Now on display at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation: “Old Red!”

In partnership with the Hagerty Drivers Foundation, the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation features a rotating display of cars that have been inducted in the National Historic Vehicle Register. See “Old Red” on display through October 2025!

“Old Red” was the second vehicle inducted into the National Historic Vehicle Register and has been credited with sparking the dune buggy phenomenon during the mid-1960s. Designed by dune buggy pioneer Bruce Meyers, it helped catalyze the industry with its design and construction techniques, most notably as being the first dune buggy built with a fiberglass body.

Images: The Henry Ford

Images: Ted7 for Meyers Manx

“Old Red” and the subsequent production of Meyers Manx dune buggies boosted the popularity of the dune buggy, off-road vehicles and kit cars in the United States and abroad beginning in the mid-1960s.

This vehicle was the first in a series of approximately 7,000 Meyers Manx dune buggies originally built by B.F. Meyers & Company. The Meyers Manx design was also the inspiration for an estimated 250,000 copycats manufactured by other companies, making it likely the most replicated car in history.

“Old Red” isn’t just a historic prototype, it’s a record-setting off-road racer! In 1967, it was used by Manx creator, Bruce Meyers to set one of the early records across the Baja California Peninsula, setting the stage for the famed Baja 1000 motorsport race in Mexico.

Images: Hagerty Drivers Foundation

Image: Bruce Meyers Family Archives

The Meyers Manx company lives on through the leadership of lifelong Manx enthusiast Phillip Sarofim and legendary designer Freeman Thomas. Together, they continue the legacy of Manx heritage products and continue the next generation of the brand with the Meyers Manx 2.0 EV. Meyers Manx has even created a commemorative “Old Red” model, the Meyers Manx Old Red Remastered Classic, paying homage to the one that started it all! Learn more at meyersmanx.com.

Image: Meyers Manx

Check out our video on “Old Red” below!