Considering Buying this Rail, tell me what you see

[MacGyver]

Hi, new here, considering purchasing the below pictured rail.

Here is what I do know about it after speaking briefly with the owner.

It has a VIN number and is registered here in GA.

VW front suspension (clip) and VW rear end (transmission, axles,Engine)

16XX cc's but was re-built before he bought it to 18XX cc's. Something about a racing carb.....

Needs at a minimum...

New seats
New front tires
front axle "adjusted", the geometry looks funky...
transmission skid plate

Would look much better with....

New paint
New headlights
New rear tires
New horn
New blinker mechanism

Just guessing but it Probably could use...
brakes
engine transmission fluids changed

He said he rewired it. Put on some rack and pinion steering (unknown origin). New battery. Added the headlights, horn, tail lights. He said he was going to change the oil, tune it up a little and fix the broken horn bracket.....

I don't know what year it was built, or the year of the motor/transmission.

What do you think it's worth?

[yummi]

Originally Posted by MacGyver

Hi, new here,

Welcome to the site. Lots of good folks here to learn from.

Help us help you. Where you from and where do you ride? That goes along way.

Originally Posted by MacGyver

Hi, new here, considering purchasing the below pictured rail.
What do you think it's worth?

Not much. After you tend to all the "adds" it still wont be worth what you have into it. My money? There are better deals to be had unless this one is free. IMO.

[nutz4sand]

I kinda Agree with Yummi here in that while its not worth a lot. There are a few factors to weigh. It might be worht $1000.00 IF.

He rebuilt the motor to 1800cc. Thats only a good thing IF he did it right AND the rest of the motors in good enough shape to deal with the power.

Can you test drive it? If not assume the tranny is bad.

Speaking of the tranny what one is it (pics are to dark to see on my puter) IF its a car IRS its worth its weight in scrap and a fer dollars more. IF its a bus tranny it might be worth a little something IF reverse works fine and IF it shift thru gears OK. The more ribs the tranny has (for the bus version the better)

You will have to explain funky front end as the rack he added may be whats doing that. Fixing it may be a lot of work or simple as bolting the stock steering box back on. A poorly implemented Rack is not a good thing VS stock steering always. Of course it may not be the rack. I would have to see more pics or it in person to have a better understanding of its woes.

As for the racing carb whos and what kind. Some after market carbs are reallllllllly sought after and others make good scrap aluminum. The kind it is makes a BIG differance.

Yummi says free and I like free things but I would have to know some of the above things first (Tranny type and condition and that the motor runs good) before I guesstimated a price I would consider. The frame looks OK for a VW unit and paint alone would do it wonders. Lights are easy and seats to mount in something that close to being done should not be to bad. (Remember to make sure you head clears the cage bars by at least four inches with the seats you would put in it. In a crash/roll you stretch a lot. Factor in helmet clearance too! If your head is closer than four and under three inches it can kill you. You stretch and cages collapse in crashes.

Here is a couple links to guys who don't mess with Minibuggies so much but eat sleep and breath VW stuff. They might be able to shed some more light on it for you.

BuggyTalk - Message Index

BuggyTrader

Welcome to the site by the way! Bill

[tannere]

also talk to the guys at WoodsBuggy.com they will be able to help with any qustion

[Airwolf]

Not an answer to your question..... but what is the deal with the air intake??? It seems like quite a massive protrusion.

Maybe there is a better way to get clean air??