Remember the dune buggy craze of the 1960s? If you do, you’re bound to also remember the Meyers Manx. They were complete fiberglass dune buggies based on a shortened VW Beetle frame. The Glitterbug was similar in nature but instead was a kit that would bolt onto a VW chassis that required no cutting. This particular Glitterbug is based on a 1962 Beetle and was assembled by a shop in Mobile, Alabama. This fun little ride can be found in Perdido Key, Florida (near Pensacola) and is available here on Craigslist for $5,500. Thanks, Rocco B, for this interesting tip!
Details on the Glitterbug are hard to find on the internet except they were sourced by a company operating out of San Fernando, California. Also, not much information can be found about the Glitterbug representative in Mobile whose assembly plate is affixed to the seller’s car. Apparently, the kits would fit onto most any Bug built prior to the advent of the Super Beetle that came out in the 1970s. An advertisement from 1969 says the body kit could be purchased for as little as $295 painted in a solid color; $100 extra got you metal flake.
The seller’s Glitterbug is powered by a 1600cc engine that was rebuilt 400 miles ago. While the car appears to be in generally good condition, it’s not currently a reliable runner. It will start up and run but needs a fuel pump and some brake work done to be fully functional. Two of the tires are new and the battery is said to be good. We’re not told anything about the donor car that served as the basis for this kit installation except that it was a 1962 Beetle.
This car is registered in Florida (as a ’62 Beetle?) and the seller says the title is all in order. We’re told that “all paperwork and records are in hand” which suggests that there is more information available about the car. The top looks as though it may be removable, but we don’t know for sure. Like most Beetles, it looks as though it needs its own broomstick to keep the hood open. This sure looks like a fun ride and might make a cool vehicle for weekend outings!
This is perfect for the area it is in…for when your golf cart (or G.E.M) is charging.
At first, I looked at everything I would want to change. But, really, you wouldn’t have to change anything for a pleasant conversation to start…anywhere.
I still might have to ditch the fake wires…Fuchs (sp?) wheels would be a fun option.
Okay …replica Fuchs…no need to double the price. The address on the back of the buggy in Mobile is a radiator shop.
Intellectual joke…I love it.
My first thought exactly: “for when your golf cart is charging.” Could replace the golf carts running around my subdivision. But probably not with the pre-teens, who drive the golf carts, driving this.
I agree with ditching the fake wires. The best thing to do with them would be to frisbee them over the fence at the nearest landfill,,,
Triple horns are a nice touch, like you are going to encounter anything slower on the road!
I haven’t seen one of these in years! It does make me yearn for the days when this was a perfectly acceptable second summer vehicle. Thanks for the memories!
In ’76 i had a similar corvair powered buggy while living in pensacola. Back then no one thought twice about taking them on the dunes, today it would get you arrested. A hurricane always came along and destroyed them long before dune buggies could.
Cute as a bug, as the old saying goes. Practicality not so much. Here in Texas dune buggies have been under great scrutiny by the legal heads. Safety is a big concern ofcourse, but the fun factor also plays in the equation. My oldest sister and her husband had a Porsche powered Meyers Manx that they built together and enjoyed immensely in Honolulu back in the late 60’s through early 70’s before my sister died from heart failure in 74.
God bless America
Extra points for the chrome ‘n foam steering wheel with squirrel knob and some other guy’s name written on the driver door/portal.
the green metal flake’s fine – just gotta black the nose’n spray the grill (center) w/some quality ‘chrome’, may B dump the 2 reflectors.
U can register and drive it, just not on a heavy rain day…
I actually had a metal flake red very similar to this but it was a shorter version . It was called a Berry Mini T . It was terrific fun . I put about 10,000 miles before I sold it . I sure would love to have it back . The only draw back was Nowhere near enough padding in the seat .
It’s not Glitterbug. It could be a Barry Mini “T” or a Maxi Taxi if it’s on a full VW frame.