Imagine a hypothetical situation...

[adamsterdam]

....imagine you were interested in buying a '65 beach buggy and you went to have a look and test drive.

It looks nice but needs a new coat of paint on the glass body and a touch of boat filler!
Chassis and 'pans are well strong with loads of strengthening
Brand new MoT
Has a wicked rollcage so strong it makes you want to flip it just to see
Has a brand new non-crappy-canvas wet weather hood with sides etc
Engine runs and sounds OK (twin cannons are LOUD ;D)

...but the clutch is insane. Pulling away in first is like releasing launch control on an F1 car- if it doesn't rip it out of gear!
The dude reckons its because he's using a 'customised' version of the beetle clutch cable (SWB buggy) - but he's owned the thing for 7 years! Surely at some point over that time you would have put in a purpose-made buggy cable to solve the problem?
Does this sound like the gearbox is funked?

He's asking £2500 and although I haven't given him an answer yet, he know he ain't gonna get full asking!!

[millsy]

hello mate, at it again are we? ;D

if its only a cable fault its easy enough to replace but i wouldnt have thought that a faulty cable is gonna make your box jump out of gear.
if its not the box then theres something else aswell as the cable like mounts or something.

it sounds pretty fierce if the force of lifting the clutch jumps you out of gear. maybe its just a heavy duty clutch. but its engine out to check.

[adamsterdam]

Thanks mate!

Its fine when (if) you pull away and changes through all other gears OK - but that don't mean a lot to me! Uncle Wee said something about a thrust bearing( ) in gearbox (again ) but basically, it sounds like more hassle than I could do with.

Although it would look pretty fly in Pullasiki green

Forgot to mention - its a 1600cc with a 1300 box (I think the box is original '65) and the wheels are bastard great things...which is why I'm wary of the transmission aspect

Wot you guys reckon?

[mONKEY BEAST]

yeah cud be the thrust bearing, there easy to replace,
even if it needs a new gear box thats not a major job really, think it only took me bout a day to change my whole 'box, cud give you a hand

[millsy]

65's a good year, (check to see it still has wide 5 wheels. the 1600 engine to 1300 box wont make much difference to the pull away being harsh.

i think though it seems a little too much for the money.
needs paint, body work filled, engine out, possibly new box and mounts and its up for £2500

only my opinion but this time of year id wait a little longer and get a bargain from someone with a buggy (if thats what you want) when its dull, raining, etc.

they have a lot less appeal in the winter and you should be able to find a peach for that sort of money.

[adamsterdam]

That was kinda what I was thinking (although I thought 2.5 was quite a good price for a buggy - I seen 'em up for as much as 6.5k )

Has wide 5's on front but adapters back to 4
with 4 stud back

This photo makes it look a bit cleaner than it is (naturally )

[adamsterdam]

PS Cheers Sam...are you sure you're not gonna have your hands full with whatevers under that cover?

[mONKEY BEAST]

oh ill definatly have my hands full dont you worry!! ;D ;D
but if i got some1 to roll up for me that will save time ;D

it sounds to me that it will probly be clutch as apose gears

although i think millsy has a point you might even be able to get this buggy cheaper in the rain month!

let me know how it pans out if you do buy it an want me to have a look at the clutch pop it over the workshop!

easy broo

[adamsterdam]

Cheers dudes reckon I'll be leaving this one - unless he wants to sort the clutch before I buy

Not in any great rush, just need one before Spring!

[joe]

presumably it is local? seen a lot better for less though a lot further afield. I am looking out for one for the crazy hippy (mid-life crisis I think ;D ).

[adamsterdam]

Torquay mate
Weener knew the guy and I daresay some old skoolers around here might. He's from Sennen and also lived in Newquay so the buggy knows Kernow.

[69er just a little PORNKING]

there was a black one down here been stored for a couple of yrs the ladie wanted £1200.back in may ill hav a look see if its still undercover stashed

[weener]

Did get it side ways round the first roundabout ;D