Corvair-Powered Meyers Manx Dune Buggy Hits the Market

A Meyers Manx dune buggy with a twist is now up for sale: instead of the usual air-cooled Volkswagen flat-four, this example packs a 2.7-liter flat-six from a Chevrolet Corvair. That engine swap transforms the lightweight buggy into a serious performer, with the Corvair mill delivering up to 140 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque in stock form—far beyond the roughly 57 hp and 81 lb-ft of the original VW unit.

The buggy pairs an authentic Meyers Manx fiberglass body with a Con-Ferr chassis, and it retains a 1965 Corvair engine mated to a two-speed Powerglide automatic transaxle. Prior refurbishment included an engine overhaul, a blue metalflake repaint, refreshed chrome, Cragar wheels, bucket seats, and a chrome roll bar. It comes with a Meyers Manx Certificate of Authenticity and is titled in Arizona as a 1965 Chevrolet Corvair.

Bruce Meyers designed the Manx in 1960s Southern California by combining a shortened VW Beetle floorpan with a fiberglass body. The kit proved popular, with over 6,000 sold. The Manx gained fame through a record-setting Baja run and an appearance in The Thomas Crown Affair, where Steve McQueen drove a Corvair-powered version. Interestingly, the company has since announced plans for an electric, road-legal beach buggy inspired by the original.