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GP Beach Buggy - where is the nearest beach?

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Created on March 2, 2023

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Bruno von Rotz

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Bruno von Rotz

27

Archiv

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Bruno von Rotz

27

Archiv

17

VW Beach Buggy (1976) - the front wheels have significantly smaller dimensions than the rear wheels

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - almost a beach atmosphere

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - easy to drive thanks to the short wheelbase

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - thick rear wheels are the trademark of a buggy

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - the ancestry of the Beetle is already visible on the front axle

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - the birds are already on the loose

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - classic buggy look

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - the roll bar instills safety

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - the wheelbase is only around two meters long

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - the rear is not its best side

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - big rear cheeks

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - huge tires on the hindquarters

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - There are no doors

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - elaborate exhaust system for more sound

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - beautifully reconditioned Beetle engine

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - Weber carburetor for more power

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - very clearly arranged engine

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - comparatively lavishly equipped dashboard

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - Steering wheel from Moto Lita

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - bucket seats

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - Speedometer from Veglia

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - the rev counter also comes from Veglia

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - gear knob with humor

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - integrated fuel filler cap

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - the towering headlights are typical of a buggy

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - the positioning of the headlights is reminiscent of pre-war classic cars

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VW Beach Buggy (1976) - round rear lights, recessed installation

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Meyers Manx (1969) - American "beach car" for driving on dune sand - the term "buggy" was not yet used at that time - Geneva Motor Show 1969

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

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GP Beach Buggy (1971) - built on a shortened Beetle chassis

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GP LDV (1971) - "Light Delivery Van" - similar to a buggy, but with doors and a pickup body - basically an off-road delivery van

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

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

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Albar Buggy (1978) - together with Albar Jet and GP Beach Buggy - Geneva Motor Show 1978

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Hot Car November 1968 Cover page

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Hot Car February 1968 Cover page

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VW Powerbug (1971) - from Powerspeed with rectangular headlights and short wheelbase

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Bespoke Tramp (1971) - should be able to be mounted on a VW chassis with particularly little effort

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EPS GS Pinza (1971) - elegant buggy with luxurious features

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G.B. Motors Invader (1971) - Buggy with fully lowered headlights

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Lotusmere Bugle Buggy (1971) - with unconventional design and integrated luggage rack

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Mini Bug (1971) - uses chassis parts from the Mini, expensive 3400 francs as a kit

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Siva Mule (1971) - off-road vehicle based on the Mini

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VW Powerbug (1971) - available with short and long wheelbase

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Summary

Buggies were all the rage in this country in the seventies. They were cheap and still a lot of fun to drive. You could build them in your garage at home. One of the most successful European variants was the GP Beach Buggy from England. Like its great role model, the Meyers Manx, it used a shortened Beetle chassis as a basis. This driving report looks back into the past, provides driving impressions of today and shows the GP Beach Buggy in historical and modern images.

This article contains the following chapters

Halfway around the world
Exports, including to Switzerland
Thousands of kits and finished models
Construction, conversion, restoration
Sun, fun and ...

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Buggies based on VW Beetles enjoyed great popularity in this country in the seventies. They were entertaining leisure vehicles and often gave a VW Beetle otherwise destined for the scrapyard a second summer, in the truest sense of the word. One of the pioneers in Europe was the British company GP Speedshop, founded by John Jobber (ex Jaguar, Brabham), Pierre du Plessis (ex Lola Cars) and Peter Allnut in 1966. While the initial focus was on the preparation of Ford GT40 and Lola T70 racing cars, a new chapter began for the fledgling company towards the end of the 1960s. Du Plessis had become aware of the new leisure vehicles in his home country of South Africa. There was a buggy variant based on the Meyers Manx called the Lolette, developed by Eric Brockhoven. Du Plessis liked the simple vehicle and brought one back to England.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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