Well the Club is booming beyond my wildest expectations. As of this morning, we have a total of 1526 posts in 470 topics and a total of 62 members! Everyone is welcome to join!

Are you also one of those kids at heart who can't walk past the toy aisle to see what the latest Hot Wheels models on the pegs are?  Please join us at http://hotwheelsclubza.freeforums.org/ and become an instant member for free - you are most welcome, even if you don't stay in South Africa!   http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/file.jpg   http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/013-1.jpg    

A few interesting scanned pics of a Wolfsburg-registered buggy, as featured in the German 'Hobby' magazine, August 1968, that I found at a swop meet yesterday.  In the article, it is compared to kit cars based on Fiat and Renault cars.  Seems like the TÜV Gestapo already had an influence on the rear..  http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/877265.jpg http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/877264.jpg http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/877263.jpg http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/877262.jpg http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/877261.jpg http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/877260.jpg http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/877259.jpg This post was edited by Pine at December 19, 2011 11:44:02 AM GMT

Did anyone else here follow this on (you-know-where)? 26 bids, sold for US $3,050.00 yesterday - (hope Santa bought it for me  lol) http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/KGrHqRHJCwE7Bcvh4BOypsJKiZg60_12.jpghttp://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/KGrHqNHJB8E63O6e-1BOypsJOFSw60_12.jpg Authentic Meyers Manx Collectible Surf BoardSerial #001 Meyers Manx "Classic" Surf Board Collectible Meyers Manx Surf Board 45 years in the making....Bruce Meyers has created the ultimate dune buggy accessory.    Only 100 "Classic" Meyers Manx Surfboards will be offered.    This is your unique opportunity to own the 1st board for sale.  Serial number #001!     Each board is shaped and prepared for your final color choice for the rails (boarder of the board).     Choose from the current Meyer Manx color chart in solid or metalflake.Each of the 100 boards will have Bruce Meyers actual signature and serial numbered plate lamented into the board.   Each board also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity suitable for framing.   Own the first official Meyers Manx surf board.    This auction will end on December 4th.     Sales for the remaining 99 boards will be open to the public for $995.00 + S&H on December 5th at 9am PST directly from Meyers Manx at (U.S.) 1-760- 749-6321.      Good luck and happy bidding.     Shipping and handling responsibility of winning bidder.    Dimensions   22" x 4" x 86 1/2    11.25 lbs. This post was edited by Pine at December 6, 2011 6:24:07 PM GMT

This is the story & pics of Rob Wallace and his family, in his own words: "In October 1970, before I went to work in Greece, I sold my beautiful Ford Capri and bought a VW Beach Buggy for a last African adventure, a trip along the coast of Mozambique, from Lourenco Marques (now Maputo) to Beira and back through Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). I had such fun with the vehicle that i didn't sell it as planned, and it accompanied me on the SA Vaal to Southampton, where we explored the Home Counties and London for a couple of months. The following Spring, I fetched it and we drove across Europe to Greece. We broke down outside Lucerne in Switzerland (Mozambican beach sand had worn down the cylinder walls), and I had an unforgettable few days in Kussnacht-am-Rigi while waiting for it to be repaired. We had more adventures in Greece, before I sold it and bought a slinky little yellow Fiat 128 Coupé, which i went to fetch in Rome in a Friday evening traffic jam, and drove it back to Athens. When it came time to return to South Africa, I upgraded to my dream car, a metallic green BMW 2002tii, of which I took delivery in Munich soon after Natasha was born in 1974. It lasted me through thick and thin for 23 years, before Natasha wrote it off in an unfortunate crash in our neighbourhood in 1997.Most of these pictures scanned from my collection of colour slides." The new beach buggy parked on the lawn in front of Lothlorien, the bachelor house in Linksfield, Johannesburg, which I shared with 8 other guys in 1969/1970.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide1.jpg Housemates and friends posing with the new beach buggy in Front of Lothlorien, our bachelor house in Linksfield, Johannesburg.Left front and back are Liz and John Fawbert, who later married, centre is Andy Pliska, and right, Tony Swill.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide2.jpg Andy Pliska (who did the Mozambique trip with me) and I pose in front of the Beach Buggy at Lothlorien before setting out.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide3.jpg At the summit of the Long Tom Pass in the Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga), celebrating with a beer. The low centre of gravity and 18-inch rear tires gave us an exhilarating fast ride down the other side of the Pass, and I fell in love with the Beach Buggy right then.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide4.jpg Hunting for gold. A side trip to an old gold mine in the Eastern Transvaal near Lydenburg. Andy Pliska writing up his journal.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide5.jpg Camping at Xai-Xai on the Mozambique coasthttp://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide6.jpg Camping at Xai-Xai on the Mozambique coast. Andy's "morning glory"http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide7.jpg Parked outside the Ambassador Hotel in Salisbury (now Harare), Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), in September or October 1970.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide8.jpg Stopping for a seaside Laurentina Beer on the Mozambique coast.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide9.jpg Heading north in Mozambique. When we weren't driving on the beach, we spent a lot of time on dirt roads like this.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide10.jpg Another stop for a beer at a rural trading store in Mozambique. The locals always very excited about our vehicle.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide11.jpg On the beach in Mozambique. Somewhere near Inhambane. (Praia de Tofo?)http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide12.jpg On the beach (possibly Praia de Tofo) near Inhambane. Andy pliska with a couple called Bob and Connie whom we met in Inhambane.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide13.jpg On the beach (possibly Praia de Tofo) near Inhambane. Andy pliska with a couple called Bob and Connie whom we met in Inhambane.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide14.jpg With some Rhodesian tobacco farmers and their families whom we met on the beach. Les Jellicoe and Dan someone. I have often wondered what became of these guys and their kids during Zimbabwe's tortured development over the last 38 years.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide15.jpghttp://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide16.jpg At a shipwreck on the beach at Ponta do Barra Falsa, near Inhambane, Mozambique.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide17.jpg Andy and I taking a break on the beach in Mozambique.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide18.jpg On the beach in Mozambique. An overnight campsite.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide19.jpg My Mother, Joy and Wendy having a ride, at Inyanga in Rhodesia, October 1970.http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/AutoCuriose/ZA%20Buggy/Slide20.jpg