DON'S DUNE
BUGGY ADVENTURES
Click on the listings at the
bottom of this page to see photos
and stories
about Don's adventures on trips and to shows.
Be sure to check out my List of Features.
 |
I've dug back and found a few historical photos, too. This is me grinding my roll cage 23 years ago. |
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the links below
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submit your site to
add to my list of links.
Finally! ... After 23 years of ownership and very little use ... I took the
time and money to get my "baby" back on the road. It took a divorce and a
year at staring at a tattered tarp in the back yard to do it though!
She's shown here before I fabricated the new front tube bumper in late Summer '98. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is rather confused about what to do with it though. I started the titling and registration paperwork in August '98 ... and at this writing at the end of JANUARY it still isn't titled or registered!
The first effort was for a "Classic"
registration ... but since it's not a major manufacturer they rejected that
category. We tried to put it through as a "Collectible" but for some
reason unknow they rejected that and sent back the papers telling us to put it through as
a "Street Rod" ... huh??!! Now, the tag people have sent a letter saying
"Ok ... that's all your categories ... What next?" ... sheesh. More news
later on this Harrisburg Confusion Channel.
.
Anyway, I'm real proud of
her. I had a temporary tag for a while this fall and had a blast driving around. I
plan to buy a small shell-style trailer to store gear this Spring so I can take her
camping. Plus I plan on hooking her up to the Motor Home and getting into the Show
Circuit ... most likely to at least one Bug-Out in Virginia and maybe Ohio ... plus I
expect to get to a bunch of local shows ... tons of classic and hot rod events in my area
but no VW stuff.
For the moment, the only major item left
(besides a possible transaxle replacement ... arrrghhh) is the top. It looks like
I'm going to have to get a sewing machine and do it myself ... taking it for estimates to
the local top shops got really SPOOKED with the idea of facing this project!
Here's what she's made of right now:
1970 Autodynamics Deserter Series 1 DUNE BUGGY
Owner: D. Joseph Sweet; Second Owner; Since 1977
Manufacturer: Autodynamics, Marblehead, Mass
Paint Scheme: Medium Blue with Black and Chrome Accenting
Chassis: 1964 Volkswagen Beetle
Wheels: c1976 ET Aluminum Alloy Slotted - 14" Front/15" Rear
Tires: BF Goodrich All-Terrain Steel Belted Radials
Shocks: Front - Gas Charged HD w/Springs; Rear - Gabriel Air Shocks
& Gas Charged HD w/Springs
Engine: Stock 1970 Fuel Injected 1600cc Type III Volkswagen
Transaxle: 1964 Transporter (Bus) with Gear Reduction
Electrical System: 12V 60 Amp Dual Generators, Regulators and Batteries
Halogen Lighting: 80/100w Headlamps, 2-100w Floods, 2-130w Pencil Beam
Driving, 2-100w Amber Fog, 2-50w Back-Up
Instrumentation: 0-80 MPH Speedometer, Dual Charging Indicators,
Sun Tach, Oil Pressure, Fuel Level, Oil Temperature,
Voltmeter, Head Temperature, Fuel Pressure
Additional Features:
Full Padded Roll Cage
Removable Engine Cage
Custom Rear Seat w/ Belts
Forced Air Oil Cooler Heater
Class I Trailer Hitch
Rear Anti-Camber Bar
Dual Chromed Exhaust
Automatic Electric Antenna
Alpine AM/FM Cassette Player
100 Amp 6 Speaker Audio
3-Point Shoulder Harnesses
Interior Lighting w/Map Lites
Full Custom Carpeting
Hurst Shifter
Dual Hydraulic Steering Brakes
15 Button Lighted Switch Panel
Low-Back Bucket Seats
Canceling Wiper/Washer
Fiberglass Water Deflectors
2,000 Pound 3-Way Winch
Custom Front Tube Bumper
Dual Air Horns
Dual Baby Turbo Mirrors
Heavy Duty Wiring Throughout
Braided Stainless Steel Fuel Loop
Braided Stainless Steel Brake Hoses
Non-Corrosive and Stainless Steel Hardware Throughout
Future Additions:
Full Custom Top with Side Curtains
Bimini Sun Top
Dual Pressure Fuel Pump/Regulator
Color Matched Utility Trailer
Removable Undercarriage Neon Lites
Engine Oil Sump
Roll Cage Pad Covers
Alarm System
Custom Fiberglass Rear Seat Storage
Check back in the Spring for MORE !
Delaware River Canal Road Trip
October 25, 1998
Riegelsville, Pennsylvania
Kiwanis Club
FALL ROLL OUT
Car Show
November 1, 1998
MY BEETLE
Visit some sites I've been to and find very useful.
Dune Buggy Archives
John and Bart have gone to a lot of trouble on
this new and evolving site. Lots of information (and passion) on buggies here.
www.angelfire.com/wv/dunebuggies/index.html
Byron Gram's Empi
Check out Byron's blue Empi buggy under
"Speed Buggy Sightings". I love my Desterter but his Empi Imp kinda grows
on ya.
www.net-quest.com/~bygrams
Mike & Heather's
Have a peek at Mike and Heather's next challenge
under "DUNE BUGGY PROJECT". Since I bought mine already assembled 23 years
ago it never looked like that. We wish them luck!
www.dallas.net/~ibvwman
Deserter.com
Recently emerged site devoted exclusively to
Deserter Dune Buggies ... mainly the GT ... by Alex Dearborn, the founder of Dearborn
Automobile Company.
www.deserter.com
Dune-Buggy.com
Places to Ride, photo gallery, building tips ...
lots of effort on this site ... you can even download a free buggy vid too!
www.dune-buggy.com
Volkswagen Archive
Excellent Resource for Older Air-Cooled
www.oea.se/pk/tvwa
The Planet
Buses, Type III ... excellently assembled site.
thesamba.com/vw
Hot Links
A plethora of Volkswagen links ... links ...
just links ... and a ton of 'em.
cust.idl.com.au/vdub/vdub/vwlinks.html
sandrail.com
Great online buggy magazine ... lots of effort in this site ...
tech info, parts links, personal site links, event photos ... and real nice
people, too!
www.sandrail.com
CB Performance Products
Wide range of products ... extensive
online catalog.
www.cbperformance.com
Larry's Offroad Center
A real marketeer of offroad and
performance stuff. Near where I used to live in Dayton, Ohio. Last I was out
that way you could see his place from I-75.
www.larrysoffroad.com
The Bus Depot
More than just bus stuff ... real good
online catalog ... never bought from them but seems to be a pretty complete supplier near
me here in eastern Pennsylvania.
www.busdepot.com
VWType3.Org
Since my buggy has a Type III engine
(and I love it) I have a lot of use for this site. Maybe you will too.
www.vwtype3.org/main.shtml
Just E-Mail me 
and I'll post it.