Building a Manx verse buying a new Beetle in the 1960's

[Mike1991]

Here is a comparison on how far your dollar went in the mid 1960's when building a Meyers Manx not including labor.

103	Kit B body	499.95	
166	Convertible soft top	136.99	
129	Front seats	44.95	
131	Rear seat pad	28.00	
132	Carpet kit	29.95	
160	Steering Wheel Leather	34.95	
147	Select-a-brake hand lever	22.95	
142	Front bumper	29.95	
136	Delswift mirror	4.95	
141	Rear bumper	19.95	
134	Manx shift knob	3.95	
151	Skid plate	19.12	
154	Roll bar chrome	44.50	
122	Monza filler neck	14.95	
321	Rear trans strap	29.50	
200	Front rims 14x6 2ea at $22.95	45.90	
201	Rear rims  15x8  2ea at 25.95	51.90	
189	Tires front  2ea at 29.99	59.98	
191	Tires rear  2ea at 31.49	62.98	
195	select-a-drop front beam	22.50	
156	Sidewinder exhaust	42.49	
n/a	Windshield wipers		
approx.	Chassis/motor/transmission	400.00	  
	wreaked VW 65-68		
Total cost 		1650.36	
			
	VERSE buying a brand new VW Beetle		
			
MSRP	New 1963 Beetle	1595.00	
MSRP	New 1968 Beetle	1695.00	




SURPRISED????

[deadeyebart]

I built my buggy around 14 years ago, so 1998 or 1999. The Glitterbug Sportsman body and hardtop on the '57 pan cost $400. I kept the front end as is. Replaced the transaxle with a '68 style for about $300. The 1500 cc engine was around $800.00. Wiring harness was probably around $50. Had the wheels powder coated for another $100 or so. Headlights, taillights, speedo, battery, battery box, front and rear bumpers, carburetor, generator, starter motor, brake drums, brakes, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, tires, etc., etc. Plus lots of misc. hardware. Probably cost between $3,000 and $4000 to build. Took about three months. Since then, have tried three other engines until I settled on the current 1776 cc set up as a Type III pancake with a Weber progressive 2 bbl. carb. I figure I've spent $7,000 on the car or the 14 years I've owned it, though that's probably a conservative figure. Worth every penny. We have driven it up to Big Bear loaded with our camping gear every year for 13 years and it's always gotten us home safely. That's about $500/year, not including insurance and fuel. What's not to love about that?!!