Buggy project - what to fix first

[Class 11 streeter]

Silly update here! I am gathering replacement wheels/tires for the wide 5 buggy roller and 5/4.5" buggy trailer. As fate would have it I am tripping over 4 lug wheel sets at home but no spare wide 5 sets available. Trailer and buggy are on flat dryrotted radials that just 'flat' wont hold air (hee hee). I used my cargo trailer wheels/tires for getting the buggy trailer home. Next I bought new tires for the cargo trailer so the buggy trailer gets the old cargo tires. Silly update I know but its sumthin'.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Check your schraider valves on old tires (snicker).

[Leatherneck]

USAA, talk to them.

[Class 11 streeter]

Ok, another brief update. After some deliberation I have decided to go the SPCNS way here in California and an aftermarket pan. I have reached out to Dave Barrett about one of his Condor chassis and he has replied. For now, this weekend is the first of 3 weekend VW shows/swap meets my crew goes to. More later. Stay strong STF!

[Ol'fogasaurus]

I like the looks of Dave Barrett's chassis'. It will be interesting to follow the build and options from there up.

Lee

[dustymojave]

I have a few smoothies out in the back yard if you find yourself in need. Ugly, rusty...but usable for making it a roller. I can PM you address and phone if you want.

[Class 11 streeter]

I like the looks of Dave Barrett's chassis'. It will be interesting to follow the build and options from there up.

Lee

Thanks for the interest. Last weekend was the 3rd weekend in a row of VW related swap meets in So Cal that my crew supported so it's finally back to "me/buggy" time.

[Class 11 streeter]

I have a few smoothies out in the back yard if you find yourself in need. Ugly, rusty...but usable for making it a roller. I can PM you address and phone if you want.

Hey Richard it's appreciated but I think I have it covered. Just need to get to it!

[Class 11 streeter]

Ok, managed to make some progress - by buying another buggy! This showed up on CL a few days ago and I was smitten. Its all the stuff I wanted in one package and the asking was cheaper than building. More later!

[dustymojave]

Nice buggy Monte!

Pretty similar to how I plan to build my Glitterbug.

Is it an El Lobito? Or El Lobo, Or Lido, whichever you want to call it ...

[Class 11 streeter]

Hey Richard hope things are well for you. This buggy body is an Empi Imp replica from the mid 2000s. Remember Unique Supply in Redlands? One of those.

Now, about your Glitterbug project, you know that name means a bitchin metalflake paint job is mandatory, right?

[TimS]

Nice find! Package deal turn key is nice.

[dustymojave]

uhhhh...yeahhhh.....sorta

In spite of the name, the original Glitterbug basic colors were non-metalflake, non metallic. Metallic colors or metalflakes were extra cost. Mine started out as red metalflake. Because it was originally red metalflake, I'd kinda like to restore that metalflake finish. Even though I really never have liked metalflake. That would have to come after all fabrication work and bodywork is done. It would mean priming the whole body, then spraying silver base, then candy red, then metalflake with candy red, then more candy red, Then clear gel coat over all. WHOLE LOTTA WORK! Especially for a desert buggy. Maybe we could could practice on your Imp. Bwah-Ha-Ha!!!

Once upon a time, the Manson gang used to steal VWs in the San Fernando Valley, strip them down, buy Glitterbug bodies and build and sell the finished buggies. Kinda spooky they were regular customers at a place I went to within a mile of my home...

[Ol'fogasaurus]

A better than average start for sure! Body lift and what looks to be almost everything. Going to save a lot of money and time assuming everything checks out OK. It looks like it either has an external frame (or part of) like you were talking about at one time or it is an extension from the outside of the pan's body mount tunnel that there could be of some support for side hit protection.

Are you going to blow it apart to check things or has it checked out OK for sure.

Lee

[dustymojave]

That's exactly the sort of external framework I was trying to suggest to you for your black buggy, Lee. And it's just what I plan for mine. The uprights of a roll cage that stand inside the body can bolt through the fiberglass to connect the external structure to the cage.

On Monte's buggy, it looks like they punched through the top edge of the body to connect the cage to the external structure.