1966 Meyers Manx

The Meyers Manx answered a question nobody was asking: what if a car was designed purely for fun? Bruce Meyers, a boat builder from Newport Beach, shortened a VW Beetle pan by 14 inches, dropped a fiberglass shell on top, and created the dune buggy. The original Old Red won the 1967 Mexican 1000 (precursor to the Baja 1000), beating motorcycles and purpose-built off-road vehicles. That race result proved the concept wasn't just a beach toy — it was legitimately capable. The design was so simple and effective that knockoff manufacturers produced over 250,000 copies. Meyers sued, lost (the court ruled the design was too simple to protect), and watched others profit from his creation. The Manx is the Patient Zero of the kit car industry.

Original Meyers-built Manx buggies are rare and valuable — only about 6,000 were made. The fiberglass bodies are surprisingly durable but can crack at stress points. Most survivors have been modified heavily; finding an original-spec Manx is difficult. Clones are everywhere, ranging from faithful reproductions to barely-related fiberglass shapes. The VIN plate (if present) and body casting marks distinguish originals from copies. Patina on a dune buggy is expected — these were built to get dirty.

The Manx is mechanically a Volkswagen Beetle, which means parts are everywhere and any air-cooled VW shop can work on it. The simplicity is the appeal: no power steering, no power brakes, no creature comforts, just a fiberglass bathtub with an engine behind you. Modern reproduction bodies and complete kits are available if you want to build your own. Insurance and registration can be tricky depending on your state's kit car rules. These are weekend toys, not daily drivers.