TheSamba.com :: View topic - Original Meyers Manx Bucket seats and covers

Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:14 pm

In my 69 Manx Catalog it shows the seat covers with what looks like a square weave or basket weave pleated insert running thru the center, other original Manx seats that I have seen have smooth inserts that match the sides of the seat.

when did they change to the from smooth to textured insert or the other way around? the pic of the smooth seats in the orange car may not be orig Manx seats?

below textured insert..

and smooth

Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:00 pm

over the years I have talked to 3 people that actually purchased and built their Manx buggies back in the day. All 3 people bought seats from B.F. Meyers with their buggies and all 3 got different seat covers.

Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:25 pm

Thanks for the info, I have heard the same from others. I'm sure they sold a few types as some suppliers would be out from time to time. This shop (below) i heard supplied a lot of Buggy parts in the area (not sure if they sold to BF meyers at the time)

I do like the look of the seats shown in the manx catalog I have so i'll probably go that route. It mentions they had a carpeted back, Anyone have a pic of an orig seat?

Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:35 pm

I thought i'd check out google maps just to see what I could find with the old address above. Very cool, the old building is still there. Have a look

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&...7,,0,-5.56

you may need to spin it around, its the blue and red building

Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:49 pm

38 bucks for a windshield :shock: whats wrong with this world :?

Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:47 pm

Ted's Aircraft Interiors of Newport Beach by the Orange County airport was probably B.F. Meyers supplier.

Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:54 pm

BL3Manx wrote: Ted's Aircraft Interiors of Newport Beach by the Orange County airport was probably B.F. Meyers supplier.

X2 ^^^what he said^^^

Fri Mar 26, 2010 8:16 pm

Nelson your right, Ted's aircraft interiors did the bulk of the work up till about 1967. When Manx sales started taking off in 67' and on, Ted's operation couldn't keep up with the volume. Jim Belding ( the sales manager for Meyers Manx) started taking bids. From then on all the upholstery work was from many different suppliers. And it would still change over the years. From a B.F. Meyers "accessory supplier" list I have from 1968, it lists these manufacturers...

Valley Trim Inc. : made the convertible tops and side curtains

Amco : made the mini tops

Logan's commercial upholstery: did the seat covers and the rear seats

Calseco: did the carpet kits

And Foyega enterprises: supplied the bucket seats.

It doesn't mention Ted's Aircraft, but I know he later did the interiors exclusively for the Turistas that came out in '69. So it was really peace-mealed over the years which probably explains the variation in the seat patterns.

Trying to decipher history over the years, I've discovered that the word "Meyers" and "Mystery" share a lot of the same letters.

Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:20 pm

I had Logan seats and the Foyega carpet. The Logan seat base was a clever design but only held up a few months before it started to come apart.

Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:38 am

This is great info guys!

BL3Manx, Do you have any old photo's of the Foyega carpet kit?

Madrod, Thanks for posting this, I love all the history and the more info I can find the better.

Anyone know if the orig buildings in Newport beach where the Manx's were built are still there? I have a few pic's I found from back in the day and did a little search on google but couldn't find it.

Sat Mar 27, 2010 2:22 pm

The building in Fountain Valley is still there. It can be seen from the interstate.

Mon Dec 02, 2013 7:16 am

I found a pair of new/unused Logan Seats. I haven't picked them up yet but he said they still have the Naugahyde tag. I don't believe they did but I'd like to find some kind of Logan tag. The seller said they were part of a homebuilt helicopter kit that never got built.

They're the exact same seats I had in my Manx when we built it in 68. At some time in their production Logan added a pair of pleats on the inner panels like Foyega. The original sheet metal bases weren't very sturdy at all and I think most people just wound up glassing the fiberglass shell to a VW base like we did.

Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:11 pm

Speaking of Logan's Upholstery tags

Mon Dec 02, 2013 7:25 pm

Did you see this posted under Manx seats...DBR Meyers Manx Concours-Quality Restoration Seats Price: 595
Dune Buggy Restoration's concours-quality fiberglass Meyers Manx seats are now available. DBR's Meyers Manx Seats are exact duplicates of the seats offered by B.F. Meyers & Co. (built by Foyega) in the mid-1960s to early-1970s.

Seats are one of the first things people notice when they look at your Meyers Manx dune buggy. While a cheap pair of seats will actually detract from the value of your Meyers Manx, a pair of DBR's Meyers Manx seats may actually increase its value.

The seat pictured is called, "1970s," and would be correct for late-1960s to 1970s-built Manxes. Notice the large and small alternating, "rolls" in the center section of each bucket seat. Note: the Naugahyde in each center, "roll" section is pinhole perforated for cooling air flow. Only the highest-quality (densest) foam is used throughout, providing a comfortable seat for hours of on-road, or off-road, driving. Finally, a Naugahyde rear backing panel finishes each seat.

A "1960s" version seat is also available. It features a pattern of like-sized, "rolls" that run the entire length, from top to bottom, of the center of each seat. DBR's "1960s" Meyers Manx Seats would look visually correct in any Meyers Manx dune buggy (pics soon).

Of course, DBR's Meyers Manx Seats are universal and would work in virtually any fiberglass dune buggy, baja bug, sand rail, street or drag bug application.

DBR Meyers Manx Seats are sold in pairs, and built, "to order", in either black or white genuine Naugahyde. Build time is approximately 3-6 weeks per order.

DBR's Meyers Manx Rear Seat is a complete set of seat bottom and back and is also available in matching, "1960s" or "1970s" patterns. DBR's Meyers Manx Rear Seat also includes a pattern for a 3/4" plywood seat base (not included). Again, only the highest-quality foam padding is used throughout for hours of riding pleasure. Note: the rear seat pictured will look more, "finished" after being stretched and stapled to its plywood seat base. The rear seat back can be mounted to the body using snaps or velcro.

Pricing is as follows:
DBR Meyers Manx front seats complete $595 pr. (black or white Naugahyde)
DBR Meyers Max rear seat complete (bottom, back & pattern) $495 ea. (black or white Naugahyde)
1960s or 1970s "roll" patterns are available. Please specify when ordering.

Please note: DBR's Meyers Manx Seats are made in Southern California, U.S.A. using the best materials available. They are incredibly expensive to manufacture. Therefore, they are not cheap. Sorry.

Adjustable seat brackets for DBR's front seats will also be available soon. Note: DBR's Adjustable Seat Brackets will not use factory Volkswagen seat tracks - they will bolt directly to the flat bottom of the (fiberglass) seats and bolt to the floor pan.

Mod-patterned and custom-colored Naugahyde DBR Meyers Manx Seats will also be available soon (at substantial additional cost).

For more info on DBR, please visit: www.dunebuggyrestorationmagazine.com

Mon Dec 02, 2013 8:52 pm

Those DBR seats look great. I have a friend who has some of his widened rims and he is very happy with them. I'm glad to see anyone start up a new business which supports the buggy restoration hobby and wish him great success.

He (his article) and I are pretty far apart on estimating of pre-tag Manx numbers, but that's neither here nor there.

Mon Dec 02, 2013 9:05 pm

Great find & all that, but the quality of hides from Naugas today are nothing like they used to be...

bryan

Mon Dec 02, 2013 11:23 pm