Steve Hole tells the story of the buggy based on an un-modified VW Beetle floorpan. Unusally and refreshingly for the day it wasn’t ‘inspired’ by the GP Buggy!
This time in CLASSIC KIT CARS & SPECIALS we have the first car made commercially by the genius that is Richard Oakes, dating back to 1970 – the TRAMP beach buggy. I think it flies under the radar and to these eyes it still looks great.
It is definitely one of the nicest looking long wheelbase buggies and gave everyone a prelude of what Richard would go onto achieve.
A young Richard was working for Davrian Developments in North Street, Clapham, in 1969, along with one Peter Filby! He told me that he wasn’t getting on with Davrian boss Adrian Evans, at the time and the two would often argue.
I think Richard was happy when he was sent off to the fishing town of Brixham, Devon, to repair the GRP body on a damaged Davrian.
He soon ended up working for a company in the town called Western Laminates, run by Roger Talbot, who encouraged Richard to build his Tramp buggy idea, which was based on an un-modified Beetle floorpan.
That’s Western Laminates boss, Roger Talbot and his family enjoying one of his Tramp beach buggies in its natural environment – the beach!
As mentioned, I think it still looks very good, even today, some 56 years after it first saw the light of day.
I’m delighted to give these photos an airing as they are absolutely beautiful. The bloke with his family in the Tramp buggy on the beach is, I believe, Roger Talbot, while the lady posing atop the buggy is none other than Richard’s wife, Annie. If you look closely in that shot, you can just see a young Richard pulling a funny face!
Richard Oakes’ wife, Annie, sitting atop the rollbar in this magazine photoshoot for HOT CAR magazine in 1970. If you look carefully, you’ll see a young Richard pulling a funny face!
The Tramp sold well initially, and about 70 were sold before it went out of production in 1971. It wasn’t around for long, but it made an impact.
Richard and Annie were soon heading back to London, where the Nova idea was hatched … and we all know the rest.
I really hope you enjoy these images.
We regularly cover cars like this in TKC MAG and also on our website, totalkitcar.com. totalkitcar-com.myshopify.com https://totalkitcar-com.myshopify.com .