James Garner

[monomanx]

I noticed this (and of course it is pure conjecture) but the front tires appear to be original...

[monomanx]

Gary Holbrook posted a video on the East Coast Dune buggies website that has 27 hours to La Paz...in it at 8:29 you can see the original Crean Manx drive by





Link

[BL3Manx]

You can see it at 4 places in the video, I posted the times above(7 Aug).

Here are a couple more picture of it when new.

[Pinboss]

What a great and historic car. I so pleased to hear that the intention is to restore the car. I hope it's being restored as-raced using as many of the original parts still left on the car.
I'm new here. And I'm very new to Meyers Manx, or VW air cooled for that matter. I'm planning a restoration on Yuma Yellow deal in the next year or two, but I love any car with a history… especially one in racing.
Is there any other notable Manx(s) with race history?... Desert, Drag racing, etc. ? Maybe I should start another thread.

Joe

[BL3Manx]

The Crean Manx (above) set the first official record for 4 wheel vehicles in Baja. Old Red which was the first Meyers Manx was also the first to beat the motorcycle record in Baja. The winner of the first Baja 1000 Race was Manx #10. Meyers Manx beat so many race cars at Pikes Peak in 1966, it was banned. The Purple Potato Chip Meyers Manx Drag car beat the Inch Pincher at the first Bug-In.

Yes a new thread would be better but you could probably find out a lot with Google too

[joescoolcustoms]

[monomanx]

Nelson...Oops...I should have read the thread again re the times.

Regarding the restoration, what would be best to do with the Crean Manx?
1. Restore it as is (with cut off fenders as it was raced later in its life)
2. Restore it to the original body style with the funky roof line and split screen window?

My thoughts would be towards the first choice and then if it was so desired, make a replica of the original body version. This would be the easiest I would think since the car already is in its latter form.

[BL3Manx]

I believe the intention and plan is to restore it in its present configuration, as James Garner raced it.

Actually it had a third configuration which you didn't mention, as a pretty much stock 1965 or 66 Meyers Manx which was probably its most historic. John Crean's son Johnnie, believes it was built in 1965. I wrote about it in the current Manx Mania but it hasn't come out yet. In January 1967, John Crean and his friend John Cummings set the first record in it for a four wheeled vehicle which was faster than the motorcycle record which had existed since 1962. They did it in a driving time of 29 hours and 17 minutes. They didn't run non stop however, and posted an overall figure for the trip of 88 hours and 3 minutes.

Even though they stopped over night along the way, their record was enough to say they beat the motorcycles and to induce Bruce Meyers to set a non-stop record in Old Red in April 67 which in turn led to the organization of NORRA and the Mexican 1000 in Oct 67.

Here is the Crean Manx as it set its historic record

Looking closely at the picture, it has the early single tube bumper and appears to have one of the non-extruded windshield frames. That makes me think it was originally a first generation Manx 1 with the small square license mount. They could have updated the rear with the later style cut out when they rebuilt it in 67. You could tell by checking the width of the sill above the back seat and whether there's no blister in the spare tire well to clear the brake line bracket on the swingaxle tube.

[monomanx]

Nelson,
looking at the last picture I noted the frame as well and immediately wondered about the rear area as it was the later trapezoid shape.

The real proof would be the color of the car under the yellow it currently is. The pictures appear to show it as a metalflake car....

If the current Crean racer is metalfalke and dark then there is a question about the rear opening.

I would love to see the racer up close and see those details.

Where did you get the pics of the stock configuration ?

[BL3Manx]

I checked back in my correspondence with Johnnie Crean and he believes it was built in 65 which would definitely make it a first generation Manx 1 with a small tail. The pics are from his bio.

This is a scan of a picture of a picture of a Mexican newspaper. The license is mounted off to the side but I don't see any of the wide lip around the carb cut out that would be on a later body

Here is another picture during the record run which shows it had a VW engine then. You can't see the rear end, but I'd say the rear skirt appears to have the steeper angle that the first generation Manx 1s had. Of course John Crean also had the resources to just purchase a brand new 1967 body from Meyers Manx and just reuse the chassis to save time. Like you say Chris, when they start sanding down through the paint it will tell the story.

I love the Baja floorjack too.

[BL3Manx]

A couple more pictures of it, at the start of and during the 1967 Mexican 1000.

[joescoolcustoms]

Thank you Nelson for posting the history and photo's.

I am digging it!
_________________
Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

[Manx102]

I agree.. a fascinating buggy with a great history to match. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and pictures of it Nelson.
_________________
"The simplest of outdoor adventures - the most treasured memories." - Bruce Meyers
54 years of "outdoor adventures" and "treasured memories" with our Manx in my gallery.

[frizzardking]

Great archives Nelson as usual !

[mekeys]

Nelson is the Wikipedia of Samba..

Mel

[RedBaronofRedBud]

Always incredible and fascinating information. Thanks, Nelson!
_________________
Or you can call me………Tim

My two pennies…your mileage may vary

I’m not a complete idiot, there are parts missing

[enesset]

So neat, great vintage photos, thanks so much for sharing, after participating in the NORRA 1000 the last few years the "vintage" scene I hope will continue to grow.

[BL3Manx]

The Crean/Garner Manx has arrived a Bruce Meyers' in Valley Center to begin restoration

[monomanx]

It looked more complete in the original pictures.
Were you there when it was delivered?

[wvbowtieman]