Tracking down my orginal 1959 356A 1.6 engine

[3ftDeep]

Hello. I'm just looking for possible ideas here to track down what happened to my original 1600 engine.
I included the following images in an older thread about finding pictures online, of my car from the late 1960s.

But, I've been thinking about the following since, but not sure where to start with tracking the buggy / engine down.

Basically, the owner of my car, a 1959 UK 356a T 2, in the late 60s, crashed, and it was written off. He took the engine out and put it into this beach buggy.





Any good ideas on maybe finding out where this buggy went and, obviously more importantly, what happened to the engine. Buggy / VW forums or the like?
The buggy Reg No. isn't listed on either the 'check car tax' or 'check mot history' Gov sites.
I think it was used / sold around the East Sussex / Brighton area in the early 1970s.

All a long shot, I know.

[Bruce M]

Stick something on Volkzone (VZI) forum. Might get lucky.

Assume you have asked PRS if they have that engine / case in their stash or if it’s passed through their hands?

[3ftDeep]

Thanks Bruce.
I forgot about VZI. Not been on there for years. I'll give it a go.

I've conversed with Mike from PRS in the past. I don't recall directly asking about the engine, but he supplied cardex info so assume he'd have mentioned any further, but worth a shot.

Thanks for the reply.

[Hugo 356]

It's not listed on the Original Engine Search page of the 356 Registry. Try Prill, Bray & Gantspeed as well as PRS

[3ftDeep]

Thanks, Hugo. I have searched for the engine in the past, but only recently found out it was put into a buggy.

Sorry, is this one thing or 2 / 3 different things? I've not heard of any of these?
'Try Prill, Bray & Gantspeed '

[3ftDeep]

Ah. I see now. I thought it was like 'Boggis, Bunce and Bean' : )
prillporscheclassics.com
rogerbrayrestoration.com (of course I've head of this : )
Gantspeed Engineering Ltd (no website)

I'll give them all a message. Cheers

[KS]

I knew that Mark Reynolds, who owns Just Kampers, bought a 356-engined buggy a couple of years ago, but sadly it was a Manta Ray with different reg. Back to the drawing board...
Found in North Wales, it had been built using the engine, box, brakes and gauges from a 1955 356! Mark ended up using them all in his Dannenhauer & Stauss resto.

[Nine One One]

You might also want to try this forum

https://www.beachbuggy.info/index.php?P ... 3c87af08be&

I would have thought older members may know of the Bug in question and what has happened to it? Could be if it was ever re shelled it ended up on a Q plate, you never know, might lead you in the right direction, if anyone answers your query on that forum?

[3ftDeep]

Thanks, Keith. Shame about Mark's recent buggy purchase. How coincidental if that had been it.
Thanks also, Nine One One (sorry, don't know your real name : ) That's very helpful. I've registered and will ask there too.

Chees

[Bruce M]

Saw mention on VZi that in the 70’s a there were a few 356-buggies in NI that were used for Auto Tests. Perhaps a small chance it ended up over there?

[Mike Smith]

I've conversed with Mike from PRS in the past. I don't recall directly asking about the engine, but he supplied cardex info so assume he'd have mentioned any further, but worth a shot.

The Definition of Assume ---- The start of a Cock-Up

Send me the Chassis number or the Engine Number (we have a mixture of 60 engines and case in stock - there is one that came out of a buggy)

Note -- Gantspeed closed the doors (we bought their entire stock)

[3ftDeep]

Hi Mike

Original engine 1600cc standard - P75269

I'd also like the kardex for my car too, please, if you are still able to arrange this?

Thanks if you are able to check.

Does anyone know what that model of beach Buggy is? Not sure if that little triangle on the nose is a recess or badge?
edit - buggy looks like a Manx Evocation?

[misteralz]

Unlikely to be a Manx - probably a GP.

[KS]

Yes, it's a Mk1 GP - the badge is a bit of a red herring...

[Nine One One]

Do not know if this is a follow up article?
https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/p ... df70c49002