4 Cresse Street Rio Grande, New Jersey 08242
I would like to share with you a photograph of a buggy I built
using plans advertised by the late Vernon Silver in this
magazine.
While attending the 23rd annual Tuckahoe Steam and Gas Engine
Show in Maryland last summer, my son Andy and I saw a homemade
vehicle that we thought resembled one built by Henry Ford in
1886.
When we got home that day we immediately sent a letter to Mr.
Silver requesting a copy of his plans, and when they arrived we
went to work gathering up everything we needed to build ours.
Since I am retired I worked on it full-time, and my son worked
weekends. It is powered by a 5 HP lawn mower engine and we used a
three speed transmission , also from a riding mower. The clutch is
homemade using belt tighteners, and the differential is part of the
rear axle. The top was installed in two sections. First the frame
or bows were installed, and then the fabric was put on by another
craftsman, both Amish, near New Holland, Pennsylvania. The top is
the only thing that we didn’t do ourselves and the workmanship
is great!
We had a great time building it, and the grandchildren enjoy it
more than we do. We have won a second place trophy and other
plaques at local shows, and we are now planning our second one. The
new one will have two seats and will be slightly heavier.
We would like to hear from others who have built one of these
buggies using Mr. Silver’s plans.
