Time has flown, ten years ago nearly I saved this old J & S buggy
from the clutches of a brutish Banyan tree that was going to gobble
up the old thing. The pan had gone to rust heaven, managed to save
a few parts off the motor, what's left of the front end and transaxle
are still at the whims of nature in the bush.

As found.....


As she sat under a tarp for nearly ten years........


Been thinking and talking about doing this for an age, finally got the
time, no work, so getting into it, will be a worm burner, down with the
snakes, as in low.


Will be two person pedal powered with a central VW steering wheel so
both occupants can share the driving. Will have brakes but only on the
rear wheels of which there will be four, two driving, two coasting.

Been hoarding (collecting) bits for her for a while, some old school head
lights found in a junk shop, front bar scored at the local dump. Made the
windscreen from an old window frame, can fold down safari style.


Probably obvious, she's a bit heavy so made her so the buggy body can
come off and she can go just as the frame. Really want to keep the VW
flavour, steering wheel, badges, chasing up some ratty hub caps, more soon.......

Are you after early (domed 5 stud) or late (flatish 4 stud) hub caps? If I can round some up, I could possibly give them to John on the Island Trader

Whoo whoo fantastic that is very kind, would prefer early dome style, but anything would be most grateful for, ratty would be okay also. This is very generous happy to pay what ever you
think is fair.

I will see what I can round up - when we are allowed to move around again

So after a couple of big days finally have the rear end sorted, originally had the
drive wheels out beyond the body. Revised this, they now sit nicely where the VW
engine would have sat. So in a sense have the motor where it should be! Next sort
out the chain drive, plan is to go through two idlers to the pedals.


The outer wheels will take some of the load, hoping most of the weight comes on
to the middle drive wheels, all four have suspension, outers leaf springs, inners coils.
Scored the outers off a kids pram the inners off and old school mountain bike.


After the drive system is sorted front end and steering, way to go but getting there.


Any tips, criticism gratefully accepted...........?

No tips or criticism, just encouragement. Looks great

Whooohooo we have some progress, control as in steering in, also revisited the front end.
Was going to have a rigid front end but thought what the heck, had the bits so went with
suspension, see how she goes, if it doesn't work out couple of bolts and she goes back to
a solid set up!



So you can steer her how about propulsion, mocked up the pedal position, the way things are looking they will sit lower.

Great project!
Reminds me of the guy that did a similar thing with a Porsche some years ago.

Thanks here's the GT3, a lot lighter than mine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehRCph3BUcQ 

Haha, yep that's the one!

After a couple of big sessions we have a drive train and it works! As I have stated have been concerned about the
weight with the buggy body. Story within itself scored a bonnet locally in great condition, so now we have a Volksrod!


Also had concerns about the gearing and brakes, no worries with the gearing plenty low enough to get going and
cruise, if anything will probably have to gear her up a couple of cogs. Brakes are better than expected as well, all
four rear wheels have brakes which helps, operated from a lever mounted outside the seats, emergency braking
Fred Flinstone style!

Woo Hoo. Will have to watch out on the island now

I have some engine lids if you want one - later model ones

Thanks Jeff, I'm thinking of going with a timber truck bed rear end, want to drive her around as is sort out some bugs in the drive train and go from there.

Oh, that WOULD look cool

Bit more done, apart from tuning the drive chain added a few more bits to get
the Volksrod look happening. Lowered the bonnet height the head lights that
turn with the front wheels, VW hub caps and wheel covers. Added a smaller
nerf bar and used the same fold down windscreens from the buggy, see above.

Would be most grateful for some assistance from those with steering geometry knowledge?
I am trying too get Akermann's sorted with the steering, as in getting the inside wheel
turning a tighter circle than the outside wheel at full lock. Have mounted the outer tie rod
in a few positions and can't for the life of me get this sorted, see below where the outer tie
rod is mounted, thank you.

Just googled this. Not sure if it helps? https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachments/ackermn1-jpg.117783/ 
Article about suicide front end ackermann

Cheers.....Wayne

Made up some panels for the front and a rear end tray made fairly light to so not so much usable, more for looks, paint next.





Looking for a ratty right hand side towel rail for the rear bumper if someone
wants to sell me one!

.

Ploddin along with this build, made some panels for the body from coroplast plastic sheets, easy to work with and more
importantly light weight.


Suicide doors of course.

Looks great!

Wow. I want to visit LHI again even more now

After a long stint, over a year, of not being motivated she is back, went for red oxide primer to see how she feels may get a top coat may get a patina look, will leave her as is see what grows on me?


Decided the tray was too high so chopped the top rung off also lowered the
door to the same height, end result much lower look.

Looks cool. Like the height chop!

Brief clip of her rolling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BJYdaeV6_4 

Love it. Well done