One of the few dunebuggies at Carlisle 2006 was this gorgeously finished EMPI Imp, finished in what I assume is the original green metalflake gelcoat. Everything was right — this might as well have been the original factory showcar.
On the other hand, there were a couple guys selling used buggy parts (and lots of other “one man’s junk, another man’s treasure” deals), but for the life of me I can’t imagine why someone would by a trashed buggy body missing most of its parts when there are so many complete but poorly finished ones on the road to restore?
Maybe I’m spoiled having lived in Mexico all of last year…. Loads of sandrails and buggies in La Paz (on the Baja) where I lived, and in fact there was a yellow Mini-T style buggy that I always saw around town and at the beach driven by some expat.
Quote: “for the life of me I can’t imagine why someone would by a trashed buggy body missing most of its parts”
Actually the only thing missing is the roof and possibly the rear engine cover??.. These were very stripped looking because it had an odd front bumper to hide the torsion tubes out front and the rear had the standard buggy surround bumper as seen on most trikes… I once owned this same one in white gelcoat.. they passed it off as a cheap sort of attempt at making a dunebuggy look classy like a Rolls Royce.. But yea.. they failed.. ON or OFF the VW chassis it was just plain UGLY AS SIN.. Sold mine off for something like $50 bucks.. lol
Are you interested in selling the green EMPI Buggy?
Thanks, Mick