Highlights 

• A head turning custom sandrail buggy based on reliable VW Beetle underpinnings 
• Road legal and registered with Historic Vehicle MOT and VED exempt status 
• Professionally configured to provide true off and on road potential  

The Appeal 

This example is a pristine example of a sandrail built by buggy specialists, Dreamshack. As is usual it is based on Volkswagen Beetle underpinnings which are either reconditioned or replaced as required. The key attribute of this example is the fact that it is road registered, MOT and VED exempt and ready to use and enjoy immediately.

The History and Paperwork 

• The basis of this sandrail was a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle 1300 
• At some point in the recent past the Beetle was used as the basis for this conversion 
• The sandrail was built by specialist Dreamshack 
• The buggy has been dry stored for several years 
• During that time, it has been maintained and serviced as required 
• Due to the specialist type of vehicle, paperwork included is minimal 
• We understand a V5 registration document is present 
• This classifies the sandrail as a Historic Vehicle based on the Beetle’s age 
• As such the buggy is MOT and VED exempt and ready to use 
• The sandrail has been previously MOT’d with two tests listed in the Government portal 
• The last one expired in August 2020 and was advisory free 

The Interior 

• The nature of the sandrail is it is hard to differentiate between interior and exterior 
• Access to the cabin is achieved by stepping over the side rails 
• Seating is provided by twin GRP black bucket seats 
• These are hight backed and deep sided for optimum support 
• Integrated headrests are present for additional safety 
• Three-point harnesses are fitted to both seats 
• Some basic electronic instrumentation is housed in a hooded binnacle 
• These sit behind a thick leather rimmed, deeply dished steering wheel 
• This features three alloy spokes with circular cutouts giving a charming period look 
• The floors are finished in hard wearing black paint and ridged, aiding grip 
• A chunky Empi chromed gear lever and knob are fitted 

The Exterior 

• The tubular spaceframe of the buggy is finished in eye catching bright green 
• The robustly welded frame encloses the cabin and chassis fully 
• Twin LED headlights are fitted at the front 
• Tail lights and indicators are fitted to the rear bar 
• Charming black and chrome period steel number plates are fitted 
• The externally mounted wheels are 15 inch, deeply chromed items 
• The rear wheels feature deep rims and dramatically staggered tyres 
• These appear to be hardly used and are high quality items 
• The chunky 31-inch rear tyres are Ecovision VI-186 MTs in a 10.5-inch width 
• The fronts are Vredestein Snow Classic tyres in a 165 configuration 
• These are covered by simple mudguards both front and rear 
• It’s a highly imposing combination and almost guaranteed to turn heads 

The Mechanics 

• The sandrail is fitted with a 1.3 litre VW Beetle twin port air cooled boxer engine 
• This is a well-maintained unit with many new or reconditioned parts fitted 
• There is plenty of bright, lustrous chrome fitted to enhance the looks of the engine 
• Additionally, the block and various ancillaries are finished in gloss black 
• High calibre, bright chromed twin silencers are fitted and reported to sound great 
• A standard four speed manual Beetle reconditioned gearbox is fitted 
• The sandrail’s track has been widened and the suspension is fully adjustable 
• This helps increase stability and balance, hence optimising the driving experience 
• The chunky tyres endow the sandrail with a 14-inch ground clearance 
• This is sufficient to give the buggy real off-road potential and capabilities 

Summary