Is this a production vehicle or just test/prototype vehicle?

Maybe. It is not a version used by the US military. It appears to be based on a Portugese vehicle. Check out this thread on it.

HB FAV


Portugese FAV

Hmmm.

From the front view, it looks like it is an old VW beetle body-pan, suspension, front wheel-hubs and brake-drums, and steering, too! And the engine appears in the diag to be a rear-mount air-cooled thing...

I think those Portuguese folks have revived the 1970's VW dune-buggy! With green paint, of course.

Hey, what's not to like about that? There are LOTS of old beetles lying around waiting for further life!

Bob

What about the Chenowth DPV announced for years and years and years and...??!!

The clue is stamped in the front of the vehicle in Gino's photo - 'Chenowth'.

They are well-known (Californian?) makers of civilian Dune Buggies (using VW Beetle mechanicals).

I believe the HB kit is one of early prototype vehicles that the US Army played with in the 1980s - that developed into the FAVs tested by one of the Light Infantry Divisions rather than the ultimate Special Operations vehicles of Desert Storm and beyond.

Regards,
John

Chenowth racing makes the chassis. Aren't there different versions. DPV FAV ALSV? Everyone loves the buggies

There are at least two originals here in AZ. They were on display at the local MV show back in January or February. The fenders/sand shields were not metal, but cut down 5 ton mud flaps screwed to the tube frame.

One of my nephews was in Iraq and said one of the SF teams had a "buggy" they used for patrols. I'll send him a text and ask what he was talking about later today. And who was using it.

Maybe it`s a clone of the HobbyFan resin FAV?

Hobby Fan :



Hobby Boss :



H.P.

Well, I do know for a fact that the Hobby Fan FAV driver and co-driver can and does fit in the Hobby Boss FAV kit. The seat needed a little sanding and cutting, but they both fit.
I am working on the Hobby Boss kit right now.

Real thing from my research walk around. Not the same vehicle.

One of those was in the movie "3 Kings". So there are different layouts using a common chassis (stretched and normal). That's a great picture.

With a bit of work, you could make one of these.

Do they all use the air-cooled VW engines or diesel? More great pictures! Those would be awesome to see in 1:35. I m sure someone is already on it

Air-cooled VW engines. Those are the Army FAVs that the 9ID tested. They were ultimatly not bought by the US Army.

I took a pass at building this is in 1/25 scale a few months ago...







I didn't use a vw engine though - i did some homework and discovered class 11 off road racers typically run Chevy Eco-tech and other engines - i used a Nissan racing engine in this - I read the original vw powerplant was not strong enough - fun build in any event -

Cheers
Nick

It came out looking great Nick. I plan on using the HB kit as a base to make the SEAL FAV that was actually used in ODS and again in the opening days of OIF in Iraq.

ODS



OIF