It is his only car that is “old”.
In 2016, The Grand Tour crew traveled to Namibia in a special two-part series. They were riding beach buggies across the country. James May drove the red one, a modified VW Beetle. However, his relationship with it did not end after the credits rolled. The buggy was purchased by May from the show’s production, and then restored. The classic car is featured in a new DriveTribe video.
It takes up more floor space than the Toyota Mirai he bought earlier in the year. However, we think the buggy would be more enjoyable to drive. Although it is his only car, it isn’t a classic. It is based on the iconic Meyers Manx dune buggies from the 1960s. Kingfisher Kustoms built it in the UK for May’s Namibia show. The shop was then rebuilt.
The fiberglass body is a faithful reproduction of the Manx buggies from old. The Beetle engine produces about 100 horsepower (74kilowatts). It has twin carburetors and larger cylinders. However, the four-speed gearbox lacks a fifth gear. May attempts to find it more than once while driving. Although the steering is not perfect, it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of driving it.
May claims that he has never taken the bike to the beach. There are too many chrome parts that could rust and the sand could easily cause damage to the throttle linkage. He talks about the car’s history with pomposity, but he also paints a positive picture of the buggy that became a symbol for the 1960s Flower Power movement. It is a little odd to see May behind such a fun-looking car.