Kalita LWB

The kalita represented a radical departure from the look and feel of the Mk1/11/111. An educated eye will see that it was probably a follow on from the thinking behind the Manx SR in the same was the J&S Mk1 was based on the Manx. The kalita featured detachable targa style roof braced to the windscreen frame, a stylish sloping bonnet with smaller bucket mounted lights, squared rear quarters and a detachable rear engine cover that negated the need for elaborate bar work and a cage. The engine compartment was more roomy than the Mk1/11/111 with room for dual carburettors and there was better access to the engine. The fuel tank was now mounted in the rear of the car rather than under the bonnet. In short, the kalita was designed to be a sports car more than a dune buggy. The kalita sold, but not well enough for J&S. In the end it was sold off interstate where it was made by another company for a while.

The Mk11 design/moulds were also sold off to another company who re marketed it in Western Australia as the 'Taipan'. The taipan was essentially the Mk11 only it was sold exclusively with the flat nose.

Only a few years ago J&S still existed. At this time it's main business was making composite truck bodies.

Many Thanks to Pete Wood for this history on the J&S Buggies

Kalita SWB

Around the mid seventies, the buggy craze began to die off and J&S were forced to re-evaluate to attract new business. The result of this re-evaluation was the kalita and latter the Tourer.

J&S MK2

This body was very similar to the Mk1 bar the following changes; Generic rear lights, moulded dashboard attached to dash, moulded in side pods with a raised J&S logo, moulded in wiper mounts utilizing VW beetle wipers. The Mk11 was released after a fire at the J&S factory in the early 70s. J&S produced many Mk11s. These bodies appear make up the bulk of this style of the bodies sold. Towards the end of this period the flat nose bonnet also appeared.

J&S Mk3

This body appeared later and was a development of the Mk11. It featured a bonnet that was moulded onto a body designed to fit onto a full length VW beetle floor pan. The front of the bonnet was also re-profiled somewhat to fit in with the attachment to the body.

J&S MK1

This body was SWB and fitted on a VW pan shortened 12 inches. It utilized beetle tail lights mounted straight to the body and curved rear wheel arches. It also featured a bulbous rounded (bum) nose with a peak running along the centre and a recessed number plate mount. The sides also featured a waistline to prevent water running into the car in rain. The battery box was recessed into the back seat shelf and the dash board was detachable from the bonnet. The gelcoat was available in a range of colours and included metal flake options. It also had provision for a single rollover bar.

J&S Tourer

The Tourer was a modified version of the lwb Kalita. The body was still a 4 seat model, but had the bonnet re styled using the moulded square head lights.