Found
recently on Ebay, selling for $10,000.
Bill Frederick, builder of the LSR Budweiser Rocket and numerous
other jets and rocket-powered vehicles, was contracted to
build this "Megadestroyer" using assembly-line
construction techniques.
Frederick's Inc. originally built 10 Megadestroyer Buggies. Only
2 of these buggies survived the film shooting - and this
one is now for sale on eBay!!
Bill Harkey's San Fernando Buggy Center in San Fernando
designed many parts of this dune buggy. The basic chassis is
similar to their Class 1 buggy frame - 94 inch wheel base,
4130 chrome moly tube frame, SFBC also supplied the link-pin
front ends, IRS rear suspension, seats, brakes, etc. - all
the mounting tabs were attached at Frederick's. The
body plug was pulled at the shop, then the actual chopper
gun lay-up was subcontracted.
For power, Bill Frederick went to Bernie Bergmann Inc.
At that time they were located in San Marcos, but they
are now
in Oklahoma. Frederick bought
18 2074cc dual Solex engines and 2 2180's with dual 44
IDF's Carbs. The larger displacement motors were
used in the jumping scenes. This unit has the 2180 with
duel carbs!
Transaxle Engineering in the San Fernando Valley supplied
the transaxles. The tires are 12-15LT Gumbo wide
mudders in the rear and 6.70 15x5 fronts.
The steering is stock VW, as are the brakes. Bill
Neal supplied the pedal clusters and Simpson Safety Equipment
supplied the harnesses.
Each car took about three weeks to build at a 1982 cost
of $35,000.00!! The major expense was the electronics
involved in operating the car's machine guns, cannon, laser,
gatling gun and radar pickups.
The rocket launchers on top of the car go up and down
and the rockets actually work! Each rocket is powered by
three Estes solid-fuel engines that produce a total of 90
lb. of thrust. The guns use spark plugs to ignite a
mixture of nitrous oxide, propane and soda. Each gun
produces it's own noise and flame. The laser moves,
but the actual beam was dubbed in for the MEGAFORCE movie.