Meyers Manx Goes Old-School with its Electric Dune Buggy

­Volkswagen didn’t want to make it, but an electric Meyers Manx dune buggy will soon see the light of day.

The Meyers Manx dune buggy was originally designed by Californian engineer, artist, boat builder and surfer Bruce F. Meyers in 1964.

It was intended to fit over the chassis of Volkswagen Beetles, and the name was based on the Manx cat, owing to the feline’s similar stubbiness. 

It was also the very first street legal, fiberglass dune buggy, and it would go on to dominate dune racing.

However, the partnership would eventually fall apart, and as of 2012, Meyers Manx kits are no longer based on modern VW Beetles.

Which makes it extra interesting that the forthcoming electric Meyers Manx will apparently reach back to vintage VW Beetle designs.

Prior to his passing, Bruce Meyers sold his company to Trousdale Ventures, and Trousdale is going old-school for its electric Meyers Manx.

While the original’s custom fiberglass monocoque body with embedded steel mounting points and reinforcement is too expensive, the EV version will supposedly include aluminum monocoque and an unspecified body.

Its performance should complement the nostalgia.

It’ll feature a relatively small 20 kWh or 40 kWh battery, but because it’ll only weigh 1,500-1,650 pounds, it should get 150 or 300 miles on a single charge, depending on the battery size.

And for the cherry on top, it’ll include optional DC Fast charging capability (at 60 kW). All in all, some very impressive stats for a dune buggy, and it’s even slated to be road-legal.

Deliveries should begin in 2024.