Meyers Manx Remastered

While remastered versions of songs, films, and video games have become commonplace, remastered vehicles are exceedingly rare and typically limited to the world of personal resto-mods. But there are exceptions, with Meyers Manx, LLC having recently announced a revised dune buggy kit that’s supposed to help customers build the project car of their dreams with some updates designed to improve quality of life without totally redefining the concept of the original VW-based scrambler from the 1960s.

The original Meyers Manx was basically just a fiberglass tub to be fitted to the modified chassis of the massively popular Volkswagen Beetle. Despite the company changing ownership a few times, not a lot has changed. However, since Bruce and Winnie Meyers sold the business to Trousdale Ventures in 2020, the company has been introducing some new ideas – including an all-electric version of the Manx.

This “first-ever Remastered Kit” likewise seeks to modernize the buggy and offer things hobbyists living today might appreciate. For example, did you know that the Manx never came with a locking trunk? That was something you had to install yourself. Though early models rarely had a trunk to begin with and those that did didn’t offer much useful cargo storage because it’s competing for space with the engine while the fuel tank was typically situated at the front. While the new kit can’t do much about the volume problem, it does give you a more secure place to stow your phone, sandals, and maybe a few beers while you take a dip in the ocean.

“The 1960s were all about can-do spirit, from grassroots car customizers to the Space Program,” Trousdale Ventures founder Phillip Sarofim said. “We’re bringing a taste of that era back with a modernized, easier-to-build version of the original dune buggy kit that launched an automotive cultural movement. The original Meyers Manx has been prolifically emulated but never duplicated, and this is an opportunity to build and drive an authentic legend.”

The company claims that decades of advancement in modern production techniques – which leverage 3D scanning, digital design tools, and CNC technology – help deliver the most precise self-assembly set to date. This is supposed to give customers more options while also increasing the general ease of assembly. But what are you actually getting beyond a locking trunk?

According to Meyers Manx, the basic kit includes the vehicle body, dashboard, and trim components with the driver having to source (or buy) everything else. However, the dash assembly is supposed to be easier than ever to work with and the company has likewise added integrated wiring tubes. There are also more colors on offer for the body (including some classic metal flake options), with the factory providing a UV-resistant clear coat that serves as an additional layer of protection for the paint. However fancier colors and the clear coat does force customers to shell out an additional $1,000 and $500, respectively. Meanwhile, the kit itself costs $5,995 before you’ve added all of the stuff that actually makes the vehicle functional.

But that’s the point. You’re supposed to figure out which powertrain works for you and what kind of buggy you’re hoping to have once the project is completed. Building the thing yourself is half the point.

“It is a privilege to work on the Manx Dune buggy, which is such an iconic piece of California cultural history,” stated designer Freeman Thomas. “The goal of the Remastered program was to preserve [founder] Bruce Meyers’ unmistakable design while incorporating modern touches that make full assembly accessible to more people.”

[Images: Meyers Manx, LLC]

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