Fiberglass Mystery: 1970 Volkswagen Dune Buggy
This is the time to put your fiberglass and / or dune buggy knowledge to good use: just what the heck is this thing? Obviously, it’s a dune buggy with Volkswagen mechanicals and almost certainly built on a VW pan, but when you see the back end, you might not be so sure of what you’re looking at. If you only saw the back, you might think you were looking at a miniature grand prix car. Check it out here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,500.
See what I mean? If you didn’t know the front end dropped off just a few feet away from the rear end, you might be thinking that you just found Bruce McLaren’s forgotten concept car. Of course, that couldn’t be further from the truth, but it’s still a twist I don’t think any of us saw coming when viewing the front of this buggy. The huge rear wheels and tires add to the aggressive streak this concoction has, and I’ll bet at least one of you knows what it is.
The seller certainly knows how to photograph this thing, as the angles from the right and left rear quarters make it look ready to pounce. The tail light panel isn’t an accident, either, as the profile is clearly intended to marry with the rear quarters. The taillights themselves almost look Corvette-like, and the fenders front and rear have a bit of flare to them. If this buggy had a removable hardtop at one point in time, it’d look absolutely killer.
Now, the nose is homely – there’s no getting around that. It has a bit of a “terrified frog” appearance to it. The missing windshield panel and frame is going to prove a task and a half to find, so good luck tracking that down. But if you know the original builder of this buggy, it may not be as hard as we think, especially since parts bin pillaging was central to bringing these kits to market. So, what do you think it is? Log your guesses in the comments below.
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Comments
Kermit lives!
Paint it green!!!
Did a quick Google image search several pop up,still nobody can say what it is
Speed Buggy from the show Speed Buggy!
You beat me to it. :)
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/suJymPIC950/maxresdefault.jpg
Also looks like Wonderbug
Why not put some air in the tires and make it more presentable? And i can guess why no interior photos.
Probably unable to because of dry rot. Looks like a pig paint it pink 😂
Ooo. This is about five minutes from where I’m living this winter. I may go take a look just for fun. I’ve never fooled around with anything VW. Could be a cool dune buggy alternative. Where I would find a windshield is anyone’s guess. If I get over there in the next day or two I’ll give you an update.
Ahoi,
this buggy reminds me to the KYOTE II. Is this a transformed one? Or is it a KYOTE 1??? The designer Dean Jeffries also produced some in the UK. Well, I don`t know…
Till J.
BFI Super Sport. Fairly rare body and not that far from me. That said, rare doesn’t always equate to valuable. Getting it registered in PA can be challenging.. I’m working on a Deserter project that will be facing the PA challenge sometime in the spring.
Rick, thanks for the tip.
It`s an BFI or an FCI super sport SB?
FCI stands for FUN CARS, Inc.
But my knowledge is just from google and …..
Till J.
FCI Super Sport SB is correct.
No. It’s the promotional car for the show Speed Buggy.
Taillights are ’65 Chevy Impala. Looks like the headlights were not intended to be “dune buggy” pod lights, but flush mounted in the recesses like a bug-eye Sprite, which would help the looks a lot. Better still, rework the ‘glass to use ’68-style Corvette pop-ups.
Interesting very interesting…. definitely impala tail lights…as for the front maybe go with a Lamborghini mura set or maybe the opal gt? The windshield doesn’t look very hard to rectify… maybe something out of a street rod catalog or it looks like something that could be scratch built easily enough
one gets servced here every few yrs (E-cable replace, runs rough, etc) Knowin the worth of the Manx I look all over for a plate (name, series #, etc). Looks just like the Myer’s but cant find an ID.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meyers_Manx
Looks like Toothless from the movie How To Tame Your Dragon!
I seem to recall this may be a FiberFab product. Forget what it was called specifically, but it may be something for those who wanted a smaller, simpler kit car than the Jamaican enclosed car. Tail treatments are similar.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=550593
https://www.streetsideclassics.com/vehicles/4924-dfw/1970-volkswagen-dune-buggy
It’s not far from me so for a hoot and a Saturday drive may take a look. Of course the 3 in front of the asking price has to go. Interesting bungy cord holding the engine cover down. No mention of a title, of course. I’ll report back when I stop laughing.
Found one on Hemmings and also the same car on Streetside classics. It’s in Orange has some fake looking flat Crager wheel things on it. Also the headlights have been set into it instead of having teardrop headlight set in where the headlights go. Good looking car but they want $11,500 for it. Then I started looking at other buggies and wow I can’t believe how much they want for them. Didn’t know they were going to go for 15 to $20,000. That’s crazy money. So put five grand or so into this one and have a $20,000 buggy. If you do the work yourself anyway. I keep forgetting not everyone can paint. But if you want to see one done go to Google lens and put in Streetside Classics as an added search and you’ll see one.
Can you give anymore details as to location? Can’t find it in any Streetside Classics site. Maybe a link? Thanks!
What’s not to like ..
Except for the price and is that an oil stain on the ground under the engine already..? The Kids would love it tho if you got it running and had some free range to let them drive it on
It’s a FunCars Inc made in Arizona. First Generation. I have the first one made. Another company in the East Coast made a Second Generation- where the rear was attached. Really well built and the one for sale is a steal. I am thinking about 10 were made and the ones I’ve seen in the past were beyond repair. I also own a Dean Jeffries Kyote…and it’s not one of those.
Just sold my f85, so was interested in this. Only 40 miles away so would like a little more info as you seem to know the model. Are any parts (windshield, light buckets, interior) available? Contacted owner but all he knows is motor locked up, no title, and says interior is shot. Not even any #’s. Been in the biz, can get around that, but need to know what the hell it is?? A little help please.
It’s a “Vokaro”. Shortened VW pan, no top. But photos from 1980’s Kit Car magazine do show a sport windshield.
I thought that too, but this one looks different in the back and there are a few other differences too…
-Wayne
Sorry, but it’s not a Vokaro. That was my initial thought also, but Google Vokaro and you’ll see the front end and headlight buckets are totally different. Vokaro headlights are set into the leading fender edges, this thing has molded pods on the hood.
Definitely 1970 FUNCARS Inc. Supersport SB mini dunebuggy… was supposed to Imitate a corvette stingrays body style just in funsize. If it was closer I’d definitely check it out
Hi everyone. I’m pleased to report that I bought both of the dune buggys from this seller (Tyler). I’m not sure what I was thinking, but it’s something I’ve never seen before, it’s something that I don’t currently have, and it’s interesting. All three of those kindof mesh together. The rear of the thing is super cool – we’ll have to figure out what to do with the frog face on this – I think modifying the fiberglass to be better looking might work.
Hmm, I’m having difficulty posting multiple comments / photos. By the way, I just signed up as a member here to support the site!
I think there’s a potential for a Lightning McQueen type of theme here.
Here’s the angle which gave me the thought: