Jay Takes A Ride In A 1964 Meyers Manx | Jay Leno’s Garage The TV Show

Jay meets with Meyers Manx owner Phillip Sarofim and Meyers Manx CEO & CCO Freeman Thomas as they talk about the electric future of the classic American brand. Watch all-new episodes of Jay Leno's Garage Wednesdays at 10pm ET on CNBC.
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#jaylenosgarage #MeyersManx #cnbc

[@BobPapadopoulos]

I've always loved the Manx. Has to be top 3 happiest looking cars ever made. How could you not look at it, much less drive it, and smile?

[@d.serrador9277]

100% Agree 😉 The other ones are the Lancia Stratos and the Lotus Seven for me

[@azspeedbuggy]

been driving my Meyers Manx since 1975, met Bruce in 2013...more smiles per mile...

[@Madagon367]

'Doom buggies' ah yes. Think they are driving those in Mad Max too.

[@ssfouryou]

It's a dune buggy not a doom buggy lol..

[@phil4986]

dune buggy could be a copyrighted phrase Jay has to pay to use.especially since it is not directly connected to the manx brand.

[@davidf2281]

Hold the front page for Sherlock here!

[@pbarnwell]

Actually could be a “Doom” Buggy depending on whose Driving LoL

[@americangangster1911]

No it's a BF Injection.

[@lasskinn474]

@@phil4986 meyrs manx the original dune buggy. As long as its original its fair game even if meyers had a trademark on the word. Edit: and thats what they call it themselves

[@simonatkinson6389]

Always wanted one of these! They were simple, Silly and 'Bug Eyed' but best of all they were a huge amount of fun. When you got them on sand they always looked like they were grinning at you as you launched them into the air.

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🤗 I WAS IN THE SAME BUG , but never caught one ☝️

[@iammaximus614]

Always cool to see them in the streets! Rest in Power, Bruce! For the years of Smiles you have given us 👌🏽😎

[@31847448]

There was a recent article in Hot VWs about Bruce Myers and the Manx. I would love to build one with a five speed and a high perf engine

[@davidrabenius726]

Back in 1965 my neighbor had a kids version of this icon. It was a Cox .049 nitro powered model that was a HUGE smiling inducing toy. It was an exact copy of the Meyers Manx but in toy form.They were never cheap to buy and basically slowly deteriorated due to the "Glow fuel" attacking the plastic parts. I finally was able to get one for Christmas in 1972. My grandfather bought one at a cost of $39.00 which was a huge amount of money back then for him as he was retired. My Aunt was upset that I asked for one, my younger brother asked for the "Baja Bug" version as well. I had no idea of the dollars worth back then, the minimum wage was probably less than $1.40 per hour. So it would have taken almost a weeks worth of wages to buy one! A nice one today in the box can reach $400+ dollars Anyway Christmas morning we opened our gifts and we went outside and fired it up. My buggy had the purple metallic plastic. The smile that was on my fathers face was priceless! I still have most of it, the tires have slowly become melted goo (common as the tires had foam inserts) and the little trim pieces have been long fallen off but every time I take it out 50 years later still brings that same sh*t eating grin that my father had that morning.

[@georgej7077]

My two biggest memories from the Manx, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoe and Speed Buggy. Thanks for the blast from the past!

[@williamsporing1500]

Ah, Speed buggy…..loved it

[@DallasG83]

I've driven more types of vehicles than I can remember but never had one make me go "woohoo" like Freeman. I guess I need a Manx.

[@bloqk16]

I had one of these, it is like having a four-wheeled motorcycle; as I was previously a motorcycle owner. A misconception many of my neighbors had about that vehicle was their assumption it was an _off-road-vehicle,_ thinking that it could be driven over rocky and rut-strewed surfaces in the desert. I had to explain to them that the term *dune buggy* was a literal term for it; as given the VW's suspension/shock absorbers, the smoothness of sand surfaces was what it was designed for; not the rough surfaces of the desert terrain . . . that is, unless it was driven very slowly. Even then, it could be bone-jarring. The swing-axle made the stability problematic, but replacing it with VW's later independent rear suspension improved the stability and minimized the roll-over risk.

[@cindys1819]

It wasn't long before guys were throwing in 4 then 6 cyl Porsche engines! Then blower on the engines!!! Finally people began to making up full tube space frame with a SBC engines for the street and the sand drags. . It was a wild scene in that '65 to like1971 era....

[@thunderbirdbrown3002]

Thanks Jay !!! I'm so happy you are doing this!! Here's to you and all you do!! Getcha Pull 🥃-CHEERS 🍻

[@LaMaiStyle]

I always wanted a dune buggy from watching speed buggy cartoons. I got a wrangler instead. Looks So much fun‼️‼️

[@bennyboogenheimer4553]

My Daughter Emily loved that cartoon, and lost her mind the first time she saw a real dune buggy at 5y/o. One passed us on a secondary road down the shore, and she was like, "Dad, they're real! Does this mean there's a Tasmanian Devil too?" lol!

[@donfisherjr.2404]

Very cool! Thanks Jay for this blast from the past. Dune buggies were my first favorite cars back in the 60s and I still think they're stylish.

[@toddvanwinkle7777]

Thank you Jay, for having so much fun with a 40 hp Vee Dub engine and showcasing the great Meyers’s Manx! 😂 Heaven for me!!!!🛠🛠

[@hassanal-mosawi4235]

Thanks for sharing that, it was fun to watch!

[@tonysdiecastcustoms]

Awesome episode Jay and enjoyed seeing this beautiful Meyer's Manx and have a wonderful weekend 👍👊😎

[@mileshigh1321]

Thanks for showing the MANX !

[@claudiovargas9571]

Amazing a simple but perfectly crafted , created and a real fun experience!!!

[@Carchaeology]

Fantastic! More Smiles Per Mile for sure! If you aren't having fun in a Meyers Manx you don't have a pulse

[@richraymond9934]

I had a 1954 mgtd kit car . Same thing The girls never knew their life was in danger. It was ridiculously dangerous.

[@richardgreen7811]

The LENO TOUCH ... My Sons and I love Jay. We have been around him for decades. When he brought in the 1st 2005 Ford GT, he let my Sons sit in it at the Rock Store. He is and is truly worthy of being called a Legend. The one thing I would love to see is for Jay to venture out into Aircraft. His video of the Grumman Albatros is way cool, and there is an endless supply of fun aircraft for Jay to explore without even leaving Southern Clownifornia. In addition to the aircraft are the phenomenal Airport Restaurants ... notably the Waypoint Cafe at the Camarillo Airport (Camarillo, CA). Great food, great service, and great hiring practices. Wish Jay would think about it. And how do we get there ??? My 1965 AC Cobra MKIII through Portrero Canyon. Life is Good.

[@vettekid3326]

Back in 1968 I remember my cousin Eric bout a 1964 VW for the donor car for $250 and the dune buggy kit was another $500. You used the body pan complete, steering column, gages and fuel tank along with the taillights and front turn indicators and all the wiring from the Bug. Some kits used the stock VW seats but his had glassed in seats that utilized some throw in pads. JC Whitney's out of Chicago had just about everything for a Dune Buggy you could imagine well into the late 1970's.

[@CountryAndClassics]

Holy Smokes!! I remember building one of these with My High School Friend, We had lots of fun with it.

[@ImInLoveWithBulla]

I remember one issue of Hot VWs that had a beautiful blue metalflake Manx. Set up for autocross, low set on wide Minilites. Big engine with dual Webers. It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. Most people make them with an off-road stance, but they shine with a street/track look.

[@telegramsupercarblondie1129]

*Hello, fan!* *Thanks for the love and support.* *Congratulations*🎉🥳 *you* *have been randomly selected as* *a prize winner, send me a* *direct messages on my above* *telegram to acknowledge your* *gift*

[@AlbertaGeek]

I am totally flashing back to the cartoon _Speed Buggy._

[@donfronterhouse4759]

My uncle had a nice one back in the 80s. I drove it couple of times and it was a lot of fun. They were so light even with the little bug motor they were pretty zippy. That uncle actually collected a couple of them and fixed them up. He restored an Austin-Healy too. He always had the coolest toys.

[@itryen7632]

The Meyers Manx 2 has to be the thing i anticipate the most. It seems to have all the design elements i love. Honesty, Fun, Costumizeability and Shroom plastic. I'm saving up for one right now.

[@richb313]

Thanks Jay so much fun.

[@mooneyes109]

Wow!!! Finally Jays video shows up in my subscriptions page! 👍

[@LuciFeric137]

I got one of those given to me as a basket case. I resold it as is, there was demand for it. The fiberglass was thick and well made even after decades of neglect.

[@Android-vk8yh]

Love it! I had a model of this in the UK in the 70s. My first electric off-road toy, probably still got it somewhere with some AA batteries. Melted inside 🤣👍

[@freedomrings1420]

My father rolled his VW coming home from work and some people helped him roll it back over and he drove it home. The roof was caved in a little and he and my older brothers cut the roof off and my brothers drove it around our 20 acres. That was around 1970.

[@johnypitman2368]

you could R&R a vw boxer in less than a hour

[@dougdavis169]

A kid in town also did the same but he was only 13 also in the 70s he drove it behind the laundry mat his father owned.

[@mindeloman]

So, sort of a kubelwagen?

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Oh... yeah... a few thousand pounds of $50K EV batteries shouldn't change how a Manx drives...

[@freedomrings1420]

@@dougdavis169 I was 9 , my brothers around 13,14.

[@laurienivals]

Love this!!! Always loved the classic ‘dune buggies’ - this is great!

[@Siskiyous6]

I remember going smelt fishing and rounding up cows in our neighbor's dune buggy, that was one fun ride.

[@rickolson3114]

Manx was so iconic when I was growing up in the 60's...No other car will give you more smiles per mile. The closest i got was a 55 Willys SW two wheel drive with big sand tires on it. I had more fun in that vehicle than any other I owned which included 55,56 Chevys and several others.

[@terryhudson9687]

My uncle had one in his barn that I never saw driven but I would sit in it and act like i was driving and shift the gears. Beautiful car. It had a hard top and was some sort of metallic red.

[@josephmartinez8803]

I used to do same, but not in a dune buggy, but a 1956 Corvette and a 1931 Model A.

[@terryhudson9687]

@@josephmartinez8803 that's really cool

[@josephmartinez8803]

@@terryhudson9687 And both cars are still sitting still. The Corvette since 1971 and the Model A, since 1951 (not kidding!).

[@chadbrown7648]

My grand father still has one stuffed in his barn

[@fastdude2002]

I’ve owned two of these in my lifetime, one Manx and one knock off. I still own two desert rail buggies.

[@ImInLoveWithBulla]

Why am I not surprised that the people who own the Meyers Manx have a private seaplane? It fits. So perfectly.

[@telegramsupercarblondie1129]

*Hello, fan!* *Thanks for the love and support.* *Congratulations*🎉🥳 *you* *have been randomly selected as* *a prize winner, send me a* *direct messages on my above* *telegram to acknowledge your* *gift*

[@brianehni5918]

Doom buggy. LOL!

[@dougg1075]

We had one when I was a kid, and it was awesome

[@superb63amg94]

Awesome! I want one!

[@ringokidd387]

Daddy and I had one back in the day in the early seventies she had 65 mustang tail lights on the rear beautiful! Dual cherry bomb glass packs for the exhaust crager rims lot of good times and a lot of great memories

[@billybob9961]

I had the exact same doom buggy I was a kid so much fun.

[@davidjanbaz7728]

My parents had a cow that I took off the hubcaps of their VW. They would never go for this vehicle, but I like it and wish I had that 64 VW bug back.

[@GreatDataVideos]

Went four wheeling decades ago at a beach and a VW bug flew by us on some soft sand with no struggle at all, so that was the ideal platform to start from. High horse power to weight ratio.

[@kpslinger6030]

The. Chance to shake Bruce's hand just before he drove with a group of Manx's across the country was the highlight of my auto enthusiast career

[@rixkafer56]

Thanks again Bruce !!! RiP 🙏

[@bryduhbikeguy]

That's so awesome.I'd like to see more of the new electric versions.Just for fun,it's funny to think about all the original dune buggy owners with mushrooms too...

[@anotherone1001]

LOVE that plane !!

[@ninja12lawbreaker]

always wanted one, so rare now

[@nephilymbass1]

My dad had one of these. My mom had to sell it after he passed in 2011 but it was always a ton of fun. Built 1600cc engine with all the bolt ons. Car was actually insanely fast off the line but it was built for getting off the line and would overheat if driven hard for more than 30 minutes. Was probably running too lean. Not much top end but could embarrass muscle cars in the 1/8 mile or from stop light to stop light. Was always a blast to drive that car. My uncle had a rail buggy. These light dune buggy’s with dual port 1600cc motors with stinger exhaust, power pulleys, Bosch distributor, and a good carburetor are a ton of fun. I’d love to build a open rail buggy with big air cooled Harley Davidson v twin or a Manx with a Subaru EJ motor

[@randomname4726]

That's really cool.

[@donaldliverance2597]

I miss mine so much it was a riot to drive

[@ogbean82]

They watched Top Gear and seen how much fun those 3 idiots had in the dunes!!! I don't need 1. I want 1!!

[@melvinburwell8202]

Very interesting. $45.000. And you still see copies of this today. Fascinating automotive history.👍😎🔥🔥

[@jamesperezp]

GRACIAS POR MANTENER EL DISEÑO Y GRACIAS SEÑOR LENOS POR EL VIDEO

[@bryanluntz1603]

Legit Cool Rides Loved them Bruce Had two Both both at different times for $400 on the first one and $200 for the second one Both basket cases Body on a VW pan with wheels A roller Interior n power were in boxes 1500cc powerplants Traded on for a '61 oval and traded the other for some diamond plate n welding on my flatbed Ford along with diamond plate hitch Wish I had them both

[@liamfahey7836]

Im in Australia and I had one based on a 58 beetle with irs. When I went to get it registered the said I couldn’t because it didn’t have a chassis. Idiots!! Had a lot of fun with it.

[@andykerr3803]

I miss my Manx!!! It was done with full roll cage and side bars. The seats were moved back fully electric, the steering was tilt, so it was super comfy to drive. Great to see an electric in production with Mushroom 🍄 fabric, only on California! Surprised Jay did not feature the great footage of Elvis bombing around and jumping a Manx. Cheers 🍻

[@magnetmannenbannanen]

i remember seeing one of these when i was a kid, i want one.

[@zzzbxxx582]

Congratulation you have been selected among my shortlisted winner’s….

[@flyingmerkel6]

If I was to get a classic car, this is it. Yep, I live in coastal Southern California' Manxs were everywhere back in the day.

[@darkhorsegarage9623]

I flew some fifty yards upside down over a sand trap of a golf course at two o’clock in the morning. The frame broke at the weld but the roll bar held. Fun car. Definitely a Doom buggy.

[@randomname4726]

Epic lol

[@alwayscensored6871]

Always wanted one of these

[@Ivan-yr5fx]

Awesome

[@pb68slab18]

Always wanted a dune buggy. Used to see them around the streets a lot in the early 70s. Saw more sitting in yards weathering away.

[@perry92964]

i see them all the time

[@jeremyb4493]

An old episode of CHIPS featured chase scenes with Ponch and Jon chasing something like this throughout the episode. Haven't seen one on the street since I was a kid in the 80s

[@perry92964]

@@jeremyb4493 i saw a blue one yesterday driving by the dog park while i was there. i also see them for sale a lot i live in new jersey so maybe that has something to do with it. im sure there knock offs though

[@user-vl5wq9wu7e]

Congratulations send me a direct message on Telegram for your surprise package🎁

[@theboyisnotright6312]

Nice!

[@campbellpaul]

Jay: You could make one for $50 Manx CEO: We will sell you a nut for $50

[@duanebolen543]

I had one back in the 90s it was a lot of fun too much fun actually

[@adamjohnson1519]

awesome

[@frankjgornickjr3676]

Electric has came and gone over 100 years ago and it will go again! Nothing beats the combustible engine!

[@stuffhappens5681]

The Manx was special. It looked right. Most of the copies were awkward. There was a Meyers Manx dealership near where we lived. I got a ride in one when I was 15. Had a Corvair Monza engine. Was fantastic.

[@hrg3design905]

Freeman Thomas's story's around the beginning of the Audi TT (8N) are wonderful. I really wish you'd get Freeman together with you and go over this. I also know you get hundreds of requests like this or other desires...so simply if it sounds like fun to you...thank you. Rick Glesner

[@danielmarek4609]

When I was a kid back in the 60's a local shop opened that built dune buggies. Saw several VW's being rolled onto one side, pan unbolted, flipped back on the ground and into the shop to get it's new fiberglass body. Pretty sure most were Manx bodies. This was in Wisconsin a long way from any dunes! hah

[@pa4tim]

I drove one made by Ruska, model sprinter (in Europe) for 2 years as my daily driver. A bit chilly in winter but fun. One thing I could not figure out is why it pulled to the right, only near to gas-stations. (i could drive 6 km on one liter with the VW bus/van engine. If I remember well, it was in the late 80's, it was 1600 or 1800 cc, topspeed was around 100 km/h)

[@stephenabril7084]

Jay that was the best show you’ve had in a while. 👍👍👍

[@stevenhinkle6957]

Even a buggy can play Doom now !

[@user-vl5wq9wu7e]

Congratulations send me a direct message on Telegram for your surprise package🎁

[@gmans7859]

Thank God it was the Summer time. I (we) ended up spending the night in the Hills (undisclosed location) because we jumped it a bit too high and bent the steering all to hell. This was before Cell Phones. Someone with tools came along, we removed the steering link and managed to straighten things enough with rocks to be able to drive out. Ah, remembering ones youth.

[@randomname4726]

Haha, good times!

[@axelaminoff9258]

A friend of mine had one of these, but stuck a VW engine from a more modern VW minibuss/van in there and basically turned it into a drag racer. Good times.

[@shotsrodder]

Cool 😎

[@christophezecheru5440]

Jay, can you please bring in James May or one of them?! That will be epic.

[@georgehgordy1690]

My cousin had one.. I believe it was gold in color with huge silver metal flake

[@garneauweld1100]

I'm met Bruce in Carmel during the historics. Never met a nicer man, and he took the time and patience to explain the whole story while sitting in the original. It was a very special moment because it can no longer be repeated. I know where there's an original Max on Saddleback Mountain in a hole so deep it would take a helicopter to get it out. Anyone interested? I'm just kidding of course. It's a bit of important history that should probably remain right where it is. Don't bother looking cuz you'll never find it. p.s.: Personally witnessed a Manx running a Porsche flat 6 twin-turbo at Carlsbad that could run under 11's all day long. I was very impressed, and I'm a tough customer.

[@randomname4726]

Why keep it in a hole nobody can see? Seems pointless and a waste.

[@garneauweld1100]

Wouldn't it be better to find it 100 years later and still running than 50 years later and still running.

[@justonemori]

Nice Doom Buggy, haha

[@jeremyb4493]

I think seinfeld featured one of these as well with Dana Carvey on that comedians in cars show though Jay's show is definitely more car oriented

[@barbararainey6316]

Bruce Meyers is a member of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. And thanks to Phillip Sarofim for keeping the spirit and brand of Meyers Manx alive for a new generation!

[@PhillyDee215]

Holy😵🙌

[@ianmangham4570]

So beautiful

[@bextar6365]

I mounted those exact same cool side mirrors on my customized 1951 Bel Air HT back in the early 1990s................. ROBERK Mfg. Is the name on them.........

[@ImTHATguy...]

I've got a '68 and a rolling chassis '65 project. I've got a Corvette, a '66 Cobra, a '65 Tiger, a 2015 Mustang, a 64.5 Mustang, and a few other cars and that buggy is almost more fun than most of the other cars and it's only got like 50 hp!

[@Lozenhimer]

did i hear an exhaust noise from the electric version at the end? was that dubbed in during production or does it have an exhaust speaker in the car?...lol

[@Gman1024]

Definition of Smiles Per Miles.

[@thunderbirdbrown3002]

HelllllllllllllllYeaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!I want 1 too!!!!

[@LORISSABOOBMAN]

You may remember Counting Cars Count's Kustoms restored a Manx that May have been from GB or another famous builder in the 60's.

[@xyanide1986]

I want a Doom Buggy to blast my doom metal band's music out of while I play Doom on the infotainment system

[@will4688]

Get Danzig as a front man. 👊🏼🤘🏽

[@stephenwilliams926]

I'd rather watch the straight forward jay lenos garage than the TV version.

[@meyersmanx]

Thanks Jay! We had a great time!

[@petemcfeet28]

I love how when they reinvent a classic that was loved for its simplicity, functionality, frugality and charm it ends up complicated and expensive taking away two of the main ingredients that gave it its charm in the first place. I'm sure people will want the new Manx. But I'm betting hardly anyone will be able to afford one. They'll figure out a way to make it cost $60 or $70k. I'm not charmed by that.

[@randomname4726]

But it's not going to be complicated at all. Electric is simple and with far less parts than petrol.

[@cenccenc946]

what are you smoking?

[@alexandertroy9621]

You just made me think that I had been calling them by the wrong name all of these years! I would love a "Doom Buggy" though. Sounds awesome!

[@LostInSpice]

Doom Buggies are what you ride in The Haunted Mansion at Disney. These are Dune Buggies.

[@theone-swta]

@@LostInSpice Alexander was quite right. I guess sarcasm doesn't translate well to text.

[@daveridgeway2639]

I see a Maryland "Street Rod" license tag on the yellow one, and it's all the way on the west coast. I am from Maryland by the way, it's my home state. Interesting...

[@OntarioBearHunter]

There's one in a field by my hunt camp, but noone is ever home to see if it's an original M.M or another brand.

[@HypocriticYT]

Weren’t pictures of these buggies in Playboy decades ago?