This was how Peter 'Ronnie' Rosenthal (then editor of Volkswagen Motoring) introduced the readers to the start of the VWm Doon Buggy project and much to my embarrassment some years later on, the project is still ongoing!

'You & Yours'

I'm not sure what brought it on, it may have been mixing with too many members of the Midland Buggy Club or perhaps shooting the Buggy for the February issue of your favourite magazine which sent him over the edge. But when VWM snapper John 'Spangles' Clewer suddenly rang the office to inform us that he had bought an original Mk1 GP Buggy, we wanted to kow why?

"It will make a great camera car" replied JC, "and anyway, it seemed like such a good idea at the time!"

The 1200cc powered bath tub appears to be based around a 1958 pan, which according to records actually rolled off the line in Wolfsburg during March of that year.

Initial inspection shows the shell to be in very good condition for its age and original i.e. not having been cut away around the rear end. The pan is in poor condition requiring new floors, whilst the front end consists of a ball joint beam grafted in to a king pin / link pin frame head!

Built during the 1960's the Buggy  spent nearly 30 years on Anglesey, being used to chase sheep in the hands of a Welsh farmer.

The Buggy is not the first VW 'Mr Spangles' has owned, JC having started with a 1967 6 volt 1300 Beetle, followed by a 1971 1300 Beetle ("my first car with decent lights") and a modified 1302S, JC owning all three at the same time! "The 1302S was a wonderful car running on 14" wheels and Koni suspension, by the time I sold the car it had completed around 220,000 miles and is still going strong in the hands of its new owner."

Other VW's to pass through JC's hands have included a Polo Classic GL Saloon and a Mk2 Golf GTI, not forgetting a few non-VW's such as an Opel Kadett 1600SR (ATS Alloy wheels and Recaro seats) and a Peugeot 205GTi.

The current daily driver in an Astra Diesel Estate ("the only reason being that it was £4,000 cheaper than the equivalent Passatt Estate") which ferries JC, Fiancee Jill, camera gear and two large dogs around the country. 

Look out for future details on the project, as the rebuild heads hopefully towards a successful completion.