How to fix front fenders?

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:35 am

It's time to repair the damaged front fenders on my dune buggy. Is there a company that makes replacement "fiberglass" parts to help in the repairs, or is there just too much difference between the kits. My body is over thirty years old!

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:22 am

If you are just going to repair some cracks or fill some holes you just use glass matt and resin. TAP Plastics in California is a good source. If your buggy is a clone and has been in a wreck you'd probably be better off to look around(ebay, samba) for another body. If its a genuine Manx, there are probably a couple places that would just make you some new fenders that could glassed on. The only "spare" fiberglass buggy parts that are made are hoods.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:21 am

Really can't answer anything here, with out knowing or seeing what is meant by damage. one of mine, The front fenders were cut off by the headlight mounts. That was the easy part of the repair job on that car. As long as you have the will, there's a way

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 2:10 pm

I know of a couple people that have actually made molds of the body parts that they needed, right off another buggy. If you have a badly mangled fender it might be an option.

jspbtown · Post by **jspbtown** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:41 pm

If the damage is limited to cracks, or even just small peices missing you can easily repair. For larger repairs it is always easiest if you have large pieces to work with. Just about anything can be done with fiberglass. Here are a couple of photo's of a CMC Speedster that I bought damaged and repaired with a new front left clip. It wasn't all that hard to do.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:56 pm

JSP, Can you tell me who makes ( made) that kit? Is it VW based? Very sweet looking car!

jspbtown · Post by **jspbtown** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:35 pm

Scott, Thats a 1990 CMC (Classic Motor Carriages), aka Fiberfab kit. It is a replica of a 1956 Porsche Speedster. More info then you can ever imagine is at www.speedsterowners.com. Both CMC and Fiberfab are out of busness. There are several manufacturers that still make turnkey cars (JPS, Vintage, Intermeccanica), and I believe StreetBeasts makes a flared kit still. Not sure who still makes the "classic" (ie: no fender flares) version as a kit. Yes, it is VW based. Chassis is shortened 14 1/2". Great little cars.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:24 pm

CMC didn't have the best reputation as a kit builder. Tons of lawsuits, false promises, etc. No surprise why they are no longer in business. I have the MGTD kit they offered in the early 80's. Mine is based on the Pinto/Mustang II chassis, but they did have a VW version and I think a design based on a Chevette. While the finished product will never fool anyone into believing it's the real thing, at least having it with a front mounted engine makes it a little more closer to the original. One of these days I might even finish it. I've learned a lot since I started it and now I feel I need to go back and make some improvements.

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:35 pm

Here is a picture of a friend's recently completed Speedster kit. It's powered by a Jake Raby built Type 4 engine.

It started as a CMC kit and was pretty pathetic. He built a tube chassis under the entire car to make it rigid enough to have fun with it.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:33 pm

Thanks for the info. JSP