The Meyers Manx name has always stood for freedom, simplicity and fun. At this year’s Quail, a focal point for new car launches during Monterey Car Week, the company joined forces with Oxfordshire rally specialists Tuthill to unveil the LFG – a carbon-bodied, four-wheel-drive performance buggy limited to 100 examples. With a six-speed sequential gearbox, long-range fuel tank, GPS navigation, climate-controlled cabin and a 7000rpm rally-bred engine, it promises a new type of off-road adventure. The first 20 cars will take part in a commemorative Baja tour in 2027, marking 50 years since the Manx first conquered the Mexican 1000.
Founded in 1964 by Californian surfer and boatbuilder Bruce Meyers, the Manx was the first production fibreglass dune buggy. Its light weight, shortened VW Beetle chassis and wide tyres gave it exceptional ability on sand, but the it was more than just a great off-roader. The car captured a cultural moment, appearing in films, on beaches and in Baja competition, where in 1967 Vic Wilson and Ted Mangels drove a Manx to victory in the inaugural Mexican 1000. That achievement secured the Manx’s reputation and created a new motorsport in the form of long-distance off-road racing. The new LFG draws directly on this heritage.
Tuthill has developed a platform of genuine rally specification, with four-wheel-drive, front, centre and rear limited-slip differentials, twin five-way adjustable dampers and steel disc brakes with four-piston calipers. A full carbon-fibre body keeps weight down, while a roll-over protection structure ensures safety on demanding terrain. The car’s adaptability is central to its concept: within minutes, the fully enclosed cabin can be transformed into an open-air buggy.
Richard Tuthill described it as ‘fun, mischievous, with a character I’ve never seen or felt’, but also a machine of true capability: ‘Could we go to the moon and back in it? Probably yes. It has the capability to go wherever we point it, and we can do it safely and comfortably.’
Phillip Sarofim explains the reasons behind the buggy: ‘This project started as a dream between my long-time pal Richard and me, who are constantly in pursuit of the ultimate expression of freedom and performance. We came together to imagine the perfect Meyers Manx, and after we laid the foundation, we invited our friend Freeman Thomas to bring his design brilliance to the surface of Tuthill’s incredible engineering capability. The result is exactly what we sought; raw, visceral, novel, and totally uncompromising. We call it LFG for a reason…’
Only 100 LFGs will be produced, each tailored for its owner. The project was overseen by collector Phillip Sarofim, Tuthill and designer Freeman Thomas, blending West Coast dune-buggy spirit with British rally engineering. With prices undisclosed and production strictly limited, the LFG is aimed at enthusiasts seeking adventure rather than lap times – its inaugural events designed as global driving experiences rather than competition.
For more info, see tuthill.uk
