Last Tow'd ?

[1MINT86]

I was reading Nelson Sparks article explaining the serial number tags in
the recent Manx Mania and got to the part that explains the 4 digits
numbers and realized the our Tow'd serial number 1679 is the last 4
digit number in the registry. I then looked at the original sales
receipt which I got from the original owner when we bought it in 2006
and it shows that the Tow'd kit was sold on July 30,1971.
So here's
the question, does anyone know how many cars with 4 digit serial number
were built and what month did the B.F. Meyers Co. close in 1971. Could
we possibly have the last Tow'd built ?

[towd-dude]

Greg,
I think between Bruce and Nelson that question could be answered. It would be nice to have that piece of history.
Good Luck,
Bob

[CairoManx]

I put it in the article. The formula says there were most probably 682
Meyers vehicles with 4 digit tags made, and of those, 17% were Tow'ds.
Its extremely likely that you have the last B.F. Meyers and Co. Tow'd.
I've seen it and you've definitely done it justice.    


I've heard July 71 was when they closed shop, I think it was
mentioned in one of the the DB&HVW from then, I'd need to look it up
again. The date of your receipt and serial number adds more evidence
for that,. I'd love to get a copy.  The auction wasn't until March 72

[CairoManx]

I just re-located a letter dated July 18, 1972 from Mrs. Nancy Sheets, an editorial assistant at Road and Track
magazine to a person who had written and asked about B.F. Meyers & Co. Road and Track

magazine located in Costa Mesa near where Bruce started his company,
had a long relationship with Meyers Manx.  The letter says "they closed
up shop on  August 13, 1972". The 1972 date was a typo, she meant to say
August 13, 1971
.

Mrs.
Sheets went on top say, "and sold all their materials to a Fiberglass
company, but so far that Fiberglass company hasn't done anything..." She
was talking about Action Fiberglass which bought the bulk of the
items at the bankruptcy auction which was held at the the Fountain
Valley factory on 16 March 1972.

Action Fiberglass which was at
one time located on Oak Street in Santa Ana sold clones and had been a long time
competitor/under cutter of Meyers Manx. Yesterday I
heard Joe say that the first time Bruce saw his Action Fiberglass buggy
at a Manx Club event, Bruce said, "Its one of those **** Oak Street
buggies" 

[louisb]

Wow, and I thought my Manx II was a late number at 1493. I think I have only run across one or two later numbers.



--louis