Hope this is in the right place, I need some advice on a buggy build...

I have a 69 beetle that since it's p**s poor respray by a local "expert" nothings been quite right and I'm at a crossroads, sell the lot and leave the aircooled scene for good or sell the lion's share of the car and build a long wheelbase buggy and rediscover the love I once had for my car.

So my question is, am I mad to go down the buggy route, what path would you take?

I'm quite capable of building the thing and I'm hoping to raise the £1750 body cost from the sale of the shell, interior, a set of alloys and some fibreglass panels (I'll make up the difference myself). Using my bug as the donor would I be needing much more than a shell, seats, cage and a screen?

For what it's worth the beetle is a deseemed 69 with internal fuel filler (under the hood), long bonnet, semi w deck lid, removable rear valance, functional gtv scoops, smoothed dash, one piece glass doors and wide fibreglass wings with custom frenched tail lights. The body is solid aside from a patch above the drivers door that needs a "split" rewelding, about 6 inches in length.

The paint is a shambles, the muppet that painted it clearly never heard of prep so it'd need a respray but aside from a floor pan and running gear you've got the beginning of a decent project car and hopefully I've got the best part of a buggy.

So what way would you go, is a buggy build more than I realise, will my shell even sell? Over to you dub experts...

Jamie

an up and running beetle is a good start as the mechanical parts should be fine, as you say a body shell, screen, lights wiring loom, wheels and tyres, exhaust system, seats possibly a roll bar/cage and you are there as the beetle can donate switches and steering column.
the rear suspension will need lowering front needs the roll bar taking off then it needs a VOSA identity check to ensure chassis and engine are from the donor that used to be £35.
LWB is the easy option no IVA testing as the pan is unmodified.
thats next weekend taken care of then
build time is a few weeks to as many years as it takes.

Cheers for the reply, feeling much better about shifting the shell and turning the 69 into a born again buggy. Looking at sourcing a lwb manx shell from east coast buggies as the price is good and the colours are amazing. Might need to throw a deshelling party to get things started though, anyone for bacon, rum and power tools?

Sounds like a plan.there might be a few people on here for a bit of a meet and give you a good start.bacon butties always a good shout and buys many a favour. If ypuvgp for it keep us updated.

I think between here and Vzi my mind has been made up. Just got to get the shell sold

[6 Pots...stuff your bhp, torque is king]

Bacon and Power tools.......even my wife hasn't tempted me that much

Whereabouts in the world are you bud?

Cheers for the reply, feeling much better about shifting the shell and turning the 69 into a born again buggy. Looking at sourcing a lwb manx shell from east coast buggies as the price is good and the colours are amazing. Might need to throw a deshelling party to get things started though, anyone for bacon, rum and power tools?

think you might have trouble finding a long wheel base manx

Cheers for the reply, feeling much better about shifting the shell and turning the 69 into a born again buggy. Looking at sourcing a lwb manx shell from east coast buggies as the price is good and the colours are amazing. Might need to throw a deshelling party to get things started though, anyone for bacon, rum and power tools?

think you might have trouble finding a long wheel base manx

Presume he means the GT buggy that Rob does.

I quite like the shape of the GP Rob does with the sidewinder bonnet and Manx dash. A lot more affordable than a Manxter!

Clearly my noob status is well earned and I had consumed too much red stag, yes the gt not manx

Oh yes location, West Philadelphia,  born and raised. On a play... no wait that's the Fresh Prince. I'm in Essex, out on the coast by tge nuclear fallout spead bybthe wind farms

I quite like the shape of the GP Rob does with the sidewinder bonnet and Manx dash. A lot more affordable than a Manxter!

Bloody hell is it ever, those Manxsters I think are for the privelaged not your everyday buggy builder. As nice as they are........to think I built mine all for a couple of grand and that's including the donor car. It wouldn't even get you the shell of a Manxster.....

Nice colour on the first one too...

Oh yes location, West Philadelphia,  born and raised. On a play... no wait that's the Fresh Prince. I'm in Essex, out on the coast by tge nuclear fallout spead bybthe wind farms

Quite afew of us in essex theres a air cooled meet next sunday in marks tey if the suns out should be a few buggys

Oh yes location, West Philadelphia,  born and raised. On a play... no wait that's the Fresh Prince.

ah, a man after my own heart, 
cant beat a Carlton dance to Tom Jones