For Sale: 1969 Custom Dune Buggy in Costa Mesa, California

1969 Meyers Manx Dune Buggy

Chassis Number: 5984120 (1964 Volkswagen)
Body Number: M3162F931S (June '69 Production, 3,162nd Manx Built)

This lovely Manx was built by well-known author and TV Host, Tom Cotter, who, in classic Barn Find Hunter fashion, found a never-assembled Manx body in the rafters of a barn in the early 1990s. Excited to turn his new find into a running and driving Manx, Cotter and his son bought a '64 Beetle and used the tub, engine and running gear to complete the project in classic buggy fashion. After a little more than ten years of ownership, Cotter sold the Manx to Chuck Goldsborough, co-owner of Ralph's Auto Service in Maryland and a beloved member of the Porsche (and racing) community. After fifteen years of ownership, Goldsborough sold it to Los Angeles-based collector and Spike's Car Radio personality, Paul Zuckerman.

In 2021, the Manx was sold to the present owner who enjoyed it sparingly for two years and used it to teach his son how to drive a manual transmission. By 2023, the cosmetics and mechanicals were tired and needed a freshening. Luckily this Manx lived a few blocks from where the new Meyers Manx Buggies are being built, so it was an easy decision to restore this one with new parts and local talent.

The engine and gearbox were removed along with the suspension, brakes, fuel tank, and windshield. With the car now being a bare tub and all the parts in hand, they were gone through and either restored or replaced. A new fuel tank was fitted along with new fuel lines. The front bodywork was reinstalled with a new windshield and frame, wiper arms, and Stainless-Steel front and rear bumpers. The gauge was cleaned and a new speedometer cable installed.

The suspension hardware was cleaned and either refinished or replaced as needed. Once it was ready for reassembly, new hoses and lines were installed along with new axle boots and Bilstein shocks. With the suspension and braking dialed in, a set of Mobelwagen 620 Smoothie wheels were purchased in Vintage White. The 15" x 5" fronts are shod with 205/75R-15 General Grabber A/TX SL and the 15" x 8" rears have matching tires in 265/70R-15.

In the interior, the old seats were discarded, the floors were repainted black and a new set of Meyers Manx branded PRP Lowback Roadster Seats were installed with custom yellow and black Pepita covers. The seats are mounted to custom rails that easily move back and forth. A compact battery with cutoff switch was installed under the rear seat cushion.

The engine was stripped to a long block, inspected, cleaned, detailed, and rebuilt with new seals and gaskets, Billet valve covers, and rebuilt carburetor. The transmission received the same treatment, and the new clutch was mated to a resurfaced flywheel. All parts were purchased from Meyers Manx in Costa Mesa and are the same ones used on their modern builds. Receipts are on hand.

Since completion, several hundred miles of sorting and smiles have been had and now it's time to move this along to the next owner.