Bruce Meyers was about to give the specialist-car industry a boost that would add at least ten years to its history. In 1966, he brought out the Manx, the first of a line of countless 'Beach Buggies'. The open top, open- wheeled car was just a basic body dropped straight onto a Volkswagen floorpan. The Volks engine was used and all that was needed was a set of fat wheels and tyres, not only to make it practical on beaches, but to give the car a certain aggressive look. There were probably more vehicles built on this theme than on any other, and, when the idea of the buggy fizzled out, there were the Volks-based sports cars to take their place.
In England, the GP Speedshop, which produced one of England's first buggies, looking very much like the Meyers Manx, produced the first British Volkswagen sports car, the Centron. Cars like the Silhouette followed, and on the 'race-car' theme there were vehicles like the Group Six, based on a Group Five- style car, and the Beaujangle Can-Am. Various beach buggies were built on a Mini base in England, while Mini-Moke-based vehicles like the Scamp, the Yak and the three-wheeled Ranger sprang up from nowhere.
Geoff Jago's Rodding Scene
It was during this time that Geoff Jago's Rodding Scene would supply bare bodies and chassis to British customers who wanted to assemble their own car. Opus, at one time run by motor-racing entrepreneur Rob Walker, did the same sort of thing, albeit on a smaller basis. Meanwhile, the Lotus Seven was still going strong, and other kit-car builders built cars on the exact same lines, albeit some ten years later. However, there was still a market for that sort of car as Jeffrey and Outton found out to their pleasant surprise.
On a different theme, there were a few companies building 'replicars', the pioneer being Excalibur with their Mercedes-Benz and Buggatti cars. In America, too, there were variations on the Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg triangle and the Glassic, which followed the 1931 Ford Model A style. In England, Siva, who also built weird and wonderful sports cars with engines from Beetles to V8 Astons, produced odd Ford-based 'Roadsters' of no particular style. However, they looked old and were definitely fun.
The SS Jaguar gave birth to a succession of replicas on both sides of the Atlantic, as did the D-type Jaguar in England. The Albany was as precise and neat as any, again in no particular (except old) style, while pride of place must be given to the immaculate Dri-Sleeve Moonraker. Exactly like a 35 'Bug' except for fat wheels, the Moonraker was expertly finished in every detail, from the wiring that cri ss-crossed the bonnet to the machined-aluminium dashboard.
29 convertibles built from 1966 to 1973
Engine:
7-litre V8 engine by Ford
Power:
345 horsepower, Rear-wheel-drive
Performance:
0-60 mph in less than 6.0 seconds
Top speed: 140 mph +
Designed by Frua
Length:
96 inch wheelbase / 174 inch length
Weight:
3,143 pound weight
Transmission:
4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission
Its purity of style and eager handling meant that the original 'Duetto' Spider became hugely trendy after its launch in 1966. Its image was boosted further when a young Dustin Hoffman drove one in The Graduate.
The Ford Anglia Super featured successful use of relatively large engine in a small car. Over-square 4-cylinder engine front mounted driving the rear wheels through an all-synchromesh 4-speed gearbox. Independent front suspension by coil springs and MacPherson struts; anti-roll bar. Live axle on half eliptic leaf springs at rear. Recirculating ball steering. Drum brakes. Two door four seater. Exterior: Baked enamel paintwork, electrocoated primer, chrome stainless steel and aluminium trim. Interior: Carpets, spring and foam seats covered with P.V.C., P.V.C. headlining, P.V.C. covered padded medal facia, P.V.C. door trim.
Sensational styling, a massively powerful V8 plus four-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes decades before they became commonplace mark the Interceptor FF out as something very special.
