"HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN DUNE BUGGY" 1970s DO-IT-YOURSELF VW BEETLE CONVERSION KIT FILM XD60584z

Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @periscopefilm
Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit / periscopefilm
Visit our website www.PeriscopeFilm.com
This 1970s promotional film, which takes place at Rudy Schmid’s Body Shop, shows viewers how easy and cost effective it is to build your own Dune Buggy. The film goes through all steps from finding the right car as a base, to applying the kit, and driving it around yourself. It features extensive footage of the outside and inside of the VW Beetle and the step-by-step remodeling done on it. The film was directed by Larry Wood, with cinematography by James Underwood and Phil Hagadorn. It was narrated by Jack Shannon with technical assistance by Paul Schmid. Note: it's not clear if Larry Wood is the same man who designed the famed Hot Wheels dune buggy the Baja Bug, but it seems quite likely!
0:17 a dune buggy driving off, 0:56 “How to Build Your Own Dune Buggy”, 1:04 a car driving up to Rudy Schmid’s Body Shop, 1:26 two men looking at car scraps, 1:45 men look at a battered VW Beetle and checking all parts carefully, 3:34 one of the men buys the beetle from the other man, 4:08 man begins disassembling the gas tank, 4:50 man begins disconnecting steering mechanism, 5:07 a man drives up in another beetle and begins helping with disassembly, 5:30 both remove the steering column, 5:57 men begin removing seats, 6:12 men begin disassembling bottom of car, 6:53 men remove wires from the engine, 7:04 men remove wheels, 7:41 men remove remaining bolts from the bottom of the car, 8:22 multiple men show up to lift the body off the beetle, 8:50 men move the chassis into a garage, 9:22 animation of the work to be done on the chassis, 9:48 man removes the pedal assembly, 11:08 man removes sound insulation material, 11:25 welder draws cutting line, 12:13 welder cuts car with an air chisel and a torch, 13:58 men and welder connect the separated sections to weld them together again, 14:44 man removes rust from the chassis, 15:21 man coats the chassis with rust inhibitor paint, 16:04 man and welder attach a sub frame to strengthen the chassis, 17:10 new exhaust pipes being mounted on chassis, 17:23 new fiberglass body is mounted on the chassis, 17:52 man attaches taillights to the new body, 18:05 man drills holes for the gas tank and uses a contraption to measure where to place it, 19:35 two men place the hood onto the body, 20:00 men use contraption to mark where to drill the gas tank hole, 20:41 men insert braces and dashboard gages, 21:23 dashboard is installed, 21:52 man attaches new large wheels onto the buggy, 23:00 man drills holes for headlight mounts, 23:26 man attaches the steering wheel, 23:59 man installs wiring under the dashboard, 24:36 man drills holes to install the windshield, 24:51 man and his son install the windshield, 25:22 a finished buggy with different roofing options, 25:46 close up of the finished buggy from different angles, 27:21 finished dune buggy driving on a course, 27:57 “How to Build Your Own Dune Buggy”, 28:19 produced and directed by Larry Wood, 28:32 messages of thanks
Rudy Schmid’s Body Shop in Syracuse, New York continues to exist as Rudy Schmid Total Car Care.
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference."
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@thomash.5199]

Greetings from the Black Forest in Germany. I bought my buggy (KARMANN GF) when I was 24 years old. Now I'm a grandpa, almost 73 years old and still have my buggy! Next year he will be with us for half a century. 😍

[@bartsimpson6767]

I turned a '74 beetle into a "Baja bug" 19 years ago. It's been a lot of fun and won several plaques at car shows. I will never sell it! Seems everyone here in the U.S. has an old VW story. I guess it the same in Europe too...🇺🇸🐞

[@olivervision]

Flat Out Awesome. How long did it take to put a radio and some speakers in it? Or it is the buggy just too loud?

[@olivervision]

@@bartsimpson6767 Way back when it was still somewhat affordable.. Prices are ridiculous now.

[@bartsimpson6767]

@@olivervision I put am -fm- cd player in the glove box. Made a "package tray" and mounted 6X9 speakers. The bug seams to like Iron Maiden!!!

[@olivervision]

@@bartsimpson6767 Eddie would be proud!

[@evan12697]

i like how as hes telling us to buy metric sockets the dude's just going at it with a bolt rounder

[@mikes-wv3em]

$14 was probably snapon pricing back then

[@3sparewashers-lg3gf]

@@mikes-wv3em 14 dollars equates to about $130 today. For something made in America, not bad I'd say.

[@One-Crazy-Cat]

Ahhh yes he used the old Mexican Socket set I see. lol.

[@drysori]

And the trusty Stanley claw hammer.

[@michaelgideon8944]

Thanks for preserving this piece of 60's culture.

[@Wildwood975]

Yes, if you’re dismantling a VW in your Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes with no battery powered tools and dropped $14 for those crazy metric wrenches you have every right to smoke a pipe and do the Captain Morgan stance anytime you feel it necessary.

[@Hjerte_Verke]

Those aren't Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes, that's the casual T-shirt and flip flops of the era. People just dress like trash these days and you're used to it; pre-ripped blue jeans, dirty pajama pants and fuzzy slippers are the wear du jour when heading to the corner store. Full-sleeve silly tatts must be also displayed

[@user-tg1ks9qz1l]

Im building one of these buggies right now, but its much more expensive because used parts are hard to find in good condition. Still, im proud of how far ive come in rebuilding this ancient old piece of motoring history.

[@robt8094]

Are you using a kit?

[@4thebanjoguy]

Good luck with the build. I built a SWB GP beach buggy ( UK) back in the seventies, now I’m in my seventies!

[@steveladner4346]

Growing up in the 70s and 80s I built a few myself.

[@billruss6704]

We had the super economy version, step 1) remove body. Step 2) drive.

[@reubenwoodley96]

The music that they use in this video! Gold. 🎶

[@shawnbenson979]

old but fun to here

[@robertamoyaw8812]

😂❤

[@bhoss7133]

How about the Dan Aykroyd narrator?!!😂

[@trappenweisseguy27]

Check out the music from the 67-69 animated Spider Man series. You might like it.

[@NoBucks777]

As a young teenager, I remember back in the late 60s seeing the best looking buggy at Daytona Beach while on vacation. Gold metal flake with a white top, lots of chrome on that VW engine. I think I learned the meaning of “lust” that day! Oh to go back….

[@Oliverdobbins]

Now remember, before starting a project like this you’ll need the help of your friend Dennis. BE SURE that Dennis smokes a pipe. Always remember to smoke while welding. The presence of highly combustible gases shouldn’t stop you from being in flavour country. If the hood alignment gives you trouble, try growing a beard or some excessive sideburns. One thing to always be sure of, is to never wear eye protection when using power tools. So long as you’re smoking - that’s all the protection you need.

[@trolojolo6178]

Had me in pain and tears. Thanks😂

[@friendlypiranha774]

Real Men Don't Eat Quiche

[@gregorytraise511]

😂do the pipe and sideburns do the same job as seatbeats too?😂😂

[@thudthorax]

The cars in the background are something else! Just the dented Karmann Ghia shell in the salvage yard is gobsmacking.

[@ConemantheBarbarian]

I built a Koyote bodied buggy back in the late 70’s. I actually assembled the engine in my bedroom. I got it completed before my mom noticed!

[@raymondkuijpers2549]

That's the time where you could tinker self at a car. That time won't come back. Thanks for this piece of rescued jewel. Keep up the great work. Thanks

[@beyondmiddleagedman7240]

Wrong. We still do it. The aftermarket is created by guys tinkering with cars. Then selling the results.

[@blip_bloop]

Plug Electric Humvee into the search bar. There are definitely people out there coming up with and building interesting things out there.

[@backyardbuggies939]

Still building VW buggies today, nothing is more fun

[@ern48]

I saw these in a Popular Mechanics magazine and instantly wanted one, later Kurt Russell drove one in a Disney movie. I finally bought one in the early 80s and saying this buggy was a ton of fun would be an understatement. I sold it to my buddy and he still owns it today and drives it every summer. It will do some wild spins using the steering brakes (e-brakes) in the grass!

[@alejoromero]

My dream car since I was a child.

[@ianallen2]

Mine too. I have had a Matchbox model and a Tamiya RC kit in the early 1980's, but I have never owned or built a real one. I am too old now. lol

[@Steve-PerfectVinylForever]

These guys are dressed nicer to tear apart an old Bug than most people going to work these days.

[@johnsweet8508]

Who knew Maynard G. Krebs was such a good wrencher?

[@dickhertz5973]

It's like a beard man.

[@patriley9449]

I had a Meyers Manx back in the day. I bought it already made. It had a "bus transaxle" so it was geared lower and had higher ground clearance. This was in the late 70's when the first Toyota 4wd pickups came out. One day some friends who had Jeeps and Toyota trucks were going on a trip to a very sandy area. I said I will go too. One of the guys said that that "thing" will get stuck. Funny thing is that I drove circles around them with my light weight, wide back tires and rear weight bias. That thing was so much fun. I ended up selling it to my brother who never paid me for it and I don't know what became of it. As with most of my old cars, I wish I had it now.

[@csj9619]

VeeDubs are super fun. It used to be cheap to build a car like this, but nowadays, ain't nothin' cheap.

[@jackmehoff2961]

I remember J.C. Whitney sold those bodies for $500, Baja kits for under $200. The days of the 10 cent soda .

[@bholdr----0]

This vid feels like something that would be posted in KZbin in the modern day. And, remember: It ain't cool unless it's AIR cooled! Cheers! (Well, oil cooled, but, y'know)

[@suespony]

I am guessing this is a film from the mid 70's era, I always wanted one of these back in the late 70's, 2000.00 bucks back then wasn't available, now I would pay that in a heartbeat.

[@clickbaitcharlie2329]

Tough call,..do i build a buggy?, or a gyro-copter?...

[@energyasylum997]

I’ve owned three Manx buggies, and am buying another one very soon!!

[@robbchastain3036]

Bring back these days, when every garage on the street housed a machine shop for junior to build boats and planes and dune buggies! And I grin but O my, it was such a creative time back then, back when, sure, let's build this or that and have fun with it. And I enjoyed the narration of this, the gent conveyed the information with clarity and concern that the builder do the job right and harvest an enjoyable dune buggy. And locally here in Central Pennsylvania, there is a gent who drives around an open tube-frame dune buggy. I don't see it often but it turns heads and the driver seems to be having a ton of fun, probably like riding a go-kart.

[@davidweston9115]

Wow, $600 to $2000 for that little toy, 50 years ago. That same year my mom got a beautiful air conditioned 1960 Cadillac for $500 which lasted us 30 more years and held 6 people in Don Draper comfort. I can't imagine paying more for a toy like this and having to do labour too. I liked it much better as a real people's car bug. Dr. Porsche and Uncle Addy's greatest gift to the world.

[@brianchisnell1548]

I grew up in the 60s & 70's in SoCal and this was a time when you could get a good, clean, 40hp bug for 500 bucks.

[@IvanStepaniuk]

so more than 5000 bucks if you adjust for inflation

[@ringokidd387]

Cragar rims And 65 mustang tail lights! Nothing Finer than That on a Dune buggy!

[@deepbludude4697]

When I was 10 in 1970 our neighbor had one, him and my Pops would sit out there tinkering with it then about 3 pm crack beers I got the first ride in it with my neighbor as his wife didnt want to mess up her hair. It was fun as hell 6 years latter i built a baja bug that thing was so much fun in Central Florida ripping around in the sand dunes and palmettos

[@hoverlogix5554]

Hello 👋 Well I can confirm this video is accurate 😂 Dad did this in 1968 after he saw one! I was there wishing to grow up and drive it! I am now the caretaker of all that custom ✌️buggy! Dad claims to be lead Engineer on the build of course 😊Me just laborer! 56 years Survivor and going Strong Vw love ❤️

[@tn2mich]

I had a friend that built VW Beetles, and I was shocked by how cheap it was to build these cars!!! Then years later a friend of mine bought a 72 Super Beetle, and he showed me a catalog from EMPI and it blew my mind how inexpensive everything was. I have always been a Pontiac fan, but maybe one of these days I will make the switch. 😅

[@colossalbigfoot256]

Don’t look now. Everything is expensive.

[@BeamerTheFox]

great old video, thanks for putting this up for us, theres still buggy nuts around like me here an there in 2024

[@dr.danchallice3888]

Don't forget the Baja Bug conversion if you wanted to keep some level of comfort from the elements.

[@tadonplane8265]

I had a ‘62 Baja bug with a 1600. It had the big canvas sunroof that backseat riders could stand up through, three at a time.

[@hoagie1978]

Cool Film ! This video looks like it may be from around 1968 or 1969 time period judging by the clothing and hair.

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

Definitely no later than 1970- he advised us to avoid the Carmann Ghia, but made no mention of avoiding the Super Beetle.

[@paul9156c]

My Dad and I bought a 1964 VW, and built a beautiful buggy. 40hp.

[@allencheck501]

Thanks for the vid good stuff,i had a meyers manx for years daily driver, now ive got two vw sand rails and a v=8 old school water pumper, it never gets less fun! Thanks again !

[@famousutopias]

This is an excellent film transfer!

[@clickbaitcharlie2329]

The mini "moke", was the jeep of the antipodes.

[@conorgraafpietermaritzburg3720]

How quaint and nostalgic!😅

[@user-kk5vn4hl1n]

I was born in 1966 ,the son of a mechanic. I was my dads shadow in the garage from the age of 5. Watching this brought back alot of great memories, I still build some cars when I have the time.Other than the back ground music, the lack of safety cracks me up the most. Love it!

[@garyhaber333]

The 1st 3 cars my dad had when he moved to PS Ca were dune buggys on VW bug chassis' I used to ride shotgun with my big brother back in the mid 70s. My dad had them built and serviced by some vw guy outside town that owned the original 'Hole in the Wall' VW place. Thats when PS Ca was still a ghost town and only had a few traffic lights on the main road. Those were good times and great memories❤❤❤❤🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@williamroberts4049]

That brings back memories of the early 1970s 😮

[@Alpha-ro8sc]

Uncle Jim made a ton of these. Thank you for the fond memories.

[@k5ren]

This was fun to watch! Think of the money one could make from the unused parts of even that wrecked body on Marketplace today! Seeing them use the best techniques of the day, such as using an air chisel for cutting the straight lines as opposed to our plasma cutters, was a neat insight of the advancements in our technologies in the past 50 years. None the less, we got them on the road! I also looked at the potential for the shade tree mechanics and booger welders among us to successfully create virtual deathtraps for the willing, daring or possibly unknowing consumer. Great addition to the PF libraries. Thanks!

[@patrickwentz8413]

Plenty of up selling in this video. Really good stuff.

[@mongrelmercury1016]

I love these types of films awesome vintage early 1970s reminds me of Pathe film how to build a Opus hot rod

[@thisolddog2259]

I remember all those vw kit cars in the 70s. The rolls royce, lotis and the trikes too

[@jailbird1133]

I believe there were a couple of pickup kits, and a sports car or two.

[@MrDastardly]

When innovation was common place.

[@tomchristensen3392]

My dad and I built one in the early 70s after I wrecked my mom’s beetle.

[@misterozonio4325]

I had one "1989 magnata" buggy at Ceará-Brasil... with big dunes, little rivers and a lot of fun! We called it "yellow buggy marine"!.. 🔥🇧🇷👍

[@CICatinga]

All BGM was used in Chespirito TV show…. Thanks for share!

[@inconceivable1220]

my very first car was a GP products beach buggy LDV, it was absolutely bonkers , i learned to drive in it with "Learner" plates fitted, so basic but so much fun! happy days....

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

This is awesome! thank you!!!

[@PeriscopeFilm]

You're so welcome! Glad you found it and enjoy it.

[@kenmore01]

Simple. Just buy a crashed beetle with no frame damage, remove the body, cut 14 1/4" from the middle of the chassis, weld it back together, put the drive train back together, attach the dune buggy body. Then, you have a dune buggy! Hope it doesn't break in half.

[@ypaulbrown]

I grew up in Central Florida in the 60's, there were tons of places to go off road.. now you have to drive 50 or more miles to find a place......times sure have changed....

[@deepbludude4697]

Yep I left Central Florida (Satellite Beach) too many damn people, restrictions, insurance, methheads and street zombies it was awesome in the 80s though...

[@christopherconard2831]

From North Florida. We had two tracks or trail areas for riding motorcycles. One is now a subdivision, the other a shopping center and car dealership. There's an Outback Steakhouse where a friend grew his pot supply.

[@joshuatzonfortheslaughter]

Minneola in 80's and everything was pretty much private property. So for us growing up we could't go anywhere. Thankfully I'm in SWVA these days and off-roading ain't hard to come by.

[@TrapperAaron]

We used to do the cheap ass dune buggy mods. Swap the front and back fenders, put front torsion bar a few clicks up, stacked rubber from old tyres for a body lift. Bobs ur auntie.

[@nicholaskennedy4310]

Nothing like that 40 HP VW sound, priceless!

[@SpecialAgentJamesAki]

Friend of mine just gave me a minty 1200 motor I think I’ll make a buggy. Perfect!

[@duaneulman9915]

Thank you 😊

[@christopherconard2831]

That wrecked VW would go for $20K on FB Marketplace today. Because....I KNOW WHAT I'VE GOT!

[@AiMR]

Back in the good old days before seat belt laws 😉

[@albear972]

That was groovy man! Totally tubular.

[@evivant]

I learned to drive in one of these my father built.

[@RinksRides]

3:58, thanks for the tip. Will stay away from bugs an ghia's.

[@thomasadrian9854]

Groovy!!

[@Gannett2011]

Is that from the optical or magnetic soundtrack? That sounds really good for a 16mm film. Dune buggies... very much of their time! One of my neighbours still has one in his driveway, even though we live about 80 miles from the coast!

[@TheMonkeyNeuron]

Strong new anthem

[@tomtbi]

I built the 1/25 scale AMT Model Kit of the Meyers Manx Dune Buggy last fall.. came out rather nicely I think...

[@tomtbi]

And yes,it has a VW Beetle engine...

[@JeffKopis]

But how does it drive? 😉

[@tomtbi]

That glass place looks like Thru Way Glass in Syracuse NY... The city where I live!!

[@dfabeagle718]

Man that sure sounds like Ward Cleaver (Hugh Beaumont). Beaver gets a dune buggy! (edit, I see it was Jack Shannon) but they sure sound a lot alike!)

[@saleendriver]

As a car guy I enjoyed this video thoroughly

[@thomasgoodwin2648]

"Breathe deep! Healthy lungfuls of fiberglass and rust dust couldn't EVER possibly cause health issues like cancer or virgin disease down the road. And Oh My! That black leather interior will have you peeling the burn scabs off for days the 1st time you leave your heap parked in the noonday beach sun." 💓💗💓 ✌😎👍

[@deepbludude4697]

Sun wasnt as hot back then and all that ground up stuff wasnt unhealthy cough...cough...

[@Green_Gundel]

Klasse! 🙂

[@WireWeHere]

I recall wiring the dash on the living room floor waiting for the snow to melt so we could get back to our donor without a shovel.

[@rawbacon]

I'm not supposed to tell but my Uncle nabbed a flag from a cemetery to use as a rag when his buggy broke down.........I was maybe 5, he told me not to tell but I was so excited about our adventure I said it anyways when we got back.

[@RustyShavlefordlll]

Cool

[@bloqk16]

[sarcasm laced] Love the absence of advising people about the use of safety items when doing the build, such as for hands, eyes, and lungs.

[@asciimation]

The welder was smoking his safety cigarette when gas cutting the chassis at least.

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

Watching him cut the fuel filler hole through the fiberglass with no mask made MY lungs hurt!

[@ypaulbrown]

haha, that is hilarious @@asciimation

[@ypaulbrown]

@@TheREALJosephTurner ah, that is a normal thing, just hold your breath....

[@notmyworldnotmypeople3614]

The captions called it Doom bucket😅. That's what you should name it 😏

[@1FelixTheCat]

We'll just ignore the new Kellison body leaning against the fence.

[@echassin]

Goggles? Heck, they hadn't even invented The Safety Squint yet.

[@pod9538]

😂😂😂

[@brilog69]

Kool!

[@the80hdgaming]

Ah... Smooth jazz and mechanics...

[@drz4073]

Does the speedometer need calibration when using bigger tires (for street legal purposes)?

[@nstooge]

Just great…. Now I want to watch Beach Blanket Bingo for some unknown reason….

[@tn2mich]

The narrator sounds like Hugh Beaumont, Ward Cleaver on Leave it to Beaver.

[@t1mblumer]

Was this filmed in Syracuse NY or was Rudy Schmidt a regional body shop?

[@PN_48]

Check the Karmann Ghia in the background at 1:39!

[@KF-qj2rn]

i remember these, didn't realize it was a kitkar hobby trend

[@FINNIUSORION]

that was a Wolfsburg vw they junked into a buggy. I guess they weren't as rare when this video was made lol.

[@e-curb]

@iebuilt8241 Over 1 million were built in 65. And 64, and 66...

[@vf12497439]

Funny, I grew up with the Oregon dunes in my back yard. Everyone had a dune buggy or a sand rail. Poor people had 3 wheelers or dirt bikes. But VW was king until the late 80’s when the mid engine pinto swap became popular

[@999878889552210]

The Bud Spencer and Terence Hill Buggy . the classic one , nice to see how it build

[@ypaulbrown]

$2,000 bucks in 1969, that is $17,000 in todays money, no wonder I never had one of these

[@TheGearTurtle]

I'm currently building a 1978 sand dancer T or Roadster T. It's kinda hard to find some of the parts

[@mode1charlie170]

The first ever side by side?

[@porkchopspapi5757]

I never noticed they had loud, obnoxious, unnecessary music over the audio back then just like KZbin vids today.

[@frostydog03]

Where was their 12 pack of beer? That is good work with only a crescent wrench, claw hammer and a socket set. And who needs safety glasses? It really was the good old daze back then.

[@jong6741]

No gloves

[@Chris_at_Home]

How did we get by without cordless power tools?

[@timpriddy349]

I like the metalflake look more

[@ghostmantagshome-er6pb]

That was cool. I loved the plastics or fiberglass 'metal flake' as a kid. The depth of it.

[@Darydude10]

These comments make me feel like I'm back in shop class joking around during the videos