1969 VW Dune Buggy “Fun and Sun” 1776cc – 4 Spd Manual

Vehicle Location: Jacksonville, FL
Auction Type: Reserve
Engine: 1776cc
Transmission: 4 Spd Manual
Exterior: Blue
Interior: Black
Party: Dealer

1776CC Dual Port – FLAT 4, 4 SPEED MANUAL, TITLED AS ’69 VW BUGGY, READY FOR FUN!

NOTE: We just install a brand new transmission with a 12 month warranty, this is ready for fun!

This eye-catching 1969 Volkswagen Dune Buggy is a perfect example of when the automobile is distilled into 100% pure fun. Sure, it’s actual transportation that can go from A to B, but the reason this car was built was to put a big grin on your face – and not much else.

With a great-running 1776cc, a quick-shifting 4-speed manual, and loads of style in its bright blue package, this little troublemaker is ready to tear up the beach and provide the next owner with loads of fond memories.

We can all but guarantee you’ll be the only person tooling around in one of these, even though the look is instantly familiar to anyone that’s ever been on a beach vacation.

Unlike, say, the T-Bucket, this is not just some 2-seater that can only go in a straight line. No, this open-air beauty hauls four people and can handle itself in sand, mud, asphalt, and maybe even a little water if you keep the exhaust clear (think deep puddles or the ocean’s shore for some killer rooster tails, not the bottom of a lake).

There’s not much to the lightweight fiberglass body, but what you get is pretty darn awesome – sharp front fenders, a squared-off deck in back, and an exposed bottom bucket and suspension – and the whole design is very professional and was well-executed years back so nothing looks sub-standard.

This dune buggy presents really well in bright blue with a nice bright shine, and the fiberglass is in good condition with no noticeable cracks, no splintering, or any structural issues to worry about.

This is motoring down to its barest essence, so there isn’t much chrome save for the bull nose push bumper and bug-eyed headlights up front, and that big, upright windshield. The protruding all around roll bar adds to the look and the overall safety of the Buggy, and out back the VW Beetle engine becomes an integral part of the overall look with the dual exhaust exiting straight out the back and stealing the show.

More minimalism inside where simple pleated black vinyl looks good, wears well, and is weather-resistant enough for its alfresco duties. The front buckets are sporty and provide more support than you usually find in a Buggy, while out back the rear bench will fit two or three friends. Hope over the side of the tub and it’s easy to settle in behind the steering wheel, where you’ll find that the driving position is more early British roadster than German economy car, and with those big pontoon fenders out there, you can clip apexes more easily than you ever thought possible.

Creature comforts are few and that’s entirely the point here; anything that wasn’t necessary for the job of having fun was omitted. That means no heater. You will need to have the radio checked out but you’ll be blasting along having too much fun to need to worry about additional entertainment.

The VW’s original gauge speedometer is working. The gas gauge and oil pressure gauge are good to go. Floor coverings are institutional and easy to maintain, which is this car’s mantra, and the rear seat lifts up to reveal the battery.

VW’s air-cooled engine needs no introduction, and this 1600cc unit provides plenty of power for the flyweight dune buggy. Dressed neatly with lots of chrome and with signs of maintenance throughout, the engine is equipped with the usual hop-up parts, The Beetle’s 4-speed manual transmission and floor pan made the transition intact and with the low center of gravity, handling is adept, even in the loose stuff out on the beach.

Obviously, this was never someone’s winter beater, so the underside remains in very good order with no glaring trouble spots. Finned aluminum helps with the air-cooled engine at speed and you’ll undoubtedly find that this car loves to play.

If you’ve ever driven one of these, then we just wasted our time attempting to espouse the car’s virtues in print because it’s impossible to capture in words how incredibly fun a Dune Buggy really is. This one has all the right ingredients, including a strong air-cooled motor and a vivid presentation.