Historics Auctioneers
Lot 200
1969 Volkswagen Beach Buggy 'Trans-Am' Prowler by East Coast Buggies Transmission: manualMileage:397The Meyers Manx beach buggy was huge in California, produced by engineer & boat builder Bruce F. Meyers from 1964 to 1971. The car dominated dune racing in its time, breaking records immediately and was eventually released in road-oriented models. The Manx gained immense popularity around the globe - Steve McQueen drove one in The Thomas Crown Affair, the baddie ran down the poor countess in a beach buggy in the Bond film, 'For Your Eyes Only'.Correctly registered as a 'Volkswagen Beach Buggy' on 4th November 1983, this multi-show winning example has been subject to an extensive restoration. The fully restored 1969 short wheelbase Beetle chassis features a new 'Prowler' body, based on the Manx however with subtle functional improvements. The body, produced by Rob Kilham of East Coast Buggies, the Top Gear / Grand Tour buggies builder! - is finished in a stunning metal flake blend. Power is from a rebuilt Porsche derived Type 4, 1911cc, four-cylinder unit as fitted to Porsche 912/914 & VW 411/412 with genuine Porsche 911 cooling, dual Weber carbs & John Walklett pro-street specification gearbox. Updated four-wheel disk brakes provide plenty of stopping power and Red 9 Spax suspension keeps it all under control. Fully rewired electric using Microsquirt, ECU Master & two Canbus dash keyboards and a full VDO gauge set. Supplied with Extensive history and photographic file, current MoT test certificate valid until June 2023. An extraordinary example of the classic California beach buggy complete with a new short wheelbase Prowler body finished with an integral bespoke 400-micron metal flake blend of 70% black, 25% Tiger gold, & 5% Chameleon gold. The roof is easily removed and is fitted with an 'Airloom Designs' latching hinge & gas strut kit to enable easy access/egress when fitted & opened. The 60's VW Beetle taillight housings and Porsche fan shroud have been painted with the same flake mix as the body to match and included with the body kit are matching metal flake side pods & bucket seats. The chassis has been professionally shortened and strengthened by renowned specialist, Craig Kemp. It's been completely dismantled, stripped to bare metal, etch-primed and four coats of two-part epoxy Raptor protection applied. The specification includes;New shortened floor pans and pedal cluster brace section.New frame head and Napoleon's hat.Heavy gauge inch box section welded to periphery of floor pans.All internal chassis cavities filled with wax oil - spine, framehead, napoleon's hat, gearbox fork legs.New rear CSP Kafer Cup chassis brace fitted between shock towers and gearbox cradle.The engine is a Porsche-derived rebuilt Type 4, 1911cc, four-cylinder unit, as fitted to Porsche 912/914 & VW 411/412 and fitted with a stunning genuine Porsche 911 fan unit and shroud, both stripped and powder-coated to match the body. Breathing takes place through new twin Weber IDF40 carburettors and new CSP air filters. The camshaft has been uprated as well as the bearings and an extended high-capacity sump. Both rocker covers have been stripped and powder coated chrome gold and a new external oil cooler has been mounted underneath the car. Finishing the engine off is a new CSP Python stainless steel polished exhaust manifold and a bespoke silencer system by Hausmann Fabrications.Additional specification includes;New 96mm pistons & barrels on a 1800cc crank.All required machine work.Microsquirt distributorless wasted spark ignition from 'The Dub Shop'.New CSP bellcrank carburettor linkage system and crank pulley.New heavy duty oil pump. Suspension & steering; the front beam has been smoothed and powder coated gloss black with new Spax height and damping adjustable coilover shock absorbers. Coilover springs stripped and powder coated chrome gold, front and rear to match.This includes;Front beam fitted with new Red 9 Design through rods - eliminating torsion leaves.Front suspension arms soda-blasted and powder-coated gloss black fitted with new ball joints.New Eva Resto front skid plate.New front 2.5” drop spindles, soda-blasted and powder-coated gloss black.Rear, new Red 9 design Uniball spring plates - eliminating rear torsion bars.New 12” deep dish Grant steering wheel with 2” steering wheel spacer.New Beetle steering box, cleaned and painted gloss black, greased and adjusted.Standard Beetle steering column outer stripped and powder coated gloss black.New uprated disk brakes front and rear with high gloss red heat resistant paint treatment to the callipers as well as new copper brake pipework throughout with stainless steel over braided flexi lines, with stainless clips & fixings.Further specification includes;New Porsche 928 heavy duty master cylinder & reservoir.New adjustable brake bias valve.Pedal cluster fully restored stripped and powder coated gloss black with new genuine VW pedal rubbers.New stainless-steel clutch, brake & throttle pedal limit stops.The transmission uses a new John Walklett Pro Street drag specification gearbox with new Super Beetle main shaft, pinion shaft and differential bearings. Welded synchro cones are utilised on third and fourth gears with hardened keys and new heavy duty super axles.Further specification includes;Heavy duty super axles.Steel shift forks.Four-spider differential.Heavy duty side plate.Heavy duty clutch shaft.Axle tubes stripped & powder, coated gloss black.New wheel bearings.Refurbished bearing caps and new German seal kit.A new VW Beetle fuel tank was cut and welded to suit the space under the bonnet with VDO sender, facet fuel pump, larger bore fuel tank outlet pipe and a new Malpassi King fuel filter and regulator. Twin 8mm Kunifer fuel lines run to the rear of the car through the spine/central tunnel to enable later installation of fuel injection.The car has been fully re-wired using ECU Master's PMU16 & two x Canbus Keyboards on the dash, high quality DT connectors at all termination points. New LED taillight panels alongside headlights with built in indicators, side lights and low/high beam are installed with a new VDO gauge set. A high level led brake light & reverse light combo are fitted to the stainless-steel roll hoop and a number plate illumination lamp is neatly concealed underneath the rear bodywork. Audio is picked up via a JL audio Bluetooth receiver and routed via Focal 6” component speakers which are sympathetically hidden underneath the dash along with a JBL compact sub & amplifier combination.Both front seats are heated and are adjustable on sliding rails and have been professionally upholstered by Red Head Auto Upholstery. The Grant steering-wheel has been professionally upholstered in Alcantara with gold stitching, finishing off the interior are luxury carpet floor mats and & Alcantara lining inside the roof.From top to tail, this entire project has been meticulously considered with the ultimate attention to detail. The hours spent most certainly do not belie the estimated value of this vehicle. A truly exceptional example, you will not find better. Go turn some heads and have some serious fun in the sun!Interested parties should note that images from the full photographic rebuild can be viewed at the following link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ChGML3Jg36sezCHP
