1967 Volkswagen Beach Buggy - Desirable short wheelbase buggy

13th Mar, 2024 13:00
Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/l...

Desirable short wheelbase buggy
Previously restored and rebuilt
Fitted with a 1600cc Volkswagen engine
Entered from a significant private collection
A dune buggy, also known as a ‘beach buggy’, is a recreational motor vehicle originally designed for the dunes of California. Usually a topless vehicle with a rear-mounted engine, dune buggy can be created by modifying an existing vehicle or custom-building a new vehicle. The original fiberglass dune buggy was the 1964 'Meyers Manx' built by Bruce Meyers. Used up Volkswagen Beetles were abundant in California and the surf culture was at its peak in the Sixties. The dune buggy epitomised the California lifestyle, and as the concept was so simple and so inviting, it spread quickly.

With the donor VW, registered new on the 6th of September 1967, this striking example has similar styling to the original 'Manx' and is presented in Subaru Blue coachwork over a Blue Alcantara interior. Sitting proudly on chrome wheels shod with Dunlop Radial G/T tyres at the rear, giving the beach buggy a fantastic look. Previously the subject of a restoration which included a full respray, an interior retrim including wool carpets and Corbeau bucket seats, and an overhauled desirable 1600cc Volkswagen engine was sourced and fitted, together with a new carburettor. The 1600cc engine makes this a very quick example indeed and it’s reported by the vendor to sound fantastic when on song! Purchased by the vendor as an addition to his significant private collection, the Volkswagen has seen much use recently. On our recent inspection, the beach buggy fired up readily and ran well during the photography session. The history file accompanying the car contains various sundry bills from Volkswagen specialists, old registration documents, the current UK V5C Registration Document confirming it registered as an Historic Vehicle (making it tax and MOT exempt), along with a written log of the previous restoration work. A real one-off, short-wheelbase example offers huge amounts of fun for its new owner!

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
[email protected]
07538 667452