To celebrate next year’s 50th anniversary of the original Meyers Manx dune buggy, owners clubs across the UK are hoping to set a record for the most beach buggies gathered together in one place – disappointingly, not on a beach, but hey, you can’t have everything.
The record bid is being co-ordinated by beachbuggy.info in conjunction with owners clubs, and hopes to attract as many buggies as possible to the National Kit Car Show at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire next May.
And as confirmed lovers of not only beach buggies, but kit cars in general, we’re right behind them.
It was back in 1964 that Bruce Meyer’s little project – to build a buggy based on a VW Beetle – was realised in his garage near Newport Beach, California.
Bruce Meyer with the first Meyers Manx
An engineer, artist, boat builder and surfer, Meyer used a shortened Beetle floor pan to create the buggy that dominated dune racing before a street version was produced.
Meyer failed in his bid to patent the buggy, and a huge number of copies were made by other companies before the original maker ceased trading in 1971 – after Meyer had already left.
In 2000, Meyer produced a new run of 100 limited edition Classic Manx buggies, before introducing a range of new models still produced in California today.
Now, led by beachbuggy.info, owners are being called to action as a fitting way to celebrate the buggy’s 50th birthday.
The National Kit Car Show takes place at Stoneleigh on the bank holiday weekend from May 3 to 5 next spring, with the buggy line-up planned for 2pm on Sunday, May 4.
Here at Flux, we’ve been providing specialist insurance for buggies and kit cars for 40 years, with a range of features tailored to meet the needs of these niche motors, including:
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Agreed valuations
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Goods in transit cover
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Multi-vehicle cover
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Build-up cover
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Limited mileage discounts
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Track day/rally cover
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Owner’s club discounts
So if you have a buggy, no matter how old or new, pristine or well-used, why not join the fun?