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ok i got a few questions about the imp.
1. are all the floorpans on the beetle the same throughout its histroy?
2.where can i purchase a floorpan with the correct size
3.where can i purchase a fibre glass imp body
4.where might i be able to find someone with molds to the imp?

Eric Happy Meal...

Thanks for the good questions. I will try to provide my angle on them and, perhaps some other members will have additional information to help you towards your quest.

1. In a basic sense, all Beetle floor pans are identical for the purpose of building a Dune Buggy. Major variations are if it has link-pin or balljoint front suspension and swing axle or independent rear suspension.

However, cutting up any pan before, say 1968, might be bad for your health as the early restoration people are getting desperate. When I mention that my first Dune Buggy was built from a 1957 convert I get some bad looks, but that was in 1969 and 57's were $100 each. Super Beetle pans are not usable for a Dune Buggy due to the strut style front suspension.

2. If you want to find an already shortened floor pan, I suggest that you shop the different Kitcar sites and even look on ebay under the VW listings. There are also a number of companies building new tube frames for dune buggies. The "correct size" varies slightly due to variations in body design, but is usually 14 1/2" to 15 1/2" shorter than stock

3 & 4. Although the EMPI Imp started it's life right here in beautiful downtown Riverside, CA, I haven't a clue where you could find one today, or if the molds still exist after all these years. There are a number of other "similar" bodies out there. If you should happen to find an original EMPI Imp, I am sure that the price will be substantial.

A good resource for you can be found at www.meyersmanx.com. Their newsletter always has a number of Manx and non-Manx cars and parts listed. The club is open to all, not just Manx owners. Also check out the classifieds at www.thesamba.com

If you live in SoCal, or can come here, there is always the Pomona Swap Meet, (Next date, March 2nd) where there are usually a number of sellers of the items you wre looking for, from pans and bodies to complete cars, but you had better bring a fat wallet, as Dune Buggy interest (and prices)has soared in recent years.

Let us know more about what you are looking for and I am sure you will get lots of good answers.

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1966 MANX SR2 (Karma Coachworks), 1974 VW THING

[This message has been edited by BobMiller (edited 02-17-2003).]

im about a 45-60 minute drive away from pamona. so ill be likely to see you at that swap meet.

right now im more inclined to use the kitcar as an on-road vehicle.

and thanks for all the info, but about the floorpan, ive heard a few different sizes for it...ive heeard, 12", what you said, and 18" shorter.

Mr. Happy Meal
Look forward to seeing you at Pomona. I will post a suggested meeting time and place for those that would like to put a face with the names.

The differences in pan shortening are body dependent. Bruce Meyers, in an article he wrote in the Manx club magazine, explains the reason what he selected exactly 15 1/2 inches. It wasn't random at all!

BTW, if you haven't been to Pomona before, most of the bargains are usually gone by 8 AM. Gates open at 5AM. Next best bet is to haggle after noon for a better price for unsold items.

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1966 MANX SR2 (Karma Coachworks), 1974 VW THING

yeah ive never been to pamona before. so my guess would be to meet at 4:45? my brothers going to be going as well to see if theres anything for him.

and how fat of a wallet are we talking for what im looking for?

eric i don't know if this might help you saw your post this morning was leafing thru the dec 2002 hot vws mag this evening page 28/29 a place called unique supply (http://www.uniquesupply.com) they are saying they have re-introduced the the imp they are listing body hood/dash and sidepods i don't know if this is what you are after

regards 2088b0b

[This message has been edited by 2088 bob (edited 02-17-2003).]

yeah bob that pretty much is what im looking for...but i heard somewhere that they allready disconntinued making them...

Mr. Happy Meal
I contacted Uniquesupply www.uniquesupply.com and they advised me that YES the EMPI Imp body is again in production, using the original molds and, as a fact, they have two in stock in their shop in Redlands, CA. I-10 east, exit Tennessee St.

Next question please...

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1966 MANX SR2 (Karma Coachworks), 1974 VW THING

[This message has been edited by BobMiller (edited 02-18-2003).]

[This message has been edited by BobMiller (edited 02-18-2003).]

yeha i asked them about it too, and i asked about the booklet that came with the older ones, but they havent replied yet...i figured out how to make one out of carbon fibre as well, but i think ill just cover some of the parts with carbon kevlar (in blue) for the look.

and ok heres what i cant decide on, should i turn the imp into a drag car/weekend car, and have a bug as a daily driver, or vice versa?

As someone who's seen the Imp repro since the beginning, I must say it's a pretty nice body. (I used to work for Unique about 6 years.) I have some pics of the first repro on my site, http://www.tunacan.net/imp/ along with a lot of other information on the Imp and the Sportster.

Another thing to know is that the Imp body is 12" shorter than a stock Beetle, whereas most other buggies are 14-14.5"s shorter.

As for the street or drag racing vote, let me tell you, driving an Imp on the street is a blast. I get waves from people on the road, people approach me at gas stations and ask questions, and I even got pulled over by a police officer who wanted to check it out (though he had some other story).



Tuna

now the problem i face is with the engines...for one i want a cheap reliable one with decent power, now i was thinking one of the bergmann ones, but i was told of someone who bought his 2500CC one (the one i was planning on buying) and the engine blew in 3 days. but for the drag engine, i planned on building the whole thing myself so i know whatll be in it, and know what to expect. i kinda want the 911 cooling, just to be on the safe side, but i have worries of making the engine too cold...so what do you suggest?

Happy Meal
It's about time for a reality check...Cheap, reliable, powerful, 2500cc, Bergman. Some of these terms are mutually exclusive. It's very difficult to build a cheap engine with any of the other attributes, unless you consider 2,000 to 3,000 cheap. Reliable, stock engines for about $1000 is about as cheap and reliable as you can get. Everything else on your list costs extra. To build a new dune buggy, with reasonable quality parts, will put a dent in the average $4,000 bill at the very least, unless you have a ton of spare parts and can do all the fab work yourself. Maybe it's time to start making out a budget.

Good Luck, hope your heart is strong...

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1966 MANX SR2 (Karma Coachworks), 1974 VW THING

For any one looking for a nice chassis that is shortened for a fiberglass buggy, try out Berrien Buggy in Michigan. I looked at one yesterday at the buggy show and it looked nice. They also have a fiberglass pan that fits in the chassis. Most of the chassis is made out of square tubing. I don't know what the price is. They are located in
Berrien Springs, Michigan.

This chassis has been around for several years, and have just updated it to make it stronger.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by blocker:
For any one looking for a nice chassis that is shortened for a fiberglass buggy, try out Berrien Buggy in Michigan..... I don't know what the price is....<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The frame and fiberglass floor (Sold as a set) is just under $1000.00

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BobMiller:
<B>Happy Meal
It's about time for a reality check...Cheap, reliable, powerful, 2500cc, Bergman. Some of these terms are mutually exclusive. It's very difficult to build a cheap engine with any of the other attributes, unless you consider 2,000 to 3,000 cheap. Reliable, stock engines for about $1000 is about as cheap and reliable as you can get. Everything else on your list costs extra. To build a new dune buggy, with reasonable quality parts, will put a dent in the average $4,000 bill at the very least, unless you have a ton of spare parts and can do all the fab work yourself. Maybe it's time to start making out a budget.

Good Luck, hope your heart is strong...

</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bernie Bergmans motors are, for the most part, overpriced and unreliable. Do yourself a favor, go over to the drag racing forum, and read the posts there. It may take some time, but you will learn more than you think.