1967 SWB RAT Beach Buggy - 2.0l flat four + spare 1641cc engine. £6000

RAT beach buggy - SWB, burnt orange metallic paint with vinyl flames decal on hood, 2.0L type 4 engine with twin Webers.





The buggy has been off the road under cover so does not have a valid MOT and would need to be trailered / towed (2 wheels up) away.

The buggy is shown in the Dune Buggy Handbook by James Hale as being one of company's demonstrator models. It was modified before I purchased it to have the front wings cut away. Looks fantastic though.

The 2.0L type 4 was running when it was taken off the road for the winter 2004ish. Since then one of the exhausts has rusted off and the other is coming off. The battery is dead and I haven't turned it over so as not to do any damage as I would at least do a service on it, changing oil etc, before doing that if I where to put it back on the road. Likely it will also need the brakes overhauling as I reckon so will the tyres.

I'm selling this as a job lot with all the parts I had purchased for upgrades and also the 1641cc engine I took out of my camper van. Also there are a few books in the mix too as listed below.

A performance guide for the air-cooled Volkswagen - John Maher Racing
Dune Buggy Handbook - The A-Z of VW-based buggies since 1994 by James Hale
How to build and power tune Weber & Dellorto DCOE, DCO/SP & DHLA carburettors by Des Hammill
Haynes VW Beetle 1300 & 1500 1965 to 1975 Owner workshop manual
VW Bus Custom Handbook by Laurence Meredith
Volksworld Keeping your legend alive
Aircooled VW Engine Interchange Manual - Keith Seume
How to Rebuild Your Volkswagen Air-Cooled Engine - Tom Wilson


The 1641cc engine was completely rebuilt in 2000 and used for 12 months before selling the van to buy the buggy with the intention that it would go in it. It never did as the buggy I bought had the 2.0L type 4 which was just too much fun! I had to learn to keep my foot off the gas coming out of roundabouts!

The 1641cc was rebuilt with the following and had some works done by John Maher Racing (case drilling for full flow oil to external filter and cooler). It looked amazing all chromed out and ran like a dream for 3200 miles before being removed and dry stored in the shed when the van was sold.

Unleaded heads
New pistons and barrels (87mm)
New gudgeon pins and clips.
All gaskets, nuts and washers replaced.
New main, big end and cam bearings.
Lightened fly wheels - 8 doweled and new seal.
CB performance counterweighted crankshaft - 69mm 8 doweled.
Chromoly HD gland nut and washer.
CB hoit rods
Engle 100 camshaft
Empi cam gear
Bolt-up rocker shafts
Heavy duty valve springs
Chromoly retainers
Hardened collets
Chromoly push rods - cut to length
Empi performance followers (hardened)
Melling oil pump + oil pump cover for take off
Empi Deep oil sump
External Oil cooler (can't find this though)
CB performance dress up kit
Chrome cylinder head shrouds
Breast plate
Heater channel tin
Chrome alternator stand
Billet dipstick
Chrome roker covers
Silicone HT leads
Petronix flame thrower coil
Aluminium oil filler - screw cap
Chrome sump plate + plug
Chrome dyne strap
Breather kit
Kadron 40's twin carbs
Gold zinc plated push rod tubes
Clutch kit
Distributor drive gear
Cam drive gear
Oil thrower
Oil filter
Pro fuel glass filter
Swivel feet tappet adjusters
Chrome fan housing.

I am quite happy for anyone to come and see it before purchase.

If you update your profile with a location, it may help those that want to come and visit   

Thanks Dave

Updated

Location is Wirral