1959 VW Manx Style 'Corsair or Bush' Dune Buggy Street Legal Dodge Viper Blue

1959 Volkswagen Other Description

As you read through my description please consider first the value that I have invested in this buggy.

THEVALUE COMES IN THIS PURCHASE IN THAT ALL THEINTERNAL WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED! THE ENGINE AND OTHER INTERNAL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN REBUILT WITH ALL NEW PARTS FROM GROUND UP. I REALIZE THE ASKING PRICE IS GREAT AND MOST BUGGIES OUT THERE ARE SELLING 'AS IS' FOR BETWEEN $4000-$6000. HOWEVER MOST OF THOSE BUGGIES DO NOT RUN WELL AND ALTHOUGH NOT SEEN IN THE LISTING, THEY NEED TONS OF WORK! THIS WAS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE PROJECT HOWEVER MOST OWNERS FOCUS ON THE COSMETIC EXTERIOR AND THEIR BUGGIES RUN TERRIBLY! WITH THIS PURCHASE YOU WON'T BREAK DOWN AND BE WALKINGTO GET HELP. YOU GET TO FOCUS ON THE FUN STUFF LIKE ADDING A NEW STEREO OR SEATS OR BUILDING A STORAGE BOX OR A NEW PAINT JOB.

Offered for your consideration is this vintage VW Manx Style Dune Buggy. Astute enthusiasts have classified it as eithera “Bush Buggy” by Virgil, made in California in the early 1970’sor a "Corsair" buggy. Since I'm not a collector or expert, I'll leave it to the buyer to determine. It sits on a 1959 pan and was constructed in 1980. I purchased it in October 2014. As I decided to make it street legal, the state of Arizona reclassified its’ Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) as a 2015 Special Construction vehicle.

I purchased it from a seller in Lake Havasu City, Arizona who spends part of the year in Idaho. The vehicle was located in Idaho but moved to Arizona in 2013-2014. Suffice it to say I was lied to when I viewed the buggy in person. Long story… and point being I want you the buyer to know I’m sharing everything about this vehicle with you UP FRONT! It ran for the short test drive I took but I’m sure the seller was crossing his fingers behind his back. I had to have one tire changed out while there due to the tire tread separating. The other front tire barely held until I got the vehicle back to Phoenix. At this point I decided to have all the tires checked immediately. I changed out one front with a “new” tire (5-7 year old) that the seller had given to me and purchased two brand new tires to replace the rear tires. So the front tires are 5-7 years old but “new” so to speak. The rear tires are brand new purchased in 2015.

At the point of getting the vehicle home to Phoenix, I could not get the vehicle to start by any method. I took it to the mechanic for him to go over from front to back, top to bottom. The mechanic told me how bad in shape the vehicle was from a mechanical standpoint. The previous owners did not know what they were doing as they were rebuilding or exchanging parts and they put cheap, ill-fitting, shaved parts on the engine and otherwise…a "clusterf*#@ if there ever was one", he said. In order to make it run and not be stranded somewhere and street legal the vehicle would need some work….a lot of work!! Since I’m not a mechanic in any way I will list the repairs I had done on the vehicle for your satisfaction. In short the major systems including the brakes, electrical and engine were REBUILT FROM GROUND UP to get the vehicle running and ready for its street legal inspection. It is now STREET LEGAL ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF ARIZONA. I have the inspection paperwork. If an out of state buyer purchases from AZ, I cannot guarantee it will be street legal in your state. I’m also going to offer a conversation with my mechanic upon request to satisfy your questions. He is not just a general mechanic but one who works on Volkswagen vehicles of all dates and types and has every day for many, many years.

Here are what the receipts state “R&R Motor, Build Motor, Electrical ignition, Gasket Set, Plugs, Clutch Kit, New Case, New Crank, Cam, Lifters, Cam/Rod/Main ____, Front wheel, Crank Pulley, Small Stud Kit, Head Stud Kit, Oil Pressure Switch, Set P&Ls (1600cc), New Heads Complete, New Carb, New Alt, In. Boot, Flasher, Wire & Clips, Axle Boot Kits, Horn, Horn Button & Wire, Brake Adjustment, Inner Flywheel ____, Outer Front wheel ____, Grease Seal, F/Brake Hoses, Set Rear Break Shoes, Brake Fluid, Rewire and Make turn signals work, R&R Axle Boots, Install Horn & Wire, R&R Brake adjustment Front & Rear, R&R Front Brakes Hoses and Bleed, Set Front Brake Shoes, Front Wheel Cylinder, Grease seals, Inner _____Roller, Outer ______Roller, M/Cylinder, Reline Front Brakes, Replace Front Wheel Cylinder, R&R l side _____Races, R&R M/Cylinder”.

She ran great after the work I had done, meets AZ emissions, and is street legal. The paint color is Dodge Viper blue (seller told me). Mileage unknown but running since construction in 1980 probably has put many miles on her. Since doing all this new work, mileage shouldn't be in question as engine, other system parts and tires are new. Has FM stereo/cassette that works, speakers are in good shape, roll bar, tow bar, carpet, back seat cushions, the gas gauge does not work because there is no float in the tank and nothing to hook it up to, it had mud flaps but they have been removed-Idaho required mud flaps. The bodyhas holes for the windshield wipers however when I asked the mechanic to install he said he couldn't because there is nothing underneath to attach them to.

Here’s my challenge. I barely put any miles on her and she hasn’t been out of my neighborhood. Why you ask? Well driving a dune buggy just doesn’t fit my lifestyle. I thought it would but after many months of her sitting idle, I’ve decided it’s finally time to separate and move on. I’m not looking to make a profit. I’m just looking to recover my costs…and not the incidental costs but the major repairs and the buggy itself. I’ll consider anyREASONABLE offers. However this is not a giveaway! I’m not auctioning it off to the highest bidder with a reserve price but asking for a price that covers the costs I have put into her. I’ll do a ‘Best Offer’ and I know what my bottom line is. This was an expensive endeavorhowever during the process I made it clear to the mechanic that I wanted repairs to be completed so that when I rode around I wouldn’t be stranded and walking home or calling for help. Know that you are getting value for the price as this isn’t a blind purchase as many of these online older vehicles could be. I’ve laid it out and been upfront.

For those local folks who want to see her, I’d be happy to make an appointment with you. I can also provide receipts to show the work that went into her. I’m offering it both locally, on Ebay, and some other sitesso I reserve the right to end the listing early. Shipping/transport is up to the buyer. Please don't inquire about the name of the mechanic (unless you are serious about purchasing my buggy) or where I purchased specific parts, etc.for your own use. Most of the photos used are from when I initially got home from the purchase. Some may be from after the tires were changed and after some of the work was done.