EMPI Sportster Design One man's creative take.

[yankee1919]

I am posting this from Burro Buggies FB page. Creative person who had great idea.

https://offshoot.home.blog/?fbclid=IwAR2UPcMa59u-kbsPf2NNm5FXhvgh-jFa6dBOdWiZZfKf_skIopIrf_j1Jbo

[johnnyniceguy]

Crawford owners; Please join our group.

Wonder if they are marked somehow?

What an awsome story. Would like to know what changes they made to the Sportster plans.

Thank you Yankee1919. Surely appreciate Everyones contributions to finding the origins of our rides.

[BL3Manx]

I bought Crawford #23 about 3 years ago. Haven't gotten to restoring it yet

There are a few earmarks which will tell you its a Crawford; the visor on the top of the windshield frame (which holds the windhield flat when its tilted forward onto the spare), the doors, the riveted construction. This is #3

They all had this type of boxed in tail lights and the hump backed oval gas tank with the 100mm cap https://www.facebook.com/groups/430596037047572/pe...cation=ufi

This one was in Arizona then Durango CO, now I think FL. The buyer removed the visor

This is the AZ-CO-FL one when it was still in AZ

[johnnyniceguy]

OMG

You guys amaze me every time I read these forums.
Living in Minnesota; Off road means through the woods.
I am starting to see what off road means around the rest of the country
and why those open spaces are what inspired these buggy pioneers.

The doors on the Crawford intrigue me. Looks like
they really nailed them. Plans for a visor could be in my future.

BL3Manx; Thank you for the pics & info. Are there ANY other "clones"
You haven't shared with us?

[BL3Manx]

Do you mean other Sportster type buggies?

[johnnyniceguy]

Yes; Clone was a poor choice of words.

[BL3Manx]

Have you seen The VWeep, made by the National Refuse Equipment Company?

Actually one of my favorites. I think their main line was dumpsters and garbage trucks but they also made a cool looking and very robust VW based buggy

[johnnyniceguy]

Truly a beast.
Love the hinged hood.
Gauge of metal must be really beefy.
Looks like it would drive over anything.
Starting to love the different style of doors.
Interesting how narrow rear fenders are.
I would love to see a gathering of all the different vehicles that
have come across this forum in one place.

THANX BL3Manx!!

[BL3Manx]

Was on EBay a few years ago. Somehow made it from Tucson to Green Bay

I read there were a number in Arizona but haven't seen anything about them for years

[Thing8]

I am Crawford’s daughter and I wrote the article. Anything I post on here will be in consultation with my husband and my brother, perhaps with a few others that built these buggies in the beginning.
A question was asked about anything that marks a buggy as a Crawford thing. The only things are the standard modifications and each one had its number on the original paint job.
Modifications that we can think of off the top of our heads:
Windshield visor (the visor had a lip to tuck the top under)
Doors and quarter panels with square tube to stabilize sides
Roll bar designed level with windshield, then top bow was wider and higher
Fold down windshield
Pickup box front portion flipped up for a back seat, with 2 storage buckets below
Nose cone
Fender gussets
Spare tire mount on front
Variations in length of pan cut, for back seat
Pan was cut at angles to increase the strength

[johnnyniceguy]

Thing8
WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME!

Greatly appreciate you sharing your CRAWFORD THING story with us!

If you are reading this and dont know the story; Please go to the top of this to the first post and CLICK on the website.

Thing8; Please share a family photo of the remaining Crawfords when you all get together. Thanks again for joining.

John in Minnesota

[BL3Manx]

[johnnyniceguy]

Hey, check this out

"Jerry Fielding-Coffin for a Clown" (1967) on Youtube

[BL3Manx]

I had heard the was a "Mannix" buggy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXyGIFkEKyQ

[johnnyniceguy]

They described it as a "Military type" vehicle.

Notice the hvy diamond plate.

So very very awesome for 1967

[yankee1919]

Thing8,

Thank you very much for writing up the story, it really has given me the creative juices in my future projects.

You can create a "Crawford Sportster" topic under the same forum that the "Empi Sportster Roll Call" was made.

It would be awesome to have those buggies located and hopefully help them get them back on the road.

If there is anything I can help or other member don't hesitate to PM us.

Madera is coming up in a couple of months maybe you can join the event.

Tony
Bakersfield via Los Angeles
57 Empi Sportster.

[yankee1919]

Oops Crawford Thing.

Also you can look up Burro Buggies thats another group on FB.

[Rome]

[BL3Manx]

[Thing #6]

Just curious -- where is the VIN???

I know that the pans were shortened on these, where were the cuts made?