This generically named dune buggy project is a bit of a mystery, owing to the fact that the seller doesn’t identify it as one kit versus another. The good news is, despite its anonymity, a lot of heavy lifting seems to have been done, so hopefully the next owner is just a paint job and some other minor sorting away from enjoying this built buggy. The drivetrain is fairly fresh, the interior features sport-style seats and a roll bar, and the transmission is an upgraded Benco Freeway Flyer. There’s a lot to like here if you’ve been hunting for a VW-powered dune buggy, and it’s listed here on craigslist for $7,000.
Now, despite all the upgrades, it’s not all peaches and cream. The buggy has been sitting for a spell, and there’s no real clarity offered in the listing as to how well it actually runs out. The listing is vague in that regard, with the seller noting that it “…..ran and was driven but has been sitting for a few months.” Usually when a rebuild commences, even if it doesn’t run consistently, the seller will exclaim that it ran like a scalded cat (insert your favorite euphemism here) if the performance seems up to snuff. When it seems like there’s no roaring endorsement about how well it performs even if it shuts off in about five minutes, well, I tend to be suspect. Regardless, someone clearly spent some dough, as it even has a full gauge array.
The drivetrain specs would suggest they didn’t skimp on the motor, either, with the listing noting that it features a 2011 Outlaw Street long block BE2165OS built by MOFOCO. Paired with the Freeway Flyer four-speed manual, this buggy has got to be a blast to drive. Other enhancements include four wheel disc brakes with a high-capacity master cylinder; all-new front end components; neoprene engine mounts; Empi wheels; a new gas tank, and more. They didn’t skimp, that’s for sure, especially on tail lights. There’s no missing this dune buggy when it stops, and the seller notes it includes turn signals and sequential lights.
There’s a custom steering wheel, shift knob, and an upgraded stereo system. Overall, I’m sure you’ll find the occasional corner cut, but really the goal here is to buy a buggy that runs and drives, or is at least close to it, with the previous owner spending the big money on sorting out and/or upgrading the mechanical bits. It is a roll of the dice in terms of finding out the hard way it’s not going to come back to life easily after its hiatus from the road, but it seems worthy of the risk given the abundance of new parts in this kit car. Would you drive it as-is or treat it to a proper paint job?
With the recent and unfortunate departure of Bruce Meyers from the earth 2 days ago, the dune buggy craze could see an uptick in interest. This AB (Anonymous Buggy) might be worth investigating for that reason alone, to say nothing of the grins per mile it’ll bring when finished properly.
RIP, Bruce.
Sorry to hear the news about Bruce. His buggy creation “Saved” many a “Bug” from the hacksaw.
The featured ride appears to be a prototype of a budding competitor who never got off the ground and got any press.
I say this, because B.I.T.Day, I saw more than one or two roaming Pismo Beach, Ca. searching for Bikini’s or Razor Clams.
Pismo is famous for Razor Clams and also for strange looking V.W. Type buggies.
Warning: Don’t drive too far out on a minus tide for clams though, or your new “Digger” may get swallowed up by a fast incoming. The waves are famous for snatching cars!
Heh, Half Track man Man, That car is worth every penny at 7 K, clean the tank, and drive, massive horse power, trick trany, no doubt heavy duty CV’s, AZ license plates, Holy Cow! that thing was built when AZ was the pinnacle in Hot VW’s, 4 wheel disc brakes, Sheeze! Another thing Crafts men like the guys that laid that fiber glass, aren’t around any more. Giant metal flakes in like a light to burnt orange color, Holy Cow… Hey what about that Half Track? I’m with NM Movie Military we are making a movie now, called “Half Track to Hell” based in North Africa.with our M-3 as the Star. Let me know if you got anything you want to get rid of,
Hammer
Thanks for the heads up, Hammer-though my wife would prefer owning a WC12 I’ve always thought an M3 would be a cool ride to drive. The Israeli Defense Forces used these into the late ‘60’s as best I remember..
But my “handle” here on BF is NevadahalfRACK, a moniker given me by my riding pals to the number of ribs I broke during a hard get-off while ew were out on a cross country dirt bike ride in the Virgin Valley west of Wadsworth,NV..
Keep us posted on the showing of your movie!! Thank you for keeping history alive with movies like these, Hammer. If you need any info on USAAFglider actions I’ve got the connections for your crew.
Aside from the fact that it’s really ugly, you’ve gotta love any rear-engined vehicle that has a grill and hood scoops up front.
As a long-time air-cooled VW restorer and owner and former fiberglass-bodied “non-Manx” VW Dune Buggy owner that had refreshed my “survivor quality” buggy to quality standards while keeping the original metal flake gelcoat, I had a hard time selling mine for $5k due to “limited market” for these types of vehicles.
Manx’s fetch higher $$$ but any of the myriad of “knockoffs” were plentiful and as such less desirable and that translates to lower value or worth.
As evidenced by the photos of this one…it is way overpriced.
For anybody looking to buy any classic air-cooled VW, spend some time searching the classifieds on the air-cooled VW enthusiast-specific sites and you will soon know the true value of all the air-cooled VWs and in the end will make a smarter decision.
Good advice! Thank you, Erik. 👍🏻
When I was going to College at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mi a student I was in class with got college credit for making a dune buggy. It was a yellow Sears body and we had to cut 14 inches out of the floor pan and weld the cut sections together. I helped him with the build and we finished the buggy the first week of June 1969. We took it out for its first maiden drive around campus and it was gorgeous sunny June day what a ride! I often wonder if he still has it to this day?
one evening gassing up at a local speedway a kid and friends pulled up in a dune buggy, i started a conversation as i had always liked them since as a youngster [pre driving age] a neighbor up the street had built one.
the kids dad had built this one on a square tube frame instead of the standard vw pan, i though that was really cool, it was a great looking build.
Sad, but true. In the early 70’s a friend I had known since elementary school, had a rail buggy. They were similar to dune buggies but built with steel tubing built in a cage from front to back with no fiberglass bodies. One night we went out bar hopping. We were a bit inebriated traveling along at 40 mph when he decided without warning to make a u-turn. There were no seat belts and I was not prepared so I was thrown out of the bugging landing face down on the asphalt the flying spinning through the air knowing I would soon come back down hard on the asphalt tearing flesh from my body. This happened several times before I finally came to a stop. It seemed an eternity but was actually a matter of seconds. My friend had no insurance so he refused to take me to the hospital instead taking me to his aunts house. She took one look at me and said he needs to go to the hospital. He still refused so I walked the three miles to my house and got my wife to drive me to the hospital. I lost my front teeth and spent hours being cleaned and sowed up. It took a long time to heal from my wounds. I never rode in a dune, or rail buggy again. Now, years later I realize I have nothing against these vehicles, it’s the occupants responsibility to take safety measures.
God bless America
I agree with those that said,” Man that body is Ugly”.
I think a good fiber body person could cut off those coffee can tail lights, and do something with that rectangular snout. The may be a diamond in the rough. Dont,t do that of course if it,s a real rare Warhol or other famous sculptor.
But it,s still really ugly, in a gentle opionionated guy.
Looks like maybe a Kellison body. There was a shop near me in the early 70`s that sold their line of fiberglass kits. Not only for VW either, they made T-buckets, Corvette parts, etc. Somewhere I still have one of the pamphlets listing the various products.
I think it`s an Fiber Jet Cobra