VW Jeep, Hunting Buggy, CJ-Thing?
Custom Buggy Built on 1976 Kombi (VW Van) Chassis
It looks strange but is actually quite practical. One of the design parameters was to make it light to pull behind a motor home from Southern Calaifornia to Montana. The flat white body panels are fiberglass covered marine plywood. It is one of a few built in Los Angles. It weighs in much less than a Jeep CJ but has the same interior room. The top is a CJ top with CJ side curtains and CJ type doors. The windshield folds down like a CJ windshield. The chassis is pure VW dunebuggy with a fuel injected two liter type IV engine. This is one of the most reliable and powerful VW four cylinder power plants used in the VW bus, the Porsche 912 and the Posche 914 in 1976. The wheelbase is the same as the bus and the ground clearance is quite good. There is a compartment under the back seat long enough for hunting rifles as well as the front hood compartment for luggage and supplies. Game can be strapped over the front end quite easily. The transmission is standard VW four speed. The final drive ration is pretty low but good for off-road and climbing. This buggy is bigger than it looks in pictures. It is as tall as a Suburban and seats four adults.
With front wheel disk brakes it stops well in all conditions. It drives pretty much like a VW bus but is more responsive because of the light weight. I think it drives and rides quite a bit better than a Jeep CJ. The four wheel independant suspension produces a car like ride, even over rough ground. The steering is light and positive, no wander and very stable. The shifter took me a little time to get used to, but so did the shifter on my brother's '74 VW bus, they are pretty much the same.
The present wheels are 14" VW Bus wheels with 185R14 tires. Although the tires are nearly new it would probably look better with bigger wheels and tires. I think 30 x 9.50 x 15 would be just about right. With the present wheels and tires 4000 rpm engine speed produces a 60mph road speed. The big tires should produce a road speed of 72mph with the same 4000rpm engine speed. It looks to me like it needs a camoflage paint job.
For any questions
Contact:Bill Bottorff
Home: 512-327-5484
Work: 512-328-4747
Cell: 512-680-6853
back to Bill's cars