Fiberjet Sand Hopper Buggy

When was the last time you baked a cake? No, we can't remember doing so either. Considering it takes just a few ingredients, plus one oven, what makes it so difficult?

So when it comes to show cars, why do some people think it's easy? You hear them at shows making comments about how they would have done this and that differently. But when was the last time they had a go for themselves?

It makes us smile when people talk about buggies, rails and the like, thinking they're easier than any other VW to build. After all, it's just a kit car, right? Bin the body and you're good to go.

Darren Bowden from Billy Bob's Buggy Shop knows better than most that that's just not true, having already built two VolksWorld feature vehicles with his red rail that was featured in our March 2005 issue and his green Berrien Roadster T featured later that year in September.

From his Taunton base he's turned out some immaculate alternative VWs over the years, and he's not shy when it comes to having a go at a different body style. This time he decided to up the challenge though, as we found out. "Meyers made the Tow'd for three years between 1969 and '71," explains Darren of his new creation. "They used quite a simple tube chassis. Then Fiberjet took over production and popped them out until 1998. They employed a better full tube chassis, and this is one of those. Around June last year I was trawling through the Samba site and I found an advert for a NOS Fiberjet Sand Hopper kit."

OK, we all surf the Samba from time to time, but what made Darren decide he needed this vehicle in his life? "I thought the buggy scene has become a little bit samey so I thought why not import it and build something different?"

For the full story check out the December 2008 issue of VolksWorld magazine. On sale on 31 October and then available through back issues.

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