Inspired by DIYers in Southern California who were hacking up VW Beetles to make beach buggies, Bruce Meyers began building his own version – known as Old Red – in 1963. His interpretation employed a monocoque fiberglass body with attachment points for VW components and high fenders that allowed for tall, wide wheels. These early Manxes were time-consuming to produce, so when orders piled up, Meyers shifted to making body panels to bolt to a shortened VW pan. The good times rolled for about five years, then the market flooded with copycats, putting B.F. Meyers & Company on the ropes. Here on eBay is a Meyers Manx, complete with a Certificate of Authenticity; the seller is looking for an opening bid of $15k, but prospective owners can also opt to shortcut the auction by paying $25k in a buy-it-now arrangement. Even the BIN price is considerably lower than prevailing Manx prices. Before you leap to bid, though, let’s take a closer look ….
This Manx was previously auctioned unsuccessfully here, with a high bid of $11,000, proving that the market for these cars is spooky about the slightest hint of irregularity. In this case, the title bears a VIN matching the body stamp on the car’s tunnel, but specifies the make as a 1975 VW Beetle. The VIN, though, corresponds to a 1960 Beetle. And the Meyers-assigned serial number corresponds to a body made in 1970. Consequently, the new owner might face a challenge registering the car in a state that conducts VIN inspections. And once the title issue arises, we wonder about other things …
The dashboard has been replaced; it’s missing the fuel gauge and trim. Anything goes in the steering wheel department, but nice authentic restorations typically use an older VW steering wheel. The body is Yuma yellow gelcoat, said to be original. The headlamps are Dietz replicas. The badge on the nose is of the old style sticker-type; by the late 1960s, a larger emblem covered the entire embossed badge bump.
The engine is an air-cooled, 1562 cc flat four from a VW, armed with a single carburetor. The seller has installed a Pertronix electronic ignition, and the starter, generator, distributor, plugs, and battery have been replaced. The Manx is said to run well. The title indicates mileage of over 144k, but the odometer reads 14,215.
We’d recommend personal inspection before tucking this buggy into your garage. A number of “tells” in the construction of the original Manx can help authenticate the body, including tube supports running under the front fenders, struts in the rear by the license area, and other body identifiers. These vary by model, with the Manx I having more distinguishing features than the Manx II. Meanwhile, the financial incentive around creating replica Manxes has dissipated substantially: original examples sold for $50k to $60k or more just a few years ago, but now range around $25k, give or take a few thousand. What do you think of this Manx?
I’m blown away that a fibreglass tub on a VW Beetle pan can command the numbers that these machines are getting. They look like a lot of fun.
I grew up with these cars being in vogue. I never built one even though they were on my list (not enough time). Yes it is mind boggling how they commanded some big numbers a few years ago, however I believe those days are gone. Those people that wanted them had the cash and the ‘itch’. If you look around, you can find a dusty one in a garage somewhere even in rural Vermont (I did). Back in the days when VW bugs were plentiful, these were an easy build (and fairly cheap if you did your diligence) but who really wanted one in the Northeast? Not many! It’s a ride of days long gone. For me, it’s one of those cars, you take out for a day, have a blast with it and then the itch is satisfied. I would move from there…………..
I know a great VW mechanic in a rural Oregon town. He recently built a motor for me and knows everything about VW’s and can spout off facts, figures and hours worth of details on them. He has one of these stashed away in a back room, waiting for some future day to dust it off and bring it out again. He knows what they are worth, so its no big “how much will he sell it for” deal. Rather, it’s fun knowing that he has one more that will be back on the road some day!
And if he’s in the western part of the state, he can hustle it down to the south coast dunes and put it through its paces.
We have a 914, I’d love to know that mechanic. Ours runs fine right now, but you never know….
This looks great with lots of chrome and a roll bar.
I wish I could ID the one comes in every yr or 2 for a few wks. Even beddah, see a Meyers tag on it. But each time one comes up here I try’n compare. Not a buggy guy, it’s hard to spot 1 from the other. Still, I’m pretty clear this guy does not have the Manx or other Meyers in his veedub collection~