Dune Buggies
 

Why do I want one of these so badly ?

I hate the common 'stinger' exhausts, I hate the 'non-Nader-approved' big long, single piece steering column. No windshield means that hearing protection is mandatory for long runs. MPG's are probably what I'm getting with my AWD Outback (mid 20's). I really want 4 seats and street legality, but that doesnt look like its very common.
...yet I am really tempted to try and trade my 1979 R65 for one (if I could...). they must be easy to work on, and it'd be a toy machine anyway (like the R65 is now...). I'd need a cover so my image concious nieghbors dont complain...or just to keep the rain out- but I'm cool with this.

Anyone have a Dune Buggy, or give up on one ? Brands to look at or dismiss ?

-John

You don't buy a dune buggy for safety,sense, or MPG's...

They are awesome fun blasting down trails doing ~60mph, while throwing a 20' rooster tail.

With that said, transporting to and from the trail is a PITA, there are hard to get odd-ball parts, and they eat consumables (tires, oil, gas, etc) so they are a no-go for me. I'd get a larger displacement ATV and go wild. Much easier to live with, transport, and parts are easier to find because of mass production.

Thats the "street legal" part - I have no friends in the trail world, nor any close trails, nor do I wish to pay the entry fee into that world (I'm sure its a good time though.)

I cannot take any of my children with me on a motorcycle (Well done sidecars are too pricey), but I can roll to soccer practice in a buggy...

If safety were that big a deal, I wouldnt have a motorcycle in the first place :) But when its so easy to get a collapseable steering column, or fit a newer VW front end (with u joints), and the buggys is slim on bumpers in the first place...its the appearance that gets me.

My impression is that most dune buggies are aircooled VW's on a different frame - the cost of maintenance can't be that high (esp. if 'factory original' was thrown out the door a long time ago).

-John

So are you talking a Manx style buggy, or a sand rail type buggy?

MV

Manx or sand rail ? Either. I like the look of both styles (most of the time - there are some horrible examples out there though)
It appears that more of the Manx/bodied buggies are street legal (on Cincinnati craigslist at least) but that body would need occational repair/paint/wax more often than a rail frame would. A rail would be easier to work on/modify. A manx-style would more likely have a windshield.

I think I'm open to wearing a helmet while dune buggying, so I'm not sure where I fall on this one.

-John

Sounds almost as dangerous as a motor cycle.

I'm with you for the same reasons! If you can work on an aircooled VW engine, there's not much more to them.

It's a good thing those things are easy to work on, because you will have plenty of opportunities to do so.

Ah, missed this one. In my high school years, I lusted after a Manx. Still do in some small way, especially the one in the movie "The Thomas Crown Affair" the first one with Steve McQueen. That was a spinoff of a Manx, looks a tad bit better, and it had a Corvair engine. The new thing for the ultimate Manx is a Subaru 4 banger.

Car and Driver mag had a road test of a Manx powered by a 90 hp Porsche 4 cylinder in '67. They said that with racing tires on it out-braked and out-handled any sports car they'd ever tested.

The hopped up Subey Manx's reportedly do 0-60 in around 4 seconds.

THOMAS CROWN DRAGON TATTOO BEACH BUGGY.avi - YouTube

Start at about the 1:26 mark. Not sure what's up with the bedroom scenes. :confused:

We had one of those around here in the 60's when I was in high school. Fiberglass bodied thing on a VW chassis or something. I drove the crap out of it out in the desert when I wasn't doing duty using it to drag the arena pulling an old ranch gate weighed down with a couple of railroad ties. Haven't though of it in years. I bet my brother sold it or more likely left it out in the desert somewhere. It was purple metal flake and I mean FLAKE. Like the scales of a fish left out in the sun.

In Missouri you can ride any offroad 4wheeler on road. The only caveat is that you can't run state highways.

Must be the director's cut...