Vehicle Description
In the 1960s, the fiberglass kit-car craze was taking hold in
America. Versatile and cheap, fiberglass was getting easier for
average enthusiasts to use, and custom car builders, racers, and
hot rodders began turning to it as a viable alternative to sheet
metal. Strong and light, it could be molded into virtually any
shape imaginable and reproduced hundreds of times over. As a
result, numerous small "cottage" manufacturers sprang up across the
United States who offered pre-fabricated fiberglass car bodies that
could transform otherwise mundane transport into an exciting and
unique sports car. Glasspar was one of the first to hit the market
with the G2 and they were later joined by companies such as Devin
and Fiberfab who enjoyed quite a bit of success selling kits to
adapt exotic bodies a wide variety of American or European chassis.
One of the most distinctive and unique kit-car projects came out of
the California workshops of Bruce F. Meyers. Mr. Meyers was an
engineer, boat builder, artist, tinkerer, surfer and amateur desert
racer who would spark a kit-car craze of the 60s. Eschewing the
typical sports car designs favored by other kit-car builders,
Meyers designed and built a VW-based dune-buggy that was equally at
home on the beach, the street, or racing through the desert.
Drawing on his boat building experience, the first Meyers dune
buggy was built using a dramatically shortened VW Beetle platform
fitted with a fiberglass monocoque body and a mix of VW and Chevy
truck suspension. He named it "Manx" after the stubby, short-tailed
Manx cat. Donor Beetles were cheap, plentiful and could be easily
tuned to give the light and nimble Manx astonishing performance
both on and off-road. Bruce Meyers' little buggy made headlines in
1967 when it scored a surprise win at the 1967 Mexican 1000 desert
race (the predecessor to the Baja 1000). Sales exploded and soon
scores of copies began flooding the market, and the dune buggy
craze had taken off. Despite the copycats, the original Meyers Manx
remains a cult-classic, and authentic early examples are prized by
enthusiasts and collectors alike. This delightful Meyers Manx is a
verified original example complete with a certificate of
authenticity issued by the Meyers Manx Registry. Presented in
classic orange and black with a tan roof and interior, this is
fabulous representation of the iconic, quintessential dune buggy.
Out of long-term family ownership, this fully restored Manx
presents in excellent condition, with very good paintwork both
inside and out, and a number of charming period details. It
features many original Manx options such as front and rear bumpers,
a removable hardtop, and wind wings. The classic raked stance is
achieved through "big and little" steel wheels, widened to
accommodate 205/70-14 radials up front with fat 225/70-15 radials
in the rear. The wheels wear dog dish VW hubcaps and have been
beautifully finished in cream to provide a pleasing accent to the
orange paint. Power comes from a recently-built 1835 cc "big bore"
VW engine that features a counterweight crank, Crane camshaft, CB
Performance cylinder heads and dual Solex carburetors. The "go" is
given some "show" courtesy of body color engine shrouds, EMPI valve
covers and a ceramic coated sports exhaust system. The engine runs
strong and emits an addictive bark, sending power through a VW
4-speed transaxle equipped with an EMPI shifter. The joy of any
Meyers Manx lies in its simplicity, and this example captures that
with its pure, period correct nature. The interior consists of
little more than a pair of fixed-back bucket seats trimmed in tan
vinyl, and the just the basic controls you need for road use, and
nothing else to distract you from the joy of driving.
Instrumentation includes the OEM VW speedo cluster, along with VDO
secondary gauges and a period correct Sun Super Tach. Driving the
Manx is an absolute blast: The engine makes ample power, and the
short wheelbase and lively, direct steering give it kart-like
responses. This certified original Manx is an outstanding example
and whether you're in a show, on the road or cruising the beach, it
is ready to deliver on the Meyers promise of "More Smiles per
Mile".
