The modern startup gets a lot of attention these days. Investors hoping to ensnare the illusive “unicorn” status that might lead to astronomical growth, put their eye on the latest patented tech with hopes of a highly profitable exit, awash in vast sums of cash. And while these adventurous thinkers have stumbled upon product that might have a brief impact, Bruce Meyer changed everything about recreational vehicles, long before there were million-dollar stock options, 1000% growth, or huge dividends. And he did it all with a surfboard and beach-life approach. Just for the fun of it.
In the early 1960s, the California sports car scene was cresting a very big wave. Kit cars had already established market share for industrious garage hobbyists who wanted to build their own car. Off road vehicles were beginning to appear and recreational motocross, fueled in part by the growing Japanese motorcycle industry, was gaining in popularity. The confluence of all these motorized recreational events inspired California resident Bruce Meyers to design and build the Meyers Manx. The Manx would eventually usher in an entirely new genre of personal fun vehicles, leading the way to a cultural phenomenon popularizing desert racing and recreational dune buggy use.
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