G-Day everyone. Just entered the slippery slope of Buggy ownership by saving a Taipan fiberglass body and 1966 pan from the scrap heap. Lots of work to do and parts to find but looking forward to enjoying it in the West Oz sunshine when she's finished.

Nice save and a tidy looking pan for it.

Hello and welcome     

The pan looks new.

Have you owned a buggy before or have a buggy buddy who can assist ?

What are your engine, wheels and colour plans ?

Start a build thread to impress us ?!

Thanks guys. Was very lucky to pick up this pan. Its getting quite hard to find these things in reasonable condition over here. Some parts are even harder. Old steering shafts are like unicorn crap.
Hugh never had a buggy, I fought with my Dad 40 years ago over my first car (I wanted a buggy) and ended up with an old Holden station wagon. I do have a buggy buddy who has a Manta and is building a Purvis Eureka who I am really grateful for ha ha.
I really like the Martini Porsches and was thinking white with the stripes but just want it to look like Herbie.
Ill give a build thread a crack and see how i go.
Cheers all
Matt

It's a hi from me.
Sounds familiar - I almost bought a Buggy aged 17 or 18 but was talked out of it by my Mum. Always wanted one and finally got mine about 35 years later!

Oh I do like a MantaRay. But i accept we are all somewhat different and buggys facilitate the expression of difference.

Be good to see an image of your friends Manta sometime and any other Australian buggy you spot out and about.

It`s a Hi from me     

I would love to have spent time in Australia. Long story cut short......  Back in the early 80`s I found I couldn`t clock up the required points to make the move application. Did however manage to qualify via the E.N.S system, (Employer Nomination) that allowed entry via nomination of employment via Australian company. The company I worked for in the UK had a sister operation in Oz. Forms for my wife, myself & my son completed. Monies paid. Was waiting for the in person interview by Australian represenative who travelled Europe etc to arrive in Liverpool. The waiting time for this was 18 months. However shortly before the due date for the interview my wife changed her mind. Don`t know why I have kept them but I still have all the paperwork in the loft. Decades on I often wonder how different life would have been for me had we followed through and gone. (The approval for Visa issue was complex as at the time 30% of all Brits returned home within 3 months of arrival in Australia).

Paul I'm 100% sure if you'd gone then there would still be one more yellow buggy in the world today - only it would be in Australia.

And you might even be posting that you, Stolts and Shelia were setting up a Bondi beach buggy club.

Hi Hugh. Looking out the window as I type. Cup of tea next to me as I prepare to go outside .Ambient temp is 2 degrees  due to clear skies overnight. Sort of makes the thought of being in Oz a warmer option. I hit 73 next february. and how things are changing for me as I age. Cold temps never bothered me until the last winter. Now I have to wrap up in more clothes than you will find in primark   

That's rough Paul, I have a few mates that headed over from the UK as Police officers they send them straight to the Northwest it's about 50 deg on a nice day. Im a firefighter and a registered nurse and was thinking about heading over your way for a few years but life just got in the way sooooooo beach buggies and grandkids it is.

Sadly... and it is with a heavy heart, I have to say "Britain is Broken". The UK is beyond any recovery to "the norm" and having two young grandchildren I just cannot believe what a sad mess it is they are inheriting. They will grow up knowing no different. The moral of my narrative..... stay where you are there is nothing worth coming back to the UK for.   

Just thought I would pop an update in for any that may be interested. Gearbox, suspension and brakes are done,.

Pan is now a roller. Engine is next and I'm still procrastinating about the fiberglass as this is new to me and I need to cut it in half and extend it for the long wheelbase pan.
Therapy is going well.
Cheers to all
Stolts.

Really tidy work and you aren't skimping on doing a first rate job on the stuff that matters before you put a colourful body on top of everything.

The rear tyres off that lawn mower would look good on the front of your new build...

It`s odd, or maybe not, that people seem to remember all the tv programmes that you liked when young. When anyone mentions Australia my mind jumps back to the Aussie programme "Skippy The Bush Kangaroo".