The Bounty Hunter was created by Californian, Brian Dries at a time when many buggies looked virtually identical, all copying the basic (and classic) design of the Meyers Manx. As a buggy enthusiast, Dries' quest for a body with a little individuality came about whilst watching early dune buggies racing each other at Pismo Beach, California.
In early 1969, the first glassfibre mock-up of Dries' buggy was created and named the "BOUNTY HUNTER"

 

BODY STYLING

The Bounty Hunter's low, sleek bodyshell was slightly longer than most of the buggies of the time, and with its pointed front bonnet, complete with "power bulge" and curvy lines, (reminiscent of Corvettes) the buggy soon attracted a great deal of attention.
The bonnet sat well forward of the Volkswagen floorpan and suspension, and tucked back sharply at the front with a flat number plate mounting panel just below the sharp nose. The bonnet also provided the perfect place to fit a flush mounted filler cap, with access to the fuel tank beneath. Also connected to the bonnet was the dashboard, from which the screen mounted via two cast aluminium screen posts. The screen used was curved and raked back quite sharply in comparison to most other buggies, and originally came from a 1960s Renault Dauphine.

 

HEADLAMPS

Unlike most buggies, which had their headlights standing up on stalks, the Bounty Hunter's headlights were mounted in pods built into the wings, helping to further enhance the character and racecar looks of the low front end. The headlamps used were of a similar style to our good old Mini units.

 

HARDTOP

The Bounty Hunter had a removable glassfibre hardtop roof whichwas ultra low and added to the looks, slanting back and following both the lines of the rear end and the raked screen.

 

PRODUCTION

Dries quickly realised the attention that his one-off buggy was recieving and decided to set up in business. Glass Enterprises of Burbank, was formed in order to meet the orders of those that had pressured Dries into reproducing his buggy. Production began and the Bounty Hunter quickly made its well deserved mark in buggy history.

 

THE FILM STAR

Shortly after production began, the Bounty Hunter gained the attention of film producers as well as the public, and soon after, a gleaming, deep blue metalflake Bounty Hunter became the star of a Warner Bros flick, The Big Bounce.
(If anyone has a copy of this film or knows how I can get a copy, please contact me.)

 

NOW

The Bounty Hunter buggy continues to this day to make its presence known in the ever popular Volkswagen scene in Europe and the US, but not in the UK, (until now.) French enthusiasts reproduced the car, some 25 years after the original was created and the body also became the basis for another buggy, the "Deserter GT"

And now, I have a Bounty Hunter of my own, believed to be the first in the UK.

 

BOUNTY HUNTER SPEC (US)

 

Ultra low, racecar looks / sharp pointed bonnet / steep raked, curved windscreen / built in headlamps / optional ultra low hard top / side panels

 

Bounty Hunter UK spec.