Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Manta Street Buggies - Australia
Page: 1, 2  Next
Forum Index -> Kit Car/Fiberglass Buggy/356 Replica Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
MantaAUSTRALIA
Samba Member


Joined: May 28, 2013
Posts: 42
Location: WESTERN AUSTRALIA
MantaAUSTRALIA is offline 

PostPosted: Tue May 28, 2013 9:07 pm    Post subject: Manta Street Buggies - Australia Reply with quote

Started this Post for owners or previous owners of the Manta Street Buggy.
Also for anyone interested in this Australian Manufactured Kit Car Beach Buggy, who can add anymore to this post.

Please not to be confused with the Manta Ray, or any other Manta named kit car.


Manta Street Buggies History - SO FAR

Manta Street Buggies, Frankston, Vic, in 1968 with a company called Manta Fiberglass products.

Williams Design & Construction of Warragul

Manta claimed to be the first to fit a curved windscreen to a dune buggy.

Used a VW Karmann Ghia Windscreen (not sure what year windscreen)

Manta had a long production, designed shape stayed the same. (my understanding finished in 80's)

Used a VW beetle pan, standard LWB, or a cut down SWB pan.


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


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


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



............................

One thing that has been the topic of many posts on Australian Buggy Sites, and has even had a reward posted for a CLEAR photo/image, of the actual badge, emblem or decal for the Manta Street Buggies.

There was a Badge, Emblem or Decal was on the front bonnet of the agent assembled buggies. (See Photos, it looks to be a Manta Fish with wording).
But no one seems to have a CLEAR photo/image, or the actual badge itself.

This Badge, Emblem or Decal was sometimes placed on the dash, by home assembled Buggies.


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


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


............................

I am also interested in seeing or purchasing the Badge, Emblem or Decal, and also a hardtop.
Please PM me if you have these and are willing to part with, or for me to take a mould of.
Sorry can't afford Eastern States of Australia, or Overseas, I am hoping for Western Australia.

As you can see by the photos' and ads the hardtop is not a standard square type, but has a fitted curved shape.



............................
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
MantaAUSTRALIA
Samba Member


Joined: May 28, 2013
Posts: 42
Location: WESTERN AUSTRALIA
MantaAUSTRALIA is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Obviously no Manta Street Buggies owners out there?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
manxdavid
Samba Member


Joined: November 24, 2003
Posts: 1841
Location: David Jones, Anglesey, North Wales, UK. Manxclub #678.
manxdavid is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You may have more luck here friend, this forum is at least 90% US and I don't think that the US imported too many dune buggy kits, they had enough of their own...

http://www.manxclub.org/phpbb3/viewforum.php?f=10
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
BL3Manx
Samba Member


Joined: August 29, 2006
Posts: 6767
Location: Northern California
BL3Manx is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Its true, mostly domestic fiberglass on here, but we are very fond of our overseas buggista brethren though
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Manx102
Samba Member


Joined: June 07, 2010
Posts: 484
Location: California
Manx102 is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 4:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very interesting pics and history of the Manta. Thanks for sharing and good luck in your search.
_________________
"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.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
manxdavid
Samba Member


Joined: November 24, 2003
Posts: 1841
Location: David Jones, Anglesey, North Wales, UK. Manxclub #678.
manxdavid is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 6:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Manx102 wrote:
Very interesting pics and history of the Manta. Thanks for sharing and good luck in your search.


I've seen those pics before and can't say it's my favorite shape for a buggy. It would be better if the headlights didn't look as if they'd been stuck on as an afterthought, IMHO of course!!! Laughing
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Wetstuff
Samba Member


Joined: September 23, 2010
Posts: 700
Location: Maryland
Wetstuff is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 9:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Manta, Fear not - someone looking for you will find you now. Maybe no one in this active cluster has one.. but Google will direct people here who search for Manta Street Buggy .. you left plenty of clues. Good luck.

Jim
_________________
Manx #2614
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
MantaAUSTRALIA
Samba Member


Joined: May 28, 2013
Posts: 42
Location: WESTERN AUSTRALIA
MantaAUSTRALIA is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 7:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

STILL NO LUCK .... Badge Emblem Decal ... Hardtop.

Obviously disappeared of the face of the earth ???
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
MantaAUSTRALIA
Samba Member


Joined: May 28, 2013
Posts: 42
Location: WESTERN AUSTRALIA
MantaAUSTRALIA is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 2:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

GOT A NEW QUESTION?

My 1967 Manta Street Buggy has a scratched and windscreen or windshield rubber is toasted.

Been told its windscreen or windshield is from a Karmann Ghia. I assume 1960's.

Many have said it may be a 1970's curved windscreen out of a Super Beetle
or Beetle 1303S, but this is highly unlikely, as it was made in 1967
and no modifications have been done to body of the MANTA.

IF THIS HELPS - THE MARKINGS OR WRITING ON IT IS -

DELODUR-1BS1 LIZ SEKURIT ~ D-98
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
don't_bug_me
Samba Member


Joined: July 29, 2013
Posts: 852
Location: Ohio
don't_bug_me is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some Manta stuff of interest...maybe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1YwpVUuEDk

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


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

_________________
70 Street Baja http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=566113

"Necessity is the mother of invention"
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
MantaAUSTRALIA
Samba Member


Joined: May 28, 2013
Posts: 42
Location: WESTERN AUSTRALIA
MantaAUSTRALIA is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for that.
Hopefully others got a buzz out of it as well.

Love the youtube movie file, and the metal flake paint job, very nice, not to keen on the colour.
Also noticed it had no windscreen or windshield as well, must of had same experience of not being able to find one.

Ad is great, wouldn't you love if they were still open to get some gear, or had a back room full of MANTA stuff.
What a barn find that would be.

I did a Google street view search on it and its just all housing now.

Do you have one ?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
don't_bug_me
Samba Member


Joined: July 29, 2013
Posts: 852
Location: Ohio
don't_bug_me is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 9:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Do you have one ?


Nope, got this as a future project

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

_________________
70 Street Baja http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=566113

"Necessity is the mother of invention"
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
cjdeane10
Samba Member


Joined: February 02, 2014
Posts: 2
Location: Perth Australia
cjdeane10 is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 1:42 am    Post subject: I Have One! Reply with quote

I live in Perth and picked up a manta buggy a few weekends ago just south of bunbury...

Advertised as a '1969 manta ray'... its actually a 'manta street buggy', on a 1964 chassis, with a 1500 motor with some assembly required.

would love to know more about these buggys - as I am hoping to get it road licensed at some point...

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
VWCOOL
Samba Member


Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 1821
Location: Down under
VWCOOL is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 3:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There plenty of buggy knowledge on the (Aussie) Newcastle Bajas and Buggies (hope I got that correct!) Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/158521474226297/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
rotorimp
Samba Member


Joined: June 18, 2007
Posts: 253
Location: Surprise AZ
rotorimp is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 3:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I want one!!!! I like the look...very cool!
_________________
1965 walkthrough Sundial
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Iguana
Samba Member


Joined: April 19, 2008
Posts: 922
Location: SOCAL
Iguana is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 4:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have been told several times that the screen is out of a Karman Ghia as well so I would start looking there.

Cool pictures ain't buggy history great
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
cjdeane10
Samba Member


Joined: February 02, 2014
Posts: 2
Location: Perth Australia
cjdeane10 is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:00 pm    Post subject: Re: I Have One! Reply with quote

cjdeane10 wrote:


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


Its a LWB, so plenty of room for the passengers or camping gear... still a lot of work to do...

exhibit A
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
manxdavid
Samba Member


Joined: November 24, 2003
Posts: 1841
Location: David Jones, Anglesey, North Wales, UK. Manxclub #678.
manxdavid is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is this one, or maybe a derirative?

http://www.brianwhite.com.au/merlin-vw-beach-buggy/

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
MantaAUSTRALIA
Samba Member


Joined: May 28, 2013
Posts: 42
Location: WESTERN AUSTRALIA
MantaAUSTRALIA is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

manxdavid

MATE that is a beauty, how did you manage to find that one.
That's definitely a MANTA

This is not a Merlin as website says or a Marlin written on side of car.
Its a copy of the MANTA then has renamed it Merlin or Marlin.


Last edited by MantaAUSTRALIA on Tue Feb 25, 2014 10:52 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
MantaAUSTRALIA
Samba Member


Joined: May 28, 2013
Posts: 42
Location: WESTERN AUSTRALIA
MantaAUSTRALIA is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 7:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My understanding is that the blue buggy in those pictures is from a guy in SA that is re-producing a similar buggy to the "REAL MANTA Street Buggies" and has called it a Marlin (Merlin).
This is a copy of the MANTA buggy with a few modifications. Some say its entirely new buggy, and improved, I say its a copy or replica.
Like a lot of buggies, some have made a mold, or plug of the original (maybe made some adjustments or modified them to their likes) and reproduced them. I suppose its a lot like the copies of Meyers Manx which are floating around.

Anyway that's my 2 bobs worth ...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Kit Car/Fiberglass Buggy/356 Replica All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.