Ive seen buggies wrapped around lampposts but what about lampposts wrapped around buggies, could be a design....or shall I get my coat! Mind you, buggy in mirror wrap, helping an admiring young lady into the passenger seat for fit. its reflective qualities may prove outstanding….yes I will get my coat. Good night

AO, yes Santa pod is the choice then folks, its middle uk and fair, everyone knows it and what to expect including Europe, its not static what with the RWYB, a weekender, it may attached a few race buggies and ones that are not taxed and motd, plus the point Krug made about the police is sorted out as its a licensed venue. Krug thanks for your input, that sums up how hard it is to get people on the wagon and like southern buggy years back they got 50 odd and I remember it took Mel H a year of hard push to get that, however done right and with the time we could work out something. Ive had a thought in that we could tag it on to say the 2014 VW Action as they have a off road course too (but not bug jam) that way were classed more of a club than an event itself, so we can allocate a sectioned off sizable pitch, and sort our own show and shine, crap fun trophies with a twist and don’t have to take the huge money risks if the weather caves it in keeping it real. Again guys it looks like you have the internet contacts and I’m sure a small web page is not out of the question. I will ring Santa Pod, look into other events and make some enquires over the next few weeks, if it works out we can take it from there and meet up for a pint. A suggestive start at least hows that?

Hi AO, Well I will make some enquires and see what it takes, however Ive noted 35 persons have viewed this entry but only one has returned. So can anyone else comment on the idea, does it float yer boat?

Hi Folks, sorry me again along with the only other 4 that wish to pipe up!

 

If i got this right in 1964 the 1^st Manx arrived, so that makes 2014 being 50 years of the buggy! which is a long time coming, however another observation is that it takes a lot of work to get anymore than 30 buggies together in one spot at any one time in the uk cause of work, holidays and “the buggy is not on the road” yawn.., But 50 years is only going to come around once so it should mean a min of 250 buggies in one spot to do it right. So I know 2014 seems a long time away, but should an event be started to be planned now for the UK, and if advertised correctly via face book, internet etc the rest of Europe could join in. I say Santa Pod is the best venue because you can camp, drag race, show and shine, keep away from the law and auto test there, also thinking early will give time to contact some original builders and old school,  am I alone or should I butt out????

 

Great report on the SWB Rat, but Sorry about this, I have to wade in to correct a couple of things.

The 1st Rat SWB mould was made in early 1970 not 1960. It was modified shell based on a SWB GP Mk1, hence the same length, upper side panels, 3/4 of the bonnet and the upper rear arches, the body was just cut about, added to and formed around a bit to become the Rat. Then a mould was made to make number 1 Rat

 

The 1st mould had a major problem in that the rear left wing (n/s) was slightly wider on the leading edge, so when you put the new body on a perfect set up chassis with suspension with wheels fitted, the left rear wheel looked liked it was bent inwards (or know as massive toe in) the fix was to slice a triangle out of the leading edge of the wing and glue back together. Approx 7 bodies were made this way before the mould was corrected; number one body was produced in yellow gel coat. My car hot lemon had this problem and it was produced in yellow gel coat, so it may be number one. However no body numbers were ever employed so it will always be unconfirmed. This latter info about number 1 was from Tony Hill the original producer

 

I would say SWB Rats are very rare, and LWB quite rare but the bodies are now between 32 to 41 years old, made of very thin layup, they broke up badly when bumped or stressed, so now most have been thrown away when in an accident or the chassis rotted out. but for all that, in most UK VW shows you will always see a Rat sitting there, looking nice and ugly back at yer! Still A piece of UK fiberglass history.