1967 VW BEACH BUGGY

This VW Beach Buggy is a charming, well-maintained example of the Volkswagen Beetle-based classic. Under the fibreglass bodywork lies a rear-mounted, air-cooled 1.3-litre Beetle engine, driving the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox. The odometer reads 65,367 miles.

First registered on 16 November 1967, this beach buggy started life as a Volkswagen Beetle. Having had sixteen owners to date, the current vendor has owned and enjoyed this eye-catching conversion for a year. The Bug underwent it’s conversion into a beach buggy in 2012 prior to the vendor’s ownership.

The Beetle has proved to be a popular donor car for beach buggy conversions, due to its simple mechanics, rear-engined layout and the plentiful supply of spare parts.

In an alluring shade of metallic orange, the fibreglass bodywork presents well and the paintwork is in good condition, with scratches visible on both the driver and passenger side sills due to entering and exiting the cockpit. There are cracks in the bodywork under the rear lights on both sides, as well as some paintwork damage to the roll-over bar. Nevertheless, the headlights, taillights, mirrors and glass are in good order with no damage, and the exposed elements of the engine are clean and free of corrosion. This off-road toy also wears chromed deep-dish four-stud alloy wheels, continuing the retro 1960s look.

Moving inside, the exposed cabin of the beach buggy is a blend of Beetle familiarity and bespoke touches. The aftermarket switchgear on the stainless-steel dashboard is fully operational and in good condition, with the wooden-rimmed steering wheel and novelty pool ball gearknob remarkably free of wear. The deep-dish EMPI vinyl bucket seats and carpets are in very good condition, with no rips or tears in the fabric or bolster damage.

The vendor advises that the washer bottle pump is intermittent, and that the right-hand indicator dashboard bulb has blown, but that the indicators work outside of the vehicle.

The VW’s most recent service was carried out on 8 May 2020 at 64,927 miles. This was carried out by the owner and involved replacement of the engine oil. In addition, the strainer was cleaned and a new gasket set was fitted, along with a replacement battery.

Prior to this, the front torsion bar was repaired and welded on 25 May 2018, with the washer bottle pump previously repaired. Other than this maintenance, the beach buggy has only ever required a straightforward carburettor tune-up and idle adjustment. The vendor notes that the front brake balance may need some slight attention, particularly to the front-right drum brake. In 2017, a replacement speedometer was fitted, increasing the stated mileage by approximately 30,000 miles.

The most recent MOT test was on 25 May 2018 at 64,275 miles, resulting in a clean pass with no advisories. Due to the age of the car, it now qualifies for exemption from the MOT test and road fund licence as it is a historic vehicle, allowing for cost-effective classic motoring.

Riding on a mix of Yokohama and General Grabber HP tyres, the vendor states that more than 4mm remains on each of the tyres, but that they are approximately seven years old. This unusual VW will reach its next owner with service and maintenance history from 2012, when it was converted into a beach buggy.

Offering entertaining off-road performance, unique looks and timeless charm, this VW beach buggy is a well-maintained and useable example of a Sixties icon – as at home on the sun-soaked coastline of California as it would be heading to a British coastal village for some fish and chips by the seaside.

Summary of service history:

• 2012 - 32000 miles conversion to beach buggy with new chrome wheels, mirrors.
• 2012 - 32000 miles full engine service, drop spindles, brake shoes, speedo cable, anti-roll bar front
• 2013 - handbrake cables, clips and bulbs
• 2014 - New accelerator cable, full engine service, new contact points, new fuel lines
• 2017 - Fit second hand speedo clock (increase of miles +30,000), full engine service, clean points, axle greased
• 2018 - Torsion bar and washer bottle pump repair
• 2020 - Full engine service, new battery and carb tune