John Shepard
Vienna, WV

This is our "Boss Bug" dune buggy. Made be Perfect Plastics of PA. The original metalflake gelcoat body kit complete with side panels, original seats and full soft top and doors. It was stored in a barn in the shipping box and was for sale in RI on ebay in 1999. I bought it and brought it home to WV. When my son was born the next year and money was tight so I sold the complete unbuilt kit to a buddy. He sent it to "famous" Monocoque #7 manx builder Chris Lewis to be assembled, but his funds ran low and he sold it to a fellow in NY. The NY owner sent the next couple of years building it and then posted it on the Samba website www.thesamba.com . When my buddy saw it he called me and told me it was for sale. When I saw the ad I about lost it and then called my wife from work. She said "You have to go get it!" So after a 22 hour round trip no stop from WV to NY and back to WV , "the Boss" was finally back home.

I took the pictures in my sons playground at the school beside our house. I thought it was fitting since it is his favorite toy next to the slides at the playground. He is 4 and his smile when take a ride is what owning a dune buggy is all about. Everyone you pass just breaks out in a big smile.

The buggy is built on a 1958 chassis with pretty much stock mechanicals. The engine is professionally built 1641cc with dual ICT's. The cam is mild street and with the baffles out she is alot of fun for the nieghbors. I went VDO gauges and a stainless panel make a classic look on the dash. We wanted everything to be simple clean and look like 1968.

Future plans include searching for the original hood badges that came with the kit. Centerline 5 lug wheels with new BFG tires. Upgrading the suspension to and adjustable beam with dropped wide 5 discs. Installing the original side panels and the soft top and doors.

Special thanks to friends who helped build and track her down; Tom Buchannon, Chris Lewis, and Tim Bischoff. And HUGE thanks to my loving wife who always supports my son and I in our VW addiction. Thanks for considering it.