1958 Volkswagen Dune Buggy

Description

If this little guy doesn't put a smile on your face, you probably don't have a soul, a heart, an imagination, or whatever else constitutes the capacity for joy in a human being. Regardless of creed, religion, background, or DNA sequence, this 1958 Volkswagen Dune Buggy was built to elicit FUN from anyone that gets inside and takes it for a ride. With a bright yellow paint job, sporty little interior, and a custom air-cooled motor that feels like it can lift it to the moon, this beach-town cruiser is the coolest thing on four wheels and we feel no shame in admitting it.

We can all but guarantee you'll be the only guy tooling around in one of these even though the look is instantly familiar to anyone that's seen a California beach. The original VW Dune Buggy, and like those early conceptions this is a 4-seater with a big exposed engine hanging out of the back. The look is familiar, of course, and the whole design is very professional and well-executed so nothing looks sub-standard. Painted bright yellow to match the sunshine it loves to soak up, the fiberglass is in great condition with no major signs of age and that brilliant driver-quality finish offers a great gloss that's quite appropriate to something of this vintage. This is motoring distilled down to its barest essence, so there aren't a ton of bell and whistles, but you do get some uber-cool custom parts like the 4-point roll cage and mounted surfboard up top, big King Bee-style headlights up front, and the bespoke splash decals throughout the body that add a very fun touch to the finish. In back, the chromed-out VW Beetle engine and its wild exhaust system becomes an integral part of the overall look and it's fascinating to watch this sucker run down the road.

There's more stylish minimalism inside where low-back bucket seats and a matching rear bench were upholstered in handsome white vinyl with black stripes running down the center. The vinyl upholstery wears well and is weather-resistant enough for its alfresco duties in the open VW, and it looks very stylish against the blacked-out floor and yellow tub walls. Hop over the side of the tub (no self-respecting Dune Buggy has doors) and it's easy to settle in behind the Grant GT steering wheel where you'll find that the driving position is more early-British roadster than German economy car, and with those big pontoon fenders out there, you can clip apexes more easily than you ever thought possible. Creature comforts are few and that's entirely the point here; anything that wasn't necessary for the job of having fun was omitted. That means no windshield wipers, no heater, no windows, but it does have a cool set of under-body LED lights that look really cool when you're screaming down the beaches at night. A center stack filled with gauges and switches is led by the big AutoMeter speedometer, and the EMPI T-handle shifter jutting out from the floor manages the 4-speed manual below.

VW's air-cooled flat four needs no introduction, and this 1776cc Flat 4 unit provides plenty of power for the flyweight dune buggy. Covered in chrome and polished pieces to make it really pop out from the back of the Buggy, the engine is very strong and reliable, featuring dual carbs, upgraded pulleys, and beautifully organized plumbing and wiring that help keep it neatly dressed. The exotic exhaust is a dual trumpet-style system that serpentines around and exits out the back, and it sounds so good you'll never need a radio. VW's 4-speed manual transmission and floor pan made the transition intact and with the low center of gravity, handling is adept, while stopping on a dime is an easy task thanks to 4-wheel disc brakes. Obviously, this was never someone's winter beater, so the underside remains in very good order with no glaring trouble spots, which makes sense for a car with only 250 miles on it since the build was completed. Lots of finned aluminum helps with the air-cooled engine at seed and you'll undoubtedly find that this car loves to play in just about any condition. The suspension, transmission, and rear differential were purpose-built and the pans are protected with a light dusting of undercoating so you don't have to worry about going into the rough. Five-spoke chrome wheels are flashy and provide the ideal look and carry sharply staggered 165/15/86T front and 225/60/15 rear radials with plenty of grip.

A party on wheels, this Dune Buggy recalls an era when the Beach Boys were on the radio and cars were all about having fun. Call today!