Here’s a 1920s-style buggy that some enterprising soul has constructed from plywood, bicycle wheels, and a Briggs & Stratton engine. It runs and drives and has at least a couple of thoughtful details, including a step to aid ingress, working front and rear lights, horn, dual outside mirrors, and a reflective safety triangle on the rear for those brief evening forays. Listed on facebook Marketplace for $2500 or offer, the buggy is located in Keyser, West Virginia. Gary found this oddball for us – thanks!
This contraption is powered by a 400cc Briggs & Stratton engine that generates about 14 hp and is located beneath the driver’s seat; a gas tank is situated under the rear seat. A video accompanying the listing shows the start-up procedure and gearshift as well as the beginnings of a drive. Honestly, I’d worry about the wheel and tire arrangement as it looks a bit rickety and won’t provide much in the way of suspension. Speaking of tires, the seller notes that one of the four has gone flat – should be an easy fix, though. Nothing here is complicated, fortunately!
Safety equipment? What safety equipment? We’re missing doors, seat belts, air bags, and hey, the padded dash became ubiquitous by the 1970s. The instrument panel is missing instruments, but it probably wouldn’t be tough to add a speedometer. I’d love to know how fast this thing will go in its current state – but it’s probably like a Model A with a theoretical top speed and a “comfort level” that’s considerably less. The seat “upholstery” is carpet.
The use cases for this buggy are slim. I’d think you could tool around your own property or a very residential neighborhood – all outings subject to clear weather, of course. The seller suggests using this little guy in parades. Wherever you run it, though, better hope a Briggs & Stratton Auto Red Bug doesn’t show up – first made in 1914, the Auto Red Bug is a serious contender for attention. It was the cheapest car sold in America and found a ready market in a war-torn economy, alongside the Model T. But if you’re in the market for wooden buggies, you’ll pay more than five times as much for the Auto Red Bug, putting this homemade example in a frugal light.
You know, people like me, owe a debt of gratitude to the author. Bringing us back to earth after that outrageous Checker post, who knows how high into the stratosphere we’d go. I see the “air filter bandit” got this too. Well, that’s what the convenient oil fill hole is for. Fun stuff, and I think I sell folks short today, lots of people can still do this. People still love a parade, and while the actual content of the parade has changed, this is perfect, for whatever costume you may wear.
Here again, someone with skills and tools can make this at home, and those that can’t would probably rather watch it go by, put,,putt, pow, oh oh,( coasting to a stop) and now a FLAT TIRE!!! The local Wallymart has discontinued bike tubes, that are paper thin to begin with, and I was friends with a local bike shop, until he went out of business, flat tires were his #1 repair. Years ago, my son worked at Walmart, and an irate customer gave my son heck( who was just a cart getter) because a new bike he bought had a flat tire!
Is there interest for something like this anymore? People are so used to e-this and e-that, think they could even start this, machine?