Beginning with the Meyers Manx in the early 1960s, the dune buggy phenomenon surged across America. Bruce Meyers’ original idea was straightforward: repurpose a Volkswagen Beetle by discarding its body, retaining the essential floor pan housing all vital components, shortening the wheelbase, and affixing a simple, single-piece fiberglass body for two passengers.
Dubbed the “Manx” for its compact rear resembling a cat’s tail, Meyers ingeniously captured the essence of his feline inspiration in the buggy’s design, with its low front and raised rear stance. Bruce F. Meyers, a versatile Californian engineer, artist, boat builder, and surfer, manufactured the Manx at his Fountain Valley, Southern California facility from 1964 to 1971.
In the 1960s, California teemed with discarded VW Beetles, coinciding with the peak of surf culture, making the dune buggy an emblem of the carefree California lifestyle. Its simplicity and allure contributed to its rapid proliferation.
The Meyers Manx left its mark in various films, notably appearing in Elvis Presley movies and the 1968 classic “The Thomas Crown Affair,” featuring an extensive beach driving sequence starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway aboard a Manx.
Photo Source: RM Sotheby’s
