History

Manx Street Roadsters, Resorters, and Utility Cars.
Post Reply
Gene-C
Posts: 2949
Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:00 am

History

Post by Gene-C »

The next product of the company was the Manx SR (Street Roadster). This car was an attempt to short circuit the Manx copycats. Penned by Stewart Reed, a student fresh out of Art Center College of Design, it was intended for the street only and possessed a sleek aerodynamic shape that is still contemporary today. It was built to fit on the same shortened VW floorpan as the original Manx to keep the great handling characteristics. The car had thirteen fiberglass and many metal pieces making it much more of a challenge for the garage-type mechanic to complete. Though it was thought that there were 400 to 600 of these kits produced, it now appears more like 200 were sold by B.F. Meyers & Co. and possibly 200 more sold by the successive companies that bought the molds after the company went down.

The Resorter/Turista was also produced by B.F. Meyers & Co, though not designed by Bruce, to provide a 4-seat tour vehicle. The Resorter had lower sides for easier entrance and exit. The car was originally produced and sold to hotel chains in Puerto Rico, Acapulco and Hawaii. Bruce was not fond of its shape and claimed the sight of it gave him the "turistas" ("Montezuma’s Revenge").

Three Utility cars were produced, two of which were sold as Lifeguard buggies for Los Angeles County and one buggy designated for the California Forestry Service. These buggies were equipped with a covered rear bed for hauling life-saving gear and which required the use of a VW "pancake" engine. The third utility buggy intended for the Forestry Service was stolen from the company before it was ever delivered. It has only recently been rediscovered, though its history is still clouded in mystery.

The last vehicle in the Manx fleet was the Kuebelwagen. This car was a replica of the German Desert Staff car of WWII and was built on a full-length floorpan. Sadly, there was only one of these cars built. Totally restored, this car reigns high in the Manx Club.
Post Reply