Is it still a big no no to shortern a chassis to build a swb buggy in QLD !
Is the only way to go, to find one with paper work ?
Are there many unfinished projects out there or old rotters with paper work around !
Is the transport deprtment ever gonna change there minds ?
Just a question or two !
If anyone could help with info would be great thanks guys.
Da Time For The Aircooled Revolution Is Upon US.
Brothers & Sisters Lets Hit The Streets, Roll As One. And Feel The Power Of The Aircooled Storm.
not always you can get shortened pans through however they must comply to the dept rules. I have mates who put theirs through (after much hard work) last week. It is costly. Maybe your best to talk to Buggy Brad who knows the laws inside out
Under current QLD Codes of Practice for Light Vehicles a buggy with a shortened VW floor pan comes under a code LH5 and LH6. In English this rule states a vehicle must comply with the ADR's of the year in which it is 1st Registered in the modified configuration. This means that if you build a Meyer Manx then the entire vehicle must comply to current ADR's including emissions and braking. To date this CAN NOT be achieved with an air-cooled VW engine. There are 3 ways around this:
1 - Have a copy of the original modification papers which proves the vehicle was modified and approved prior. If you have these then all you need to do is get a RWC and proceed to the main roads where they will register the buggy. Make sure you get Manx or whatever buggy style you have on your registration papers so Main roads don't hassle you later
2 - Be able to prove that the vehicle has been registered in its current configuration (as a buggy) before. If you can do this by providing papers or the likes then you are half way there. Now you need to ring main roads modification department and arrange for an inspection. They will inspect the buggy and if it complies with the ADR's for the date of the VW pan being used or date vehicle is registered as they will issue you with modification papers. Then you may register the buggy.
3 - Build a Long Wheel Base buggy ( unshortened beetle pan) if you used an unmodified beetle pan then only the body needs to comply with the current ADR's. This means that you can use a VW engine, brakes and everything else you want. The body ,however, must comply with the current ADR's. This means it needs a heap of other stuff such a side intrusion bars, seat belt light etc etc. A full list of all things required will be here shortly once I have a complete copy of the current ADR's and have submitted the list I have written to a LH5 and LH6 approving officer. If they are happy with it then I will publish it along with there contact details so everyone in the Brisbane area can use the same guy and make their lives a little easier.
The Bulletin that Chaged it All.. old Number 34 of May 2000
Approval by Approved Persons of Both Buggies constrcucted on Volkswagen chassis as Individually Constructed Vehicles ( ICV’s ).
Newly constructed beach buggies consisting of a fibreglass body on a Volkswagen chassis may now be approved using Codes LH 5 and 6 ‑ Individually and Low Volume Vehicles (Design and Construction). With the exception of beaming and torsion testing, these vehicles must meet all requirements contained in this section of the Code of Practice, particularly with respect to ADR compliance.
Although LH 5 and 6 requires beaming and torsional testing the majority of these vehicles me constructed to designs approved many years ago and have been shown to meet requirements, therefore, beaming and torsion tests and‑ fibreglass testing is NOT required, provided they are constructed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, using a Volkswagen chassis and the following makes of beach buggy bodies,.
- Meyers Manx
- J & S
- Supa Sport
- Kalita
- Brad's Mega Manx
- Bay Buggies
- Road Runner
- Explorer
Note. All of these beach buggy conversions require a roll bar.
Owners who have proof of previous registration of their vehicle in its modified condition and have no approval letter from Queensland Transport, may apply to the Road Use Business Management Group (Formally Road Use Management Support Section) for a new approval letter. An inspection at a Queensland Transport Vehicle Inspection Centre will be required.
Owners may, however, choose to obtain LH5 and 6 Individual and Low Volume Vehicles ( Design and Construction) certification. Approved Persons would use the earliest date of registration in that configuration as the date of construction to determine which ADR's would have been applicable.
Cool I'll have a look see if i can find it !
I think i have seen the light at the end of the tunnel !
Bug was good when needed to use it every day, now gonna make a real play thing out of it !!! 🙂
Thanks again brad might be more questions yet !!
One last one for now should i procede down swb manx do bodies only come up for grabs ! Thought you'd be the one to ask 😉
Da Time For The Aircooled Revolution Is Upon US.
Brothers & Sisters Lets Hit The Streets, Roll As One. And Feel The Power Of The Aircooled Storm.
bugboymatt wrote:Anyone know how much i'd be looking at for a manx body no chassis no paper work ! Rough ideas !
Hmmmm... Somewhere between $0 and $4000... how's that for rough.
As everything it depends on condition. A body with a lot of holes in it and no windscreen you might get for nothing. Or an imacculate example will cost you heaps more.
Wayne Horsfall Mechanical sell brand new SWB Manx look-alikes www.whm.com.au
Beachbuggy Australia (now custom offroad) do LWB Manx based buggies www.beachbuggy.com.au
For the upper mark i could get a SWB, which is what I am thinking of from the UK body only ! There still nock out a fewover there !!! 😉 All be it slightly different for copy right ! but nothing a bit of fibre glass wouldn't fix !
I wouldn't be after a super example. one that needed a bit of fixing up would be ok.
Da Time For The Aircooled Revolution Is Upon US.
Brothers & Sisters Lets Hit The Streets, Roll As One. And Feel The Power Of The Aircooled Storm.
Craig Torrens6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion
