As a frequent visitor to junkyards, I’m no stranger to the sight of potentially salvageable classic vehicles parked on top of loading containers or buses. What is less typical is to actually see those vehicles removed from their perch and offered for sale, such as in the case of this Kellison Sandpiper dune buggy, offered here on craigslist. The seller mentions it comes with the rare hardtop, too, with an asking price of $1,300.

The world of VW-based dune buggies is a strange one, as there’s myriad versions of the same idea, and people who follow these kits know which ones maintain an edge over what otherwise looks like a twin. Jim Kellison was a former Air Force pilot who churned out some very pretty designs, including multiple Cobra replicas, but his Sandpiper kit was a different type of novelty complete with a miniature pickup bed out back.

Like so many VW-based kits, the engine is long gone. The old-school California blue plates tell you it’s been off the road for some time, and likely has been in California for much of its life (an assumption based upon the need for a favorable climate to justify owning one of these.) Based on photos in the listing, the pickup-type body is filled in, so either Kellison offered this variation or a previous owner decided the storage bed looked goofy.

Check out the old-school flames on the fenders – this was someone’s groovy machine back in the day. The interior will also need some work, as it looks like just the seat-back is included and the buckets or bench is missing. Carpets are gone, too, if it ever had any, along with the glass in the windscreen frame. While I think the price is a bit strong for somewhat of a novelty, this is still a cool find that hopefully won’t languish on top of a container any longer.