When I was 18 I happened to run across an old buggy down a dead end alley, just sitting in someones back yard with a for sale sign on it. Obviously they were in no hurry to sell, but something told me to knock on the door and so I went. After meeting a very nice older gentleman and establishing myself to be trustworthy (my dad knew his son somehow), I drove away with a nice little Manx clone and $300 less in my pocket.
That summer was incredible, I drove that thing everywhere. Trails, street, up mountains, down mountains...places I had no business being. I even got a reckless driving ticket for "racing", although that term was used very loosely by the officer because I never exceed 40mph, but with the exhaust I had you could hear me from across town. I was hooked. I passed that buggy on to someone else at the end of the summer and bought a bus, and then a bug, and then...you know the story, 30+ VWs later I am still looking for that next project. Well here it is.
I grew up in the early 80's, so I never got to experience the thrill of buying a kit from Bruce and building your own honest to goodness Manx. I did build another clone after my first buggy, but it just wasn't the same. When I heard Bruce was releasing the New Classic Manx's this year, I knew this was going to my last (and only) chance to go back in time and have this experience. Plus my son is now 5, it is a great chance to pass this love of VWs on to him!
I am sort of a stock purest. I love history and think driving a 100% correct reproduction of a car is as close as you can get to going back in time. I knew right away that if I am going to build this thing, I am going to go back to 1968 and build it as close to the Meyers catalog as I can.
Here is where I started. I picked up a very nice donor buggy with excellent pans and running gear. I had shortened a buggy pan before and knew that it was an experience I didn't need to relive.
I was debating on the color so I created a poll here and you all helped me pick the color. Top Tomato was our winner and we ordered it from Winnie. Here is is coming off the truck. New Classic Manx #54.
