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Meyers Manx is one of the most iconic brands in the global off-road beach vehicle sector, known as the "ancestor of beach buggies" and the "original fiberglass dune buggy". The brand was founded by American California engineer, artist, boat-building expert, and surfing enthusiast Bruce F. Meyers in 1964 in Fengquan Valley, California. It primarily exists as a kit car combining a lightweight fiberglass body shell with a Volkswagen Beetle chassis, pioneering this niche category of off-road beach vehicles. The brand name "Manx" originates from the Manx cat, referring to the compact and agile design features of the body. Meyers Manx is a representative symbol of "California Spirit" in automotive cultural history. Its classic styling became a global pop culture icon due to Steve McQueen's driving scenes in the 1968 film "The Thomas Crown Affair". Due to financial difficulties and rampant counterfeiting, the original company went bankrupt in 1971; it was reconstructed by the founder in 2000. In 2021, investment firm Trousdale Ventures completed the acquisition of the brand, launching a path of transformation towards electrification and a modern lifestyle brand.
Founding and Glory (1964–1971). Bruce Meyers was born on March 12, 1926, and grew up in the surfing and racing culture of Southern California. After WWII, he first engaged in ship trading, later developing fiberglass lightweight boats named Cal-boat; this experience laid the technical foundation for later designing beach buggy body shells. In 1964, Meyers utilized boat-building experience to create a body shell using one-piece fiberglass molding technology, equipped with short-wheelbase Volkswagen Beetle chassis, Chevrolet pickup suspension, and other components, completing the first prototype "Old Red". Between 1966 and 1971, Meyers Manx sold approximately 5,280 to over 6,000 DIY kit cars. It gained fame for the feat of defeating factory racing teams to win the inaugural Mexican 1000 Off-Road Race (later renamed Baja 1000) in 1967. In 1968, footage of movie star Steve McQueen driving a custom Manx in "The Thomas Crown Affair" propelled this brand to the peak of global pop culture. However, patented technology was plagiarized by hundreds of counterfeiters, combined with financial pressure and legal lawsuit drag, causing B.F. Meyers & Co. to officially close in 1971.
Comeback and Second Entrepreneurship (2000–2020). In 2000, Bruce Meyers, over 70 years old, co-founded Meyers Manx Inc. with his wife. They resumed production of classic models and successively launched derivative models such as the long-wheelbase Manxter 2+2, Dualsport, and new Manx Kick-out, gradually rebuilding a loyal customer community.
Capital Injection and Brand Upgrade (2021–Present). In 2020, 94-year-old Bruce Meyers sold the company to global venture capital firm Trousdale Ventures, founded by Phillip Sarofim. Meyers himself passed away in February 2021, aged 94. The new owners appointed Jennifer Flake and Bill Strickland as Co-CEOs in 2024, at the same time inviting design master Freeman Thomas, who designed models such as the Audi TT and new Beetle, to serve as Chief Creative Officer and Brand Vice Chairman, taking full charge of the design of new generation electric models.
Meyers Manx has now formed four major product segments: "Classic Replicas, High-Performance Limited, Electric Future, and Lifestyle".
Manx 2.0 EV (Electric Version): The brand's first all-new model after rebirth, and the first all-electric beach buggy. Design led by Freeman Thomas. Weight is only 680 to 750 kg. Dual motors on the rear axle output 202 hp and 325 Nm of torque. 0–100 km/h acceleration takes only 4.5 seconds. Offering 20 kWh and 40 kWh battery options; range is 241 km and 482 km respectively. Pre-production prototypes debuted in the UK and Europe at the 2024 Goodwood Revival. 50 test versions were delivered in 2023, with plans for large-scale mass production in 2024. The Launch Edition starting price was $74,000, adjusted to $75,000 in 2024, with the Launch Edition priced at $125,000.
LFG (Limited Fuel Version): A limited high-performance model released during the 2025 Pebble Beach Concours. Co-created by Meyers Manx and British Porsche tuning expert Tuthill. The whole body uses a carbon fiber body and gull-wing detachable doors. Equipped with a Tuthill-tuned 4.0-liter flat-six engine (based on Porsche 911K series technology). Max RPM reaches 11,000 rpm, with output power over 306 hp. Paired with a 6-speed sequential gearbox and a four-wheel drive system with three differential locks and five-way adjustable shocks. Limited to 100 units globally. Production starts in 2026. The first 20 owners will be invited to attend the 1st LFG Baja Tour in 2027, to commemorate Meyers Manx's historical victory in the Baja 1000.
NEV Resorter and Remastered Series: The NEV Resorter is positioned as a four-seat low-speed recreational EV, with a starting price of approximately $49,000 and a max speed limited to approximately 40 km/h. The Remastered Resorter is built by the Bespoke department based on a 1966 VW Beetle chassis replica. Both models focus on California's coastal leisure lifestyle scenarios.
Classic Kits and Lifestyle: The brand continues to supply "Old Red" replica kits originally designed by Bruce Meyers, priced at $14,500 per set, limited to 24 sets. Additionally, the brand provides officially restored classic original cars, such as the 1967 model Classic Half Dome priced at approximately $74,995. In December 2025, the brand first entered the clothing sector, launching a lifestyle series including T-shirts, sweaters, work jackets, retro baseball caps, and accessories. The design incorporates 1960s West Coast racing counterculture elements.
Meyers Manx is not a mass-market mass-production car company. Between 1966 and 1971, original company sold approx 5,000 to 6,000 kit cars, but global counterfeits accumulated over 250,000 units, fully proving the strong appeal of the design itself. After 2000 comeback, brand centered on community, maintaining a loyal classic car enthusiast group. A same model car driven by Steve McQueen appearing on screen in 2020 sold at Bonhams auction for $456,000.
After new owner Trousdale Ventures took over, brand strengthened high-end collection attributes through limited strategy. Manx 2.0 EV reservation orders reached thousands. LFG limited 100 units attracted attention from many global supercar collectors. Clothing series launch also opened up incremental revenue channels for the brand. Management stated brand will continue quantity control strategy to maintain scarcity and market heat.
Meyers Manx brand's core competitiveness roots in its pioneering lightweight manufacturing concept, and collaborative innovation with other tech companies within the Trousdale Ventures ecosystem.
Fiberglass One-Piece Molding Technology: Bruce Meyers introduced the boat industry's fiberglass molding process into auto manufacturing, pioneering the use of a one-piece fiberglass shell to replace traditional metal skin. Since 1964, the fiberglass body shell has become the brand's unshakable design foundation, while retaining infinite body color and exterior customization space.
Modular Chassis System and "Swiss Army Knife" Expandability: The brand cores on modifying the VW Beetle chassis, possessing flexible mechanical expandability. It is compatible with Chevrolet Corvair, Porsche 911, Ford industrial engines, and even Australian-designed radial aircraft engines and other powertrains, praised by industry reviews as "The Switzerland of Cars." Manx 2.0 EV and LFG continue to inherit the modular concept, deeply optimized on pure electric platform and competitive fuel power platform respectively.
Electrification and Aircraft Engine Integration: Manx 2.0 EV adopts a lightweight electric architecture, achieving a balance between 700kg class weight and approximately 482km range per charge. The Tarmac Touring Edition is equipped with a 2.0L 3-cylinder radial aircraft engine developed by Bespoke Engineering under Trousdale Ventures. This provides power output far exceeding traditional Beetle engines while retaining retro aesthetics, reaffirming the breadth of the powertrain concept.
Meyers Manx HQ located in Costa Mesa, California, USA. Its globalization steps focused on brand marketing and culture communication, not large-scale manufacturing overseas. Since acquired by Trousdale Ventures in 2020, brand promotion in Europe significantly increased. In 2024, Manx 2.0 EV pre-production prototype had European debut at Goodwood Revival. At the same time, brand 60th anniversary celebration held grandly at London Earls Court Car Show. In Switzerland and UK etc., exclusive experience activities led by new owners also unfolded. Cooperation with Tuthill (UK) on LFG project also marks brand's transatlantic collaboration in competitive and high-performance fields. LFG models have accepted bookings from globally, will be delivered to local markets after production starts. Brand currently not established official channel in the Chinese Mainland.
Meyers Manx is fully transforming from purely niche kit car enterprise to high-end collection-type "Brand Ecosystem". Firstly, mass production of Manx 2.0 EV will be key touchstone to prove consumer brand identification in electric era. Secondly, limited 100 units LFG will expand brand influence in hardcore competition circle, and form deep customer experience stickiness through brand exclusive activities like 2027 Baja Tour. Thirdly, NEV Resorter and clothing, accessories and other lifestyle lines will further amplify the commercial value of "1960s California Spirit". On technology level, brand will continue to rely on Freeman Thomas's design leadership and Trousdale Ventures' capital network, balancing classic aesthetics with development needs of cutting-edge electrification and new material applications. At present of Meyers' death and brand completion of capital restructuring, whether able to find balance between "Scarcity" and "Scaled Growth" will become Meyers Manx's most core strategic topic for next decade.
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