TheSamba.com :: View topic - DuneBuggy ID, EMPI? Have looked all over DBA cant find this

Wed Apr 12, 2006 11:04 am

This buggy is built on a 54 pan. The Hood has the EMPI Imp, raised area, but the body doesnt look like a IMP. Does this buggy just have an IMP hood?
You cant see it in the photo, but its definetly an IMP hood.

My personal feeling is that is a hood off an IMP placed on some other body.
This is a great forum and thanks for taking the time to look.
Mike

Wed Apr 12, 2006 11:29 am

Check in http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewforum.php?f=38 they deal more in the fiberglass body types. Looks like it could be fun though!

David

Wed Apr 12, 2006 12:20 pm

Got some better pics of the hood?

It looks similar to an Imp hood, but from what I can see, it's not.

here's my old '70 model Empi Imp.

The hood scoop looks taller in the front, but it could just be the lighting in your pic. Does the hood have an Empi Globe emblem on the tag area?

The late Imps are the ones with the tach-pods.

Wed Apr 12, 2006 4:44 pm

there is only 2 pics but the sides def. look different but heres a couple to match up with http://www.buggymuseum.com/thumbnails.php?album=4 glass buggy on here is the expert there might have been different body styles also check out www.empiimp.com

Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:47 pm

Here is the close up of the Imp hood.

Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:38 pm

Yep, that looks like a correct Imp emblem area to me. The raised center scoop looks correct now as well.

I wonder. Is the Gelcoat the same on the hood as it is on the body? Can you tell?

Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:17 pm

I thought all the imps swooped way down in the front near the dash? looks more like a clone with an imp hood.

Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:47 pm

check out the classified sec. some guy was selling a logo for $125 sounds like alot of money to me. but good luck finding one

Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:18 am

I think I've seen one or two of these bodies before on eBay. Do you have a picture of the back of the body? If I'm not mistaken and judging from your first picture, the rear fenders and tail section are also just like an Imp. The only difference on the body is the front fenders which are more "Manx like" and not a clam shell type like an Imp, and the sides are more like a Manx than an Imp as well.

Rather strange...part Manx, part Imp.

Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:32 am

See the radio face that was never cut out on the right side of the dash?

The weird thing is that when I scraped off layers of paint on both the body and hood, its the same medium blue gelcoat.

What the heck do I have?
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Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:14 pm

''Kawalski's Fiberglass Products" of Clatskanie, Oregon is the manufacturer I believe. You need to ask your question to a buddy of mine who knows more about this style Rick Beekman is his name. You will have to find him on the dunebuggyarchives forum as I don't know his full email address.
Bart DBArchives

Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:38 pm

funny Pilotmike is asking the question and Ricks email is something like pilotRicky. seperated at birth?? we may never know

Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:07 am

Mike I have documented two other buggies on our archives that have a Manx style body and an Imp hood.

One even has the EMPI raised spot for the hood logo.
I confirmed with the owner that this body was molded in original metalflake with both the hood and the body matching.

The really odd thing is there is no official documentation on a body like this being sold.

There are stories of Empi wanting Meyers to produce the Imp bodies for them.

Also this body could be the result of a common boat shop splasher that made a mold of an Imp hood and a Manx body so neither could claim he copied them completely.

I would love to get some extensive photos of you buggy for the Archives files.
John