This is a Berrien Fiberglass Manx style Buggy built in 1980 on a '73 Beetle pan. I listed it as a Beetle as there is no option for kit cars. I found this car back in the fall of 2005 when I was working in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I was out driving around some back roads (I wasn't lost, really I wasn't!) when I saw it sitting in a parking lot with a for sale sign on it. It immediately peeked my interest as I'd never seen anything like it before. I stopped checked it out a bit and went on my way. However, I couldn't stop thinking about it and within a week I was towing it back home to Pennsylvania. It was in pretty rough condition but it ran (kinda).

This is an ongoing project that is just beginning. Currently has as stock 1600cc engine in need of a rebuild. This winter I plan on either rebuilding the stock engine or replacing it with something in the 1900cc arena with dual webers. I'm also planning on doing some custom work with the interior. (See updates below.. some work has been done).
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So far I've replaced the fusebox with a painless wiring harness, redone all the brakes, replaced the fuel tank (curse that center mounted fillcap!) added the KC Hilites, covered the pan with spray-on bedliner to protect aginst rust and put plenty of elbow grease(and rubbing compound) into restoring the original metalflake gelcoat finish.


UPDATE!
I spent a good bit of time this past Spring/Summer working on my Buggy. I did a complete engine rebuild, replaced the seats, completely redid all of the wiring from end to end and redid the dash/intstrument panel.
Here is a picture of what the dash looks like now. The gauges, except for the speedo are all Autometer Classic Chrome. The speedo is the original from the '73 Beetle this is based on. The dash plaque came from Berrien Buggy. The steering wheel is a Grant 4 spoke that I bought at Summit Racing in Akron, OH.

Here's a picture of the new seats. They are RaceTrim black suspension seats that I bought at The German Jubilee and Swap Meet at Jim's Custom VWs in Columbiana, OH. Currently, I'm just using lapbelts, but I plan on putting in harnesses once I get a rollcage in.

And now, some pictures of the newly rebuilt engine. I went with an 87mm big bore kit, bumping me up to like 1679cc. Everyhing else is stock. I kept the orignal case, cam and crankshaft and carberator, but everything else is new.

I also added an oil filter as the stock VW engine does not have a filter. The exhaust is the Sidewinder system from Meyers Manx.


Finally, let me share a couple of pictures that I took before I even bought the buggy. This is what it looked like sitting along side the road with the for sale sign on it in Michigan.


