Celebrating California mid-century design and the rich history and evolution of the dune buggy
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Meyers Manx and Morton Street Partners have partnered together to give car enthusiasts an immersive exhibition experience at their 3,000 square-foot West Village location highlighting the aesthetic appeal and cultural significance of the dune buggy as a symbol of rebellion and counterculture.
On exhibit until Jan. 28, the collection features vehicles including Steve McQueen’s iconic Meyers Manx dune buggy from The Thomas Crown Affair, an off-road prototype known as “the Shake” built by Italian coachbuilders Bertone, a Citroën Méhari, and a 1960s Bultaco motorcycle converted into a snowmobile. Visitors can explore the inventive spirit of mid-twentieth century vehicle design and its associations with freedom and adventure while browsing recently released Meyers Manx merchandise and viewing a newly constructed Meyers Manx Classic Kit Vehicle.
“There are few vehicles that have had such a lasting impression on pop culture as the Meyers Manx, so we are incredibly excited to have such rich source material for this exhibition– examining it as both as an object of modern design and of cultural permanence. The irony of a dune buggy exhibition taking place in Manhattan during the coldest season of the year is not lost on us– the idea of surfing the sand dunes during a snowstorm was simply too intriguing to ignore.” – Jake Auerbach, founding partner, Morton Street Partners.
Through this exhibition, Morton Street Partners continues its commitment to promoting the conservation of culture and the scholarship that provides context for the automobile’s place within the art world. Visitors to the exhibition can learn about the rich history and evolution of the dune buggy, as well as the craftsmanship and design that goes into creating these unique vehicles. The exhibition also encourages visitors to consider the changing role of the automobile in contemporary culture, and to reflect on how the car continues to inspire and challenge our ideas about art and design. American men’s clothing brand and surf company Noah has provided the custom-shaped surfboards on display and for sale during the duration of the Winter Surf exhibition.
“The Meyers Manx has always been a symbol of joyous adventure. It plays a central role in 1960’s pop culture, and its design is underpinned by a track record of great accomplishments offroad. I am excited to share this pivotal piece of an automotive era with New Yorkers this holiday season,” said Phillip Sarofim, chairman, Meyers Manx.
The Meyers Manx was created in 1964 by Bruce Meyers as a go-anywhere dune buggy dedicated to adventure and fun. His groundbreaking creation became an American classic for both its whimsical design and its remarkable performance. Manxes did it all: In 1967, after breaking the speed and time records for driving the distance of Baja and winning the inaugural Mexican 1000 outright in the same year, the roadster was driven by everyone from Elvis to Steve McQueen. This quintessentially Californian icon became a pop culture cornerstone of the 1960s and 70s.
About Meyers Manx:
Meyers Manx is the original fiberglass dune buggy kit car company, created by Bruce Meyers and now owned by Phillip Sarofim’s Trousdale Ventures. Bruce Meyers had a vision for fun when he designed and built the first-ever fiberglass body dune buggy in the 1960s. Now, over 50 years later, Phillip Sarofim has taken the wheel to expand that vision globally by bringing “More Smiles Per Mile” than anything else on four wheels.
About Morton Street Partners:
mortonstreetpartners.com | @mortonstreetpartners
Morton Street Partners is a new curatorial project and advisory merging the worlds of contemporary art and collectible cars. Founded by collectible car experts Tom Hale, Jake Auerbach, and Benjamin Tarlow, Morton Street Partners is committed to generating dynamic programming that recontextualizes automobiles within the worlds of art and design. By educating visitors and clients about the theoretical lineage and definitive craft inherent to automotive design, their hybrid exhibitions continue to situate the automobile within its ascendent fine art and collectible asset context.
About Noah:
Noah is an American clothing brand founded in 2015 by Brendon Babenzien and Estelle Bailey- Babenzien, based out of its flagship store on 195 Mulberry St. in Soho, New York City. In the summer of 2020, the Noah Hideout opened in Amagansett, providing the perfect location to expand into the world of surf. The Long Island store houses their collection of custom-shaped surfboards, wetsuits, leashes, sunscreen, and wax–all the essentials needed to get in the water. If you surf, it’s not news that so much of the equipment you see being used is made overseas. Noah focuses, instead, on the expert craftsmanship available from US companies who’ve chosen to keep production here. They’re all run by surfers.
Contacts
Brandy Bartholomew
pr_us@4media-group.com
Cell: 479-263-8084
