You are cutting through the tasks. Hope you can keep up the momentum.

Well i missed this summer, but looking forward to taking it out next year. Its been fits and starts in progress.

Funny when you see the old adverts that say you can build a buggy in a weekend   

Getting an original beetle to buggy in a weekend is hampered by all the changes and work done in the last 60 odd years you never know what has been done in the way of bodges and swapped parts you will find as you go. A 5 minute job can end up taking hours.

Took me 6 years   

I think we probably over complicate the builds now due to the difference in rules and customisation options we now have available.

I never even knew what a tachometer relay was until recently when i was investigating options for building my fuel pump circuit.
Mechanical pumps were far simpler!

But most of the fun is in the build.  Driving will be the reward for the work but I fear like I keep reading in other posts, the build is never complete. It just keeps evolving!

I think I've managed to learn and gleam nuggets of inspiration and wisdom from all the builds I've read. Paul, your posts have been some of the most informative and helpfull

Thank you that makes the time and effort I put in worthwhile. It`s barely possible for me to grasp that my first introduction to the VW Beetle was in excess of 55 years ago.  The first Beetle I bought after passing my driving test was a scrapper. (All I could afford). Being broke as a result of the purchase left me with a choice. Take it to bits. Put it back together until roadworthy. I know of no other car that lent itself to do it yourself repairs. When I sit in and drive a Beetle now it seems so small and slow compared to a modern car but that`s how driving was. Ask me if I would rather be given a modern car or a Beetle.  No brainer and will let you decide.  To all on the forum..... Have a great Xmas and enjoy the festive season to it`s fullest.   

As seems to be the norm, its been a while since my last update.
Roll cage had been built by a local company. It really finishes it off and adds the framework needed for the seatbelt mounting along with some rigidity and security and to go with it.




Most metal parts have been powdercoated and finished in gloss black by another local company.

I always knew the body still needed to finish shape the edges after trimming, but i just wasnt happy with the way the engine opening looked.
The problem was that I cut a straight line under a curved body line. It just didn't sit right! I know its not much, but now the top line above the engine follows the body line above. I've also made sure that the shapes either side are symmetrical and flow properly.  I may be the only one to notice it, but I'm happy and if it doesn't stand out to anyone else, it must look correct.




Washer bottle now mounted to the cage with rivnuts.
Spacers made to mount the cage to the body. I used a high density black plastic that bolts through the body into the cage.





The loom has also now also been laced up.

Fuel guage corrected with the spidya module. I filled it up 1 lite at a time while recording the resistance readings until it was full. I had no idea how much fuel it would hold? Turns out it has 32 liters of usable fuel.
I used a resistance decade box to do the calibration as I had one and its much quicker and easier than the trimmer pot they give you.
No excuse now for running out of fuel!

As you can imagine, the control stalks had seen better days! I repainted them and managed to get some vinyl mask templates to get the symbols back on. Really pleased with the transformation.






Bonnet has been secured with the aid of rubber rivnuts.

Buggy is assembled but front seats still need re covered and rear seats/locker need fabricated.
Im married to an upholsterer who will be doing the seats. But im told that i will need to wait in line as she has quite a wait currently.  This will probably be a winter job,  so may as well drive it as is this summer.

Good news. Buggy passed the mot first time and is now accepted and correctly registered by dvla as a VW Beach Buggy!

"...may as well drive it..."

Indeed that's the prime purpose of buggys. It looks fab so I hope you get positive vibes from driving it whether to get a pint of milk or to attend a car show.

Great news another back on the road, it will give you shakedown and tweaking time waiting for the family upholstery to be done.

Looking forward to the good weather now spring has sprung and.the gritters are thinking of hibernating.

Im glad its finished in time for the start of this season, although I understand that it will never truly be finished.
I hope to get the rear seat area finished in time for the upholstery in the the winter.

Dont worry, if the weather is good, the buggy will be out at any excuse   

Im sure i will find some issues to consult the resident oracles on here 

The Spidya module makes having a totally accurate fuel gauge a doddle no matter what gauge or shape of tank you have. I cut a section of broom handle down and whilst doing the calibration of the module market 1/4, 1/2. 3/4 and Full on the wood. That was about 7 years ago and I have never needed to use the wooden dipstick ever. The module is just brilliant.
Beach Buggy on V5C.... So weird how some applications get this done and others end up with Sports Convertible. They really do not know what each other is doing. But that`s  the way it`s been since everything went to Swansea. Could it be we from across the border in Scotland/England don`t speak Welsh   

Drive the buggy as much as you can. Don`t worry about the rain. You get used to a wet bottom etc.

Yes the Spidya seems great. Its funny you marked a broom handle. I have a bamboo cane marked up with measures for our heating oil tank.
I drained and re filled the petrol tank to check it. Also kept a note of how many litres each marker equates to. Probably never need it, but like most things in the garage, I may need it some day 

Worth saying a big thank you to manxdavid for his advise on application form filling. It worked a treat 

And yes Paul, im sure i will be out in the rain. It seems inevitable given I built it with no roof!