Well - here is an update as to where I stand now. I'll try to get some pictures posted. I like the idea that it is a complete basket case, because when its done I'll have some satisfaction from looking at the before pictures, its just right now everyone thinks I've lost my mind.
Being buggy ignorant, and VW ingnorant both, I probably overpaid for this pile of parts I have in my garage, but I think I have enough to make things work.
The first buggy I brought home has the body I wish to rescue, its a Manx clone, one I am so far unable to identify. It has twin hood scoops but doesn't have the bump in between them like the ones on the DBA. Also, along the sides under the lip it is glassed in bridging the lip with the side of the body making a tunnel, the rear fenders are that way also. It is going to require some work though, one of the front fenders is broken and there was some hackery around the engine compartment, and a lot of swiss cheese in areas.
This one had a homemade chassis I disocovered after pulling it all apart, it had an IRS rear welded on to twin beams that ran the length of the car and bolted to the front ball joint beam. There was a tunnel from a VW cut off at either end welded on top of the beams. The whole bottom was covered in a fiberglass sheet.
The other buggy I brought home has a standard VW pan with a swing axle rear and a link pin front. It appears to date from 1959. The pans are long gone, and I've since removed the tubular frame that was previously around the sides. I am going to switch the ball joint beam from the other buggy to this one and frame up new pans and go with diamond plate floors. (did I mention that aside from knowing nothing about vw mechanics, I also can't weld?) The body on this one is also so far unidentified, it was painted rattlecan camo.
The second buggy came with an engine, which is not frozen, we pushed it down the driveway and had my 11 year old pop the clutch and the motor turned and popped. It has oil in it and looks to be ok. I was told it was running when it was parked in the pasture. It appears to be a 1600 dual port with a single carb mounted up on top. I doubt that will fit under my other body, so I guess I'll need to swap that out. It also appears to have a useable gas tank.
So as of now, I basically have a tunnel and a big pile of parts, two rear ends, two trannies, two front beams, 11 wheels, two gas tanks, two bodies, two poly seats, two badly rusted steering columns/wheels an engine and a big pile of scrap metal.
All this is sitting in my 3 stall garage, while my wife's brand new car that I had to buy her to be able to partake in this hobby is sitting in the driveway.
So send positive thoughts that I can get a basic chassis put together out of this and get rid of the rest of the parts and once again achieve harmony in the house.
)
