Description
Unique vehicle - Sunhill Volkswagen single-seater buggy designed and built for the 1983 Paris-Dakar In 1978, Yves Sunhill, a designer with a degree in Fine Arts, took part in the 1st Paris-Dakar in a buggy of his own design. After taking part in every edition between 1978 and 1982, he built this unique single-seater buggy for the 1983 edition with the help of Volkswagen and ERG. This would be Yves Sunhill's last participation in the Dakar.
Inspired by American buggies, it adopted VW running gear and powertrains, grafted onto a tubular chassis. Every effort was made to keep down the superfluous kilos to reach a weight of 600kg! Many parts were brought back from the US by Sunhill (pedals, wheels, etc.). The cockpit was spartan and featured some surprising elements, such as the 4 pedals (!), a minimalist storage box and a cigarette lighter!
The Sunhill-designed fibre bodywork gives the buggy an iconic look that makes it a truly unique collector's item! After taking part in the Baja Aragon in 1983, it was miraculously found in a barn in 2020 in an unhoped-for state of preservation! The vehicle was fully restored for the first time in 2024, and meticulously restored to its original configuration. The period decoration is carefully reproduced using original bodywork components and period photos.
Two additional original body kits are included in the parts pack. The VW Type 4 air-cooled engine and 4-speed gearbox are also original, and the period accessories and interior have been perfectly preserved. A true testament to what the vehicles of the first Paris-Dakars were like, with all the original details that let you imagine what these adventurous drivers were going through at the time...
