I was thinking of making one of these some time in the future.
Any one have any info or placed to go to get info on them?
Any one ever ridden in one?
Any one ever built one?
Thanks

 

You mean a VW Bug, or also known as a "Baja Bug" or a VW powered "dune buggy type sand rail?"

 

used to race them as a co-driver ,and had my own brush bug for playing in the woods

 

Yes, the baja bug.
I would probably use it in the Pismo dunes, since they are only a little while away.

What would be the cost of building one of these?
What kinds of motors are put in?
Are any of the bugs manual, or are they automatic?
thanks for the help!

 

the ones we raced were 100% VW beetle engines and trannies ,I've heard of ones out in the dunes that have V8 in them

 

Well on the cost of building, how much ya got? The beauty of VW bugs is that there is millions of parts available and you can do pretty much anything to them and upgrade them as you go. I would probably sugguest starting with one already converted, I think in most cases you will find that cheaper than starting one from stock, that is unless you already currently own a bug.

All bugs (exclueding the new ones) that I know of were manual trannys. VW motors are great platforms and again your can get about any kind of upgrade, bore, stroke, turbo.. you name it! Even today V8 powered long travel cars are based on the VW type platform and share many of the same parts and set ups as a bug, just higher quality to withstand the horsepower and abuse.