- The Meyers Manx is the OG fiberglass dune buggy and impressed legions of copycats and opponents.
- This well-presented instance is predicated on a shortened ’55 Volkswagen chassis.
- The Deliver a Trailer public sale runs via Might 30.
If there have been an official automotive of the Infinite Summer season, it might be the Meyers Manx dune buggy. Not simply any dune buggy, however a Meyers Manx, the very car king-of-cool bookends Steve McQueen and Elvis selected for on-screen and private obligation. For those who’ve ever needed to get in on that mojo, now’s your likelihood with this inexperienced metalflake Meyers Manx, up for public sale on Deliver a Trailer, which like Automobile and Driver is a part of Hearst Autos.
Although the present BaT headline eschews a selected mannequin 12 months, this Manx was labeled a 1968 mannequin in a earlier public sale held elsewhere in March of 2021. Its omission right here is essentially irrelevant, because the Manx, very similar to the California Dream it embodies, is timeless. It exists in a distinct realm totally, one the place it’s all the time 72 levels and sunny, and the occupants are perpetually younger. It’s, nonetheless, accompanied by a certificates of authenticity signed by Bruce Meyers validating the serial quantity—the serial plate seems to be unique—and its registry ID quantity, granting it an unassailable pedigree. That mentioned, the vendor signifies the fiberglass Manx tub rides on a shortened 1955 Volkswagen pan and is registered accordingly.
The inexperienced metalflake paint and fiberglass physique look like in glorious situation, freed from spiderweb cracks and harm. Though these vehicles are sometimes subjected to doubtful customizations, this Manx takes the excessive highway with a basic chrome rollbar, the politely titled “nudge” bar, a chromed windshield help, and chrome headlamp buckets. Flip indicators trip discretely atop the entrance suspension mounting factors beneath the entrance fenders. The chrome Cragar S/S wheels have been arguably the preferred aftermarket wheel within the late ’60s and look proper at residence right here, although we wouldn’t argue with a set of deep-dish steelies with purpose-built tires for critical seaside obligation. Likewise, we’d ditch the black “Manx” lettering on the aspect panels.
Inside upholstery is primary black vinyl, so we’d suggest holding a number of light-colored seaside towels readily available lest you torch your buns, again, and thighs after leaving this dune buggy parked within the solar. The black floormats and inside tub end add to the photo voltaic achieve. The Wolfsburg-branded lap belts and entrance disc brakes add a welcome measure of security.
Energy is provided by a 1.6-liter flat-four Volkswagen air-cooled engine with the suitable mods, together with twin Solex H40/44EIS carburetors and a Scintilla magneto. (Although the unique carbs are now not manufactured by the previous French Solex firm, a big, worldwide aftermarket, licensing, and fanatic help community ensures their viability for many years.) A Hurst “set off” shifter selects from 4 gears, and a curler accelerator pedal offers for easy throttle inputs. A level pulley makes for improved visibility when dialing tuning. (Don’t neglect to regulate your valves usually, and control that pesky #3 exhaust valve.) Chrome engine tins and pulleys add to the shine, as does a ceramic-coated Tri-Mil twin exhaust system.
Although the metal-bodied EMPI Sportster buggy was incubating across the identical time, and a number of other different long-forgotten pioneers have been on the identical monitor, it’s the Meyers Manx that sometimes involves thoughts with the phrase “dune buggy.” (EMPI would later make a fiberglass Manx clone known as the IMP.) Meyers helped cement its title as the fashionable dune buggy of report along with his “Outdated Pink” prototype that he and Ted Mangels piloted to a record-setting run within the 1967 Baja 1000.
The “manufacturing” Manx—Meyer offered them primarily in package kind for a lot of causes—just like the one on this public sale, benefitted from a sure degree of, um, “refinement,” with out diluting the core imaginative and prescient. That sort of single-minded goal is a rarity, extra so when an concept involves fruition in an precise bodily product that displays the temper of a technology. And that ensures it a spot within the annals of popular culture for eternity.
The automotive is listed by a non-public proprietor, is positioned in Danville, California, and is accompanied by a duplicate of Manx Mania journal during which we assume it seems, and a clear California title within the vendor’s identify, itemizing it as a 1955 Volkswagen.
On-line Editor
Andrew Wendler brings a long time of wrenching, writing, and editorial expertise with quite a few shops to Automobile and Driver. A rust-belt native and tireless promoter of the area, he as soon as received a $5 wager by strolling your complete size of the elevated Folks Mover monitor that encircles downtown Detroit.