Arizona’s Porsche specialists have taken California’s most iconic dune buggy and infused it with Stuttgart DNA, creating something that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. The Otto Werks Edition Manx is what happens when serious motorsport expertise meets beach culture mythology.
Teach Me How to Buggy
Otto Werks has built its reputation around precision Porsche work since 2021, operating out of a state-of-the-art Scottsdale facility with factory-trained technicians and direct ties to Porsche Motorsport North America. So when founder Eli Kogan decided to tackle the Meyers Manx, it wasn’t going to be some weekend project with bolt-on parts.
The connection between Porsche and the Manx runs deeper than most realize. Both the original Beetle-based buggy and the 356 shared Volkswagen roots, making this collaboration feel like a family reunion that took 60 years to organize.
Racing Heart, Beach Body
The centerpiece here is a 2.2-liter Willhoit engine built in-house by the Otto Werks team. This is a racing-inspired air-cooled boxer that pushes 170hp and 160lb.ft of torque through what amounts to a fiberglass sculpture weighing next to nothing.
John Willhoit’s name carries serious weight in Porsche 356 circles, and having Otto Werks build one of his designs means you’re getting legitimate motorsport engineering wrapped in beach buggy packaging. The result should be immediate throttle response that borders on violent — exactly what you want when you’re carving through sand dunes.
Porsche Touches That Actually Matter
The Ivy Green paint choice shows real restraint. It’s a near-perfect match for Porsche’s Oak Green Metallic that still brings nostalgia. Inside, period-correct 356 gauges and two-tone Speedster seats continue the theme, while square-weave carpeting and Marchal fog lights nail the vintage racing aesthetic.
The mil-spec wiring harness eliminates fuses and relays — components that love to fail at the worst possible moments. But this thing will actually work when you need it to.
Spec Sheet
Model: Otto Werks Edition Meyers Manx
Engine: 2.2L Willhoit racing-inspired boxer
Power: 170hp, 160lb.ft torque
Exterior: Ivy Green (Porsche Oak Green Metallic inspired)
Interior: Two-tone 356 Speedster seats, vintage gauges
Lighting: Marchal fog lights, beehive tail lamps
Wiring: Mil-spec harness, zero fuses/relays
Limited Edition?: Yes, 5
Pricing & Availability
Only five examples were built, and they sold out before most people knew they existed. Likewise, Otto Werks hasn’t disclosed pricing but given the boutique nature of the build and the Willhoit powerplant, it would have reflected the serious engineering underneath. You can contact Otto Werks directly about future builds.
Recap
Otto Werks Meyers Manx
Scottsdale-based Porsche specialist Otto Werks created a limited-edition Meyers Manx dune buggy that blends California beach culture with Stuttgart engineering, featuring a 170-hp Willhoit racing engine and authentic 356 interior details. All five examples have been sold already.
