

[slalombuggy]

I run them front and back but I also shortened them to pull them closer to the car. I think I took 5" out of the rear and 3" off the front

brad