The Meyers Manx dune buggy was designed by Californian engineer, artist, boat builder and surfer Bruce Meyers. It was produced by his company between 1964 and 1971.The car featured a fiberglass bodyshell coupled with the Volkswagen Beetle frame and engine. It is a small car, with a wheelbase 14 1/4 inches shorter than a Beetle for lightness and better maneuverability. For this reason, the car is capable of very quick acceleration and good off-road performance.
The Meyers Manx received widespread recognition when it won the inaugural Mexican 1000 race, the predecessor of the Baja 1000 beating motorcycles, cars and trucks in the process.
Manx-type cars appeared in several movies with stars such as Elvis Presley. One of the more memorable appearances was in the original version of The Thomas Crown Affair, starring Steve McQueen. In the movie there is a lengthy beach driving scene where a heavily modified Meyers Manx equipped with a Chevrolet Corvair engine is launched over several dunes.
Approximately 6,000 of the original Meyers Manx dune buggies were produced, but when the design became popular many copies (estimated at a quarter of a million worldwide) were made by other companies. Although already patented, Meyers lost in court to the copiers, the judge recinding his patent as unpatentable opening the floodgates to the Industry Meyers started. Since then countless buggies continue to be produced today. Many people recognize this body-type simply as the "Dune Buggy" or "Beach Buggy".
In 2000 Bruce Meyers created a resurgence of interest by starting up Meyers Manx Inc. and offering the Classic Manx, signature series limited edition of 100.
In 2002 the Manxter 2+2 and Manxter DualSport were born. These two new models are true to the original design but are sized for a full-length Beetle floor pan. Custom versions for higher power engines and other variations are also available. New models are now being designed at Valley Center, California.
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