At Monterey Car Week, at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, Meyers Manx, the legendary originator of the fiberglass dune buggy, teamed up with rally specialists Tuthill to debut the LFG—an off-road performance vehicle built in limited numbers and intended to redefine what recreational driving can mean in the 21st century.
The unveiling was as much about adventure as it was about machinery. Unlike most cars on the lawn at The Quail, the LFG isn’t destined for climate-controlled garages and short Sunday jaunts. Only 100 examples will be built, and each owner is promised not just a rare vehicle but entry into six years of curated driving adventures staged across the globe. The adventure calendar kicks off in 2027 with the inaugural LFG Baja Tour, timed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Meyers Manx’s historic victory in the first Mexican 1000—today remembered as the Baja 1000, one of the toughest desert races in the world.
From the start, the LFG was designed for enthusiasts who prize both comfort and capability, the kind of drivers who might cross a desert one week and tackle a mountain pass the next. The structure combines a carbon-fiber body with a full roll-over protection structure (ROPS), a necessity for high-speed off-road excursions. Power comes from a selection of high-performance engines, including a four-valve unit derived from Tuthill’s celebrated “K.” This is paired with a six-speed sequential gearbox and a 4WD system featuring front, center, and rear limited-slip differentials. All the hardware points to serious off-road ability, but with the kind of mechanical sophistication that long-time rally followers will recognize from Tuthill’s competition machines.
Suspension is handled by twin five-way adjustable dampers with hydraulic bump stops, a setup engineered to soak up brutal terrain at high speeds without beating occupants into submission. Rolling stock comes courtesy of BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires, time-tested across decades of off-road racing. The combination should give the LFG equal poise in the sand, on gravel, or scrambling across rocky ground. Inside, Meyers Manx and Tuthill didn’t cut corners. The cockpit is climate-controlled and built for comfort over long hauls, an unusual luxury in a vehicle with such rugged pretensions. Beyond that, practical equipment abounds: an Inconel exhaust engineered for durability, integrated GPS for navigation, and a long-range fuel tank to support serious overland journeys. A clever party trick adds to its appeal—the enclosed cabin can be transformed into an open-air buggy in minutes, providing drivers with the option of wind-in-the-hair freedom whenever the mood strikes.
“This project started as a dream between my long-time pal Richard and me,” explained Phillip Sarofim, Founder and CEO of Trousdale Ventures and Chairman of the Board at Meyers Manx. “We wanted the ultimate Meyers Manx, and we brought in Freeman Thomas to shape the design while relying on Tuthill for their unrivaled engineering. What we ended up with is raw, visceral, and uncompromising. We call it LFG for a reason.” That acronym, left to interpretation, sums up the attitude behind the machine: bold, fun, and ready for whatever challenge is thrown its way.
For Richard Tuthill, whose family name is synonymous with rallying success, the project goes beyond stopwatch times and podium finishes. “This is slightly different,” he noted. “We’re not chasing rally stages with a clock in hand. We want to show people some of the most amazing places on earth. Rallying gave me the chance to see life-changing scenery, and those experiences never leave you. With the LFG, we’re giving owners a way to collect memories that last forever.” Tuthill’s description is as much about philosophy as it is about mechanics. “The car has this mischievous look and feel, unlike anything I’ve driven before. Yet underneath it’s proper—it has the engineering to go practically anywhere, safely and comfortably. One moment you’re in a fully air-conditioned enclosed cabin, and two minutes later you’re driving a doorless buggy where the air itself makes you smile. That’s special, and I can’t wait to get started.”
For enthusiasts who remember the first Meyers Manx of the 1960s, the connection is unmistakable. Bruce Meyers’s original fiberglass-bodied buggy distilled the joy of driving into its purest form—lightweight, playful, and built for fun on sand dunes or backroads. The LFG channels that same spirit but applies six decades of engineering progress. Where the original buggy was a brilliant improvisation on the Volkswagen Beetle platform, the new LFG is a ground-up design that blends composite materials, rally-derived suspension, and global reliability testing. The end result is a vehicle that doesn’t just revisit the past but reimagines it for a generation that craves both authenticity and capability.
Meyers Manx itself has always been more than just a manufacturer; it has been a symbol. Founded in 1964 by Bruce Meyers, the brand gave birth to one of the most enduring icons of California car culture. From its victory at the Mexican 1000 to countless appearances on beaches and backroads around the world, the Manx became shorthand for freedom and adventure. Today, under new leadership, the company continues to carry that torch while embracing the technologies and expectations of modern enthusiasts.
Tuthill, meanwhile, brings its own storied pedigree. Based in Oxfordshire, England, the family-owned company has more than 50 years of rallying experience, beginning with Francis Tuthill’s participation in the grueling 1977 London to Sydney Marathon. Since then, the company has built everything from rally-winning machines to high-performance road cars, gaining a reputation for toughness and ingenuity. With the LFG, Tuthill applies that heritage to a new kind of vehicle—one that doesn’t just chase competitive results but seeks to deliver experiences.
For collectors, the limited run of just 100 units adds undeniable allure. In a market where rarity often dictates desirability, the LFG has a built-in exclusivity that will appeal to buyers who already own garages filled with rare exotics but still crave something different—something they can drive in the dust and dirt without apology. The fact that ownership comes bundled with global driving adventures adds another layer of distinction, ensuring that the LFG is not just a car but a ticket to a curated lifestyle.
In an automotive world increasingly dominated by electrification, digital interfaces, and homogeneity, the Meyers Manx LFG stands out as an antidote. It is a purpose-built machine with real hardware, tactile feedback, and the promise of dirt under your nails.