Manx SR Molds Found!

surfnc · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:56 am Post subject: Manx SR Molds Found!

Thanks to a new buddy of mine a set of Manx SR molds were found in Ohio. He said that when he picked them up the person he got them from said that they had been sitting for 25 years unused. He did pick up a bunch of other molds including 3 buggy molds and a few baja molds. I saw the add here on theSamba and thought I saw some SR stuff mixed in. I actually asked Bruce and Winnie (when they were here for the Manx on the Banx) about them and showed the pictures he had listed but they were not sure.

I got a few more pictures from the seller and was 80% sure that they were SR molds. I arranged to buy them and after a 1200 mile round trip have them here on the OBX. They need to be reworked since that had sat so long but I should be able to use them. They also came with some completed panels that were used most likely when the molds were transported. They are really too thin to be used without some added layers of glass.

They are an early set of molds due to the round headlights and the cutout in the rear deck. They may not be the original set that Bruce made up but they are very solid and had been braced very well. Something that a splashed set would not likely be. I have all 13 molds as well as a top mold, a bumperette mold and a SR only seat mold.. It did not come with the side window molds or any of the molds that Manx Motors added in the early 90's.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Pile of molds and panels. (my wife wants her parking place back)

You can see the completed dash and the dash mold.

Rear deck mold.

Bumperette mold.

I am not sure what I am going to do at this point and I am communicating with Winnie and Bruce at this time, so they know that I have the molds.

I may make some panels and bumperettes. I do want to make some seats and have them covered so I can put them in my SR. They are similar to the 914 seats but are a little wider at the top and have a good angle that matches the SR interior.

Here is what they look like covered:

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Letterman7 · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:02 am Post subject:

Oh sure Vince, find the stuff I could have used when I had my SR.. Laughing

Great find, though - there are more than a few cars out there that need body parts made. Tom in New York was going to make a few bumperettes when I was fooling with my car; casting decent ones with the right durometer rubber would be nice to do for current owners. Does the top mold include the hard targa? That alone is worth the trip. And very cool for the seats - even though I used aftermarket buckets they were just a little too large for the car... great to have a source for OE stuff!

surfnc · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:10 am Post subject:

Hey Rick, I got them as fast as I could. Very Happy

Yes I have the hard targa top mold. It is the orange one in the first photo to the left. It needs a little work before I use it. Just need to get some time, also need to move them so my wife can park in the garage.
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66 Shorty · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:26 am Post subject:

Nice Score Vince!!!
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kustoms · Samba Member Joined: November 20, 2003 Posts: 1313

I Made door and top molds. When you start getting your stuff together I will pop a set for you. I have those seats. They are perfect for the SR.

BTW, Mine is a BF Meyers body.
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didget69 · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 12:11 pm Post subject:

...you've been holding out on me, dude...

Great score!

How much are you going to charge to make me a body? Laughing

I'd be interested in talking about seats...

Bryan
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Hecubus · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 12:37 pm Post subject:

I really like those seats I wonder how they would fit in a buggy.

Letterman7 · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 12:50 pm Post subject:

Oh cool! Just a thought for the top mold since you have to work it a little: see if you can't include some sort of pad to put a couple of draw latches on at the back and front. I found out the hard way that just putting the lip of that targa into the windshield frame groove didn't provide enough grab at highway speeds... that sucker flew at least 20' vertically and 50' horizontally... and thankfully nobody was taken out by it behind me. I probably have photos stashed somewhere of the rig that I made to hold it fast.

greg mgm · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 12:55 pm Post subject:

I like those seats too. Do you know the dimensions?

FarmerJohn · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 1:24 pm Post subject:

Nice score Vince
That stuff couldn't have been found by a better person !!
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Mike1991 · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 1:29 pm Post subject: Manx on EBay

Vince,

Is that your Manx on EBAY?

Lo Cash John · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 1:56 pm Post subject:

Besides the body molds, what more would be needed to be production ready? I'm sure Dino can make the windshields.
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GS guy · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 3:39 pm Post subject:

Two questions Vince:

1) When does production of the new SR kits start?
2) What does it take to make an SR and all-weather (at least rain proof) car?

I'll need a new project when my Deserter gets finished, and I have a few leftover VW chassis parts in storage....

Sweet find man! I know you'll make the most or them!

Interesting side story - a month or so ago I got a PM from the DBA, sender stated her father was the owner of Manx Motors - from a post I made a few years ago on the hunt for the location of MM in Maryland. Stated they still have a few bodies and some molds in storage. I replied but never heard back.

Now finally - a chance at getting the cool little SR back in limited production.

Jeff
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didget69 · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 3:46 pm Post subject:

Vince's wife might be upset when the 'OBX Little Car Company' tools up for production... Laughing

If you need a test-driver, call me -

bryan
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surfnc · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 3:46 pm Post subject:

66 Shorty, Thanks.

Tom, I have 3 outer door skins and 2 inner door skins that are already popped. I also have a rear deck and a hood. Unfortunately they need to be reinforced with a few layers of glass to make them usable.

I know that you could make a set of covers, could you PM me with a ball park price. I can make the "sub frame" from my mold but I am definitely not an upholsterer. I have done some work but no where near your caliber.

What kind of sliders do they have? Do you have a picture?

Bryan, I just got it 11/13 and am still recovering form the trip. The mold I have does not show how the seat will look only the outline. I would have to pop a seat and have it upholstered to show what it would look like.

Hecubus, they should fit in a buggy pretty well. The only problem I would see is that they may have too much angle back and may not give enough leg room. Tom might know.

Rick, I was thinking about that. Do you have any pictures of what you did? It would not be a problem to glass in some teak so brackets could be mounted easily.

John, thanks for the kind words! I am not sure what I am going to do with them yet though.

Mike, yes that is my Manx on eBay. I am selling it to fund some projects. one of which is a Yuma yellow original Manx.

L C John, to reproduce the kit I would need to figure out a good door hinge system. I would also have to come up with a weather strip to cover the joint between the interior body (tub) and the side panels that would hide the pop rivets. Jim Guthrey had some made a few years ago but no longer has any. I am sure I could get the stuff needed from him to make them. (have them made) There are a few reasons I would be reluctant to reproduce the SR. (I have talked to Bruce and Winnie about this) One would be that the molds need some work. (mostly the side body panels) This would be a fair expense of both time and money. One of the main reason is that there are quite a few unbuilt kits still out there. After reading the assemble instructions I can definitely understand why. It is much more complicated that the Manx buggy kit since it has 13 panels instead of 3. The other main reason is that there quite a few already built kits out there that are not bringing as much money as a built Meyers Manx. Maybe in the future but at this time I do not see it as viable, at least not for me.

With that said, I do have an original Meyers Manx (4 digit serial number) and all the parts that came with it so I have templates to make the needed parts from.
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LOOKING FOR VINTAGE MEYERS MANX STUFF!!!
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surfnc · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 3:55 pm Post subject:

Jeff, I am not sure that it would be viable for the reasons I gave above. It is funny that you mention the Manx Motors company. When I asked the guy I got them from where he got them and how many molds he had he told me that they had been in storage for 25 years before he bought them and that there where 15-20 molds. I thought they may be the Manx Motors molds. When I saw that the headlights were round and the rear deck had a cut out I knew that they weren't. I would like to have the spoiler mold and the window molds.

I have a set of windows for my SR and have not put them on. I know that it was supposed to be an all weather car but do not know how well it would do in MD winters. Rick might be able to tell us.

Bryan, looking for garage space as we speak. Wink

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LOOKING FOR VINTAGE MEYERS MANX STUFF!!!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1105228

didget69 · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:10 pm Post subject:

I started work on a replacement door hinge design back when I had your SR... Very Happy

bryan
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I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door.

kustoms · Samba Member Joined: November 20, 2003 Posts: 1313

Here is a link to the build instructions. http://www.tjkustoms.com/__Buggy_Manuals/__buggy_manuals.html The seats are perfect. You sit back in the car. I do not know what tracks are in mine as I never looked. I do not tear in to things until I am ready to build. I will check when I can. I made molds of the door tops. (Window section) I also started the molds for the bumperettes.
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And wondering what the heck happen to my Samba post count?!?
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www.tjkustoms.com

Letterman7 · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 5:37 pm Post subject:

The OE hinge system works fine as-is, or you could even do something as simple as a gate type hinge glassed to supports under the fender and in the door. The opening mechanism, though, definitely needs to be a pneumatic hatch strut. The locking mechanism needs thought out as well - if you have windows fitted there is no way to open the door from the outside!

The windows themselves... I had gotten around to trial fitting them but could never get them to sit tightly enough that I was happy with it. I'm sure if I had more time I could have come up with a satisfactory setup, but the car sold before I got any more into it. Their one issue was how they mounted - cast aluminum brackets that bolted to the door skin on the inside. With the additional weight, the doors were way heavy to open and even my electric actuators couldn't lift them (granted I didn't purchase actuators rated for the extra weight).

I know I have photos of the targa mounts... do I have your email Vince? PM me anyway with it and I'll get those to you.

R

kustoms · Samba Member Joined: November 20, 2003 Posts: 1313

The window pins are from VW "Thing" windows.
_________________
Google this.
"Bread and Circuses"

And wondering what the heck happen to my Samba post count?!?
Tom Thompson
Tijuana Kustoms Inc. (TM)
1-516-338-8746
www.tjkustoms.com


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