Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Outsiders - a (historical) comparison of buggies

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on March 14, 1973

Text:

N. N.

Photos:

Volkswagen of America, Inc.

1

Archiv

29

Volkswagen of America, Inc.

1

Archiv

29

Beach Buggy (1973) - in comparison with the competition

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

SwissBuggy Froggy (1973) - on the cover of hobby

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

SwissBuggy Froggy (1973) - in the jump

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Karmann GF (1973) - next to a tank

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

SwissBuggy Froggy (1973) - what you need for a buggy

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

VW IMP Buggy (1970) - built on the classic VW chassis

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Autodynamics Deserter at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Buggy manufactured in Switzerland under American license

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mirage Buggy at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - conventionally designed buggy from an Italian manufacturer

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Karmann GF at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the German manufacturer offers the two buggy models GF and AHS Imp alongside VW convertibles and BMW coupés

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Apal Auki Buggy at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - next to it an Apal Buggy L (right) and an Apal Jet (in the background) - recreational vehicles and buggies were popular

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Apal Buggy (1972) - the clothing was chosen to match the tight body circumference

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Apal Buggy Corsa (1973) - the new Corsa model was the main talking point, with the Auki, Jet and C models behind it - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Autodynamics Deserter (1973) - buggy version already shown two years ago, now slightly improved - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Swiss Buggy (1973) - the variant with hardtop and plastic swing door shown for the first time - at the Geneva Motor Show in 1973

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Swiss Buggy (1973) - real buggy atmosphere was shown on the stand of the Aargau-based manufacturer - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Deserter GT (1976) - left GP Beach Buggy - imported by Jürg Weinem - Geneva Motor Show 1976

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

GP Beach Buggy (1977) - available in various versions from the Barmettler Garage - Geneva Motor Show 1977

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

50 years of Baja Desert Racing - A buggy with a VW chassis

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Autodynamics Deserter (1970) - also suitable for rough terrain

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Autodynamics Deserter (1970) - Helvetized buggy in action

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Autodynamics Deserter (1970) - the leisure-oriented alternative to the off-road vehicle, based on a VW chassis

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Autodynamics Deserter (1970) - with makeshift weather protection

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Autodynamics Deserter (1970) - visually, the Swiss version differs only slightly from the American original

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Autodynamics Deserter (1970) - visually still close to the Meyers-Manx

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Autodynamics Deserter (1970) - the exhaust sits behind a grille designed to protect it off-road

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Autodynamics Deserter (1970) - Interior with comfortable bucket seats

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

VW Yak (1970) - Buggy body consisting of 65kg 'foam'

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ansen Tri-Mil at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - special buggy from California

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bertone Shake at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the designer buggy is now in series production and is equipped with a Fiat 128 engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Swiss Buggy Froggy (1974) - Advertisement from 1974 -

You have only

1 out of 30

images seen in high resolution

Summary

If you have an old VW at home, you can still do a lot with it, for example turn it into a buggy. Kits are available from as little as DM 2300, plus the cost of shortening the chassis," wrote the magazine "hobby" in 1973. In fact, there was a wide range of buggies available at the time, including ready-built models for DM 6800 to 170000, i.e. for every budget. This article reproduces the exact wording of the two-part comparison test at the time and shows many of the models discussed in archive photos.

This article contains the following chapters

Off to the military training area
From America
From Great Britain
Lots of racing buggies from France
Also from Belgium, Switzerland and Germany
Clarify your needs first
Jumpy
Even buggies have to be right in detail
Sophisticated Swiss design
Ripper buggies?
Self-build or prefabricated model?
Attention - additional costs
Differences and refinements in detail
Ask the specialist
Waterproof?
Heated?
The TÜV - the buggy's biggest enemy
Buggies in comparison

Estimated reading time: 13min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The first people to cheer us as we marched through the villages were children, street dogs and early retirees. Towards evening, however, the atmosphere became frostier. Mothers brought their daughters into the house, old women locked the windows and farmers counted their cattle while we took up quarters with our buggy caravan in God-fearing Münsingen. With ten buggies from six different countries, we had arranged to arrive at the NATO military training area the next morning to take a closer look at all those 'flea bouncers' in the wild, which insiders were predicting a huge boom for the summer of 1973.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: