TheSamba.com :: View topic - New to this buggy world, what is a Berrien?

Mon May 04, 2015 11:24 am

I have started to learn the MANY types of buggies built in the 60'2 n 70's. I know of Meyers Manx, Dune Runner, bushmaster and so on. But what exactly is a Berrien? Is it a copy of a Manx? Or is it a complete body company of it's own? Thank you.

Mon May 04, 2015 12:30 pm

Here's a link:
http://acmecarco.com

I would call it a Manx type copy.
IMO I find it amusing when I hear the term "Manx ripoff". Its used a lot in Internet land.

VirtuallyAll Fiberglas VW Buggies are Manx ripoffs when you get down to it. Again IMO.

Be Big,
AMAC

Mon May 04, 2015 12:34 pm

Barriens was a company name ..... Was it a in house design or a Manx ripoff?.... Dont know.... But I believe the company did have "names" for their body styles though........

Berriens is now owned by ACME car company (not associated with the ACME Anvil Company Wiley Coyote uses)....

http://acmecarco.com/

Dale

Mon May 04, 2015 3:24 pm

Thanks, appreciated.

Mon May 04, 2015 3:29 pm

Every Fiberglass buggy ever built is a Manx clone.

If you own a Barrien Buggy then call it a Barrien.

Wed May 06, 2015 6:25 pm

Berrien was a company in Berrien Springs MI that built both sand rail buggy frames and a Manx clone body. The also made a jig welded frame that was shortened to fit clone bodies. I bought my frame because I am not a fabricator like most here. I bought it just before they retired and sold to Acme Car Co. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/637356.jpg

Wed May 06, 2015 6:50 pm

Yes I saw that they sold to ACME back in April. Don't know if that will change anything. Is Berrien known for good bad buggys?

Thu May 07, 2015 9:12 am

I have seen several Berrien buggy body's and all were made with quality work and materials. A consistant thickness to them.

The chassis they sell are also nice, but with a few minor tweaks, are really nice. and cost effective if you cannot weld/fabricate.

Thu May 07, 2015 2:33 pm

daanbc wrote: ...Is Berrien known for good bad buggys?

If our Berrien Nostalgia is any measure of quality, I can say they are good quality. We have more than 90,000 miles on it since it was (re)built (rebodied with New Berrien Nostalgia) in 2008.

We've driven it to all 49 continental states and still in great shape.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492367

Hyder, Alaska 2011

Sat May 09, 2015 2:10 pm

Berrien Buggy had several different fiberglass dune buggy bodies they had acquired from other defunct companies. A couple of them had options on the style of hood for each. The Nostalgia is/was the true Manx CLONE most visibly similar to a Meers Manx, but they also had one called the Citation body. Another was the roadster T style one piece body similar to a Joe Poty T.