What was the first Dune Buggy? Where did the Meyers Manx model come from? The original model was significant in automotive history.

The 1960s were all about fun and freedom. Movies were taking place on the beaches, out in the wilderness, and it seemed that if you weren’t finding a way to enjoy nature you were going to be left behind. Along came Old Red, which was the first Meyers Manx Dune Buggy and a new phenomenon was born.

The Significance of Old Red

The first-ever dune buggy was a 1964 Meyers Manx model and it was nationally significant for four reasons.

Reason One

First, this car was associated with the trends of the 1960s in the automotive culture and the events taking place. Old Red brought about the rise of the dune buggy in the US and abroad beginning in the mid-1960s.

Reason Two

Second, the Meyers Manx model was associated with Bruce Meyers who was a pioneer in the dune buggy craze and a person of significance in the off-road vehicle world and the fiberglass kit-car industry.

Reason Three

Third, Old Red had significant design and construction value. This was the first dune buggy built with a fiberglass body and its design transformed the dune buggy industry. There was no doubting the build and appearance of this car when you saw it.

Reason Four

Fourth, Old Red was the first in a series of nearly 7000 Manx dune buggies built by B. F. Meyers & Company. This vehicle served as the inspiration for over 250,000 similar models made by other companies, making it the most replicated car in history.

The Meyers Manx Dune Buggy, based on Old Red, was produced from 1964 until 1971, giving us a time in history when fun was a major component of driving.

What Made Bruce Meyers Create the Dune Buggy?

Bruce Meyers was a surfer and beach aficionado who also happened to be a boat builder by trade. This background in building both boats and surfboards gave Meyers more experience with fiberglass than most others. He used his love of California culture and skills in fiberglass techniques to created Old Red. This car would become his personal vehicle used to enjoy the beach and explore the desert, but Meyers couldn’t have predicted the following that came from this one design.

The Meyers Manx Dune Buggy Found its Path

The design and build of the body made the Meyers Manx lightweight and easy to drive. Add the utilization of a Volkswagen rear-engine layout, suspension, and drive, and you see what Meyers created for off-road fun. The original goal wasn’t to build a dune buggy company, only a handful of models, but Old Red had something else to say about that, as did many fans when they saw his first dune buggy.

Eventually, Old Red became a promotional vehicle for the company which receives financial support and positive press coverage from Road & Track magazine to get going. Today, we look back at what this original dune buggy had to offer and know that Meyers had the right idea with a small vehicle that could take you to the beach to relax and enjoy the culture offered.