Buying first Buggy, Input?

[CSEBug]

Hi guys, Im looking into purchasing my first sandrail, buggy. I am currently rebuilding my dads rail with him and I am going to get my own as well. I stumbled onto a couple rails within a reasonable driving distance and just wondered what you fellow experts thought. I don't mind something that needs work but I don't want something unsalvageable.

Here are two that I may go check out I was wondering what you guys felt about them.

http://delaware.craigslist.org/bar/4016583843.html

This looks to be pretty complete minus the motor which may need to be freshened up or could be worse, a couple seats and a harness but everything seems to be there. I talked to him a couple times and he accepted an offer of 800$

http://cnj.craigslist.org/pts/3979764586.html

This is another one that looked ok but is missing a motor. I think 1400 may be a little much for just a frame but it seems clean.

Do these buggies have a bus torsion setup in the rear? The trailing arms look really different than the boxed beetle one on my dads.

Should I hold out for something a little better? I always like input besides my own gut

Thank you guys, sorry if this a noob post! -Matt

[dustymojave]

The silver car has bug rear suspension with arms reinforced with steel tube. The black car has a bus torsion housing and the arms are custom made of steel tube.

The black car also appears to have a bend in the lower left front axle beam which predates the paint job. Makes me wonder what else might be bent or broken under the new paint. It needs a gas tank too.

With the silver car, you at least have the complete engine there to rebuild. That may not cost very much money if you can build it yourself.

Body panels like on the silver car are nice to help keep mud and such out of the car. Panels are available for the black car from Berrien Buggies.

While it's not as bright and shiny, I would pick the silver car if those 2 are the ones to pick from. And $800 is a good price for it.
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet.

[CSEBug]

Thanks Richard. I am glad the Red buggy has the bug rear suspension. I had heard the bus was a lot harder to find parts for and was a lot stiffer. I am leaning way more towards the red one. The only thing I don't know is whether the it has the bus trans or not. He didn't know. I am going to look at it Wednesday. Thanks again man!

[Aruba1]

The silver or red seems to have bus reinforced tubing as rear suspension. That is the setup that I have on mind and I got nothing to complaint about it. Most likely it has a 3 rib bus tranny in it. I like the look of the siler/red one and looks like its build right.