Sand rail frame?

I am very interested in starting a project and had a few questions? I live in Missouri and VW based sand rails are easier and cheaper to find than decent Bugs. Would a sand rail with the removal of the roll cage and addition of supports make a better frame that a VW pan?

if it fit a manx then you should be ok. i'm not sure if the length will be an issue (is the manx 2 seater the same length as the 356 replica?)

The Manx is shortened 14.5 inches.

As an avid sand buggy person for the past 43 years, I'd say no. A tube frame sand buggy would bend if it weren't for the upper roll cage.

"The Manx is shortened 14.5 inches." and you need one shortened about 10". Plus near all Speedster have a steel sub frame designed to bolt to the VW chassis pieces. Guess you could buy FG body without the sub frame but even with the rail starting pieces it would be extensive fabrication. There are chassis makers that make a replacement bug pan. You just bolt on VW beam, trailing arms, trans.

What Larry J. said x2.

I know this is a bit of an old thread but I thought I had an appropriate link to add...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=320137&highlight=917

It's not a speedster but it does show what can be done with a good bit of vision and fabrication skills.

I have the Jr. model of this sand buggy, 1000 Yamaha Virago. It will be finished this winter.

Isn't that what you said last year?

Callin' you out, Magic Man!

...and the year before?!

.....it takes time to do the refine engineering and the highly detailed assembly, notice the snow tires?