Copy the Meyers Manx V?

jkbrigman

jkbrigman

10 kW
Joined
Oct 27, 2011
Messages
794
Location
North Carolina, Southeast US
Wanted to start a discussion about copying the Meyers Manx V:

http://www.gizmag.com/meyers-manx-electric-dune-buggy/32050/

Some of us have already built similar vehicles. I'm interested in building up a BOM and price list for producing a homebuilt copy....something street legal that could be used every day for commuting. I'm interested in any and all input from the fine folks on E-S about sources for all parts: fibreglass bodies, suspension/frame, motors, controllers, instruments and of course, Lithium...

Links to existing machines that are similar, very welcome in this thread. Would like this thread to turn into a gateway for building an electric streetable super-lightweight dune buggy. I'll post links as I continue the research.
 
The VW pan is a pretty cool platform. I've got lots of experience with it but not from an E perspective. I thought I remember later versions of the manx where done on tubular frames. But then I have very selective memory.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1099737


3662544.jpg
 
Lots of kit cars were made to go on the VW chassis, all cool because VWs are cool. Bradley GT, Porsche 356 Speedster, Spyder, etc. to name a few. I still see quite a few Ghias, dune buggies, art cars, and Baja Bugs around S. California. The latest rage seems to be the VW Thing, which looks like a WW2 Nazi jeep. An electric Schwimwagen might never exist, it was the WW2 Nazi boat/car and is very rare. 8)
 
Hillhater said:
I assume you are following Oatnets buggy build thread ?
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=50717
Click to expand...


I'm amazed, however, at the vast amount of custom work Oatnet has done. Not sure I could ever accomplish that as well as he does!
I should have cited his thread at the top of this one. Would be a great idea to revise the original posting with links I find...
 
Aww, thanks for the kind words guys. :oops:

I've been trying to show that anyone can build a streetable electric buggy using cheap basic tech (brushed DC), and the VW chassis makes it as simple as it could possibly be, and the parts light enough for one person to manage it. I do not have a background in VW bugs, I am not am engineer of any form, I never did CAD before, and I am using skills I've learned building electric bikes - so if I can successfully finish it, anyone with the willpower, imagination, and time or money, can build their own light, fast, agile transportation.

That BF Myers build was 1,700+ lbs ! :shock: I wonder how close I can get to my 1,000lb goal.

-JD
 
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