Dune Buggy Windshield Mounting Kit, for Manx Style

OVERVIEW

When you''re building a classic Meyers Manx or a custom fiberglass dune buggy, the details are what separate a professional-grade restoration from a backyard project. The EMPI Dune Buggy Windshield Mounting Kit is engineered specifically for those who demand a sleek, "hidden" aesthetic without sacrificing the structural integrity required for open-air driving. This kit is designed to slide directly into the windshield frame channel, allowing the mounting bolts to remain completely tucked away and out of sight. By hiding the hardware, you eliminate the cluttered look of exposed bolt heads on your dash or body, resulting in a smooth, seamless transition between the glass frame and the fiberglass tub that defines the iconic Manx silhouette.

Crafted with the precision that EMPI is known for in the air-cooled VW community, this mounting kit is built to withstand the vibrations and wind resistance inherent in off-road and street-legal buggy applications. Whether you are finishing a fresh gel-coat body or refreshing a vintage build that has seen decades of sun and sand, these mounts provide the rock-solid foundation your windshield needs. The "Manx Style" designation ensures that the geometry is correct for the most popular windshield frames in the industry, ensuring that your glass sits at the proper rake and remains secure even when you''re hitting the dunes or cruising the coastline at highway speeds. Don''t settle for hardware store workarounds when you can install the purpose-built solution used by the pros.

FITMENT

• Meyers Manx: Original Classic and Manx II models.
• Manx Clones: Compatible with most "Manx-style" fiberglass bodies including Berry Mini-T, EMPI Imp, and Sears Rascal.
• Custom Buggies: Fits various fiberglass dune buggies utilizing a standard aluminum or steel windshield frame channel.
• Years: Designed for universal application on VW-based dune buggy conversions from the 1960s through modern builds.

SPECS

• Part Number: 18-1105-0
• Material: High-strength cast alloy for maximum durability and corrosion resistance.
• Mounting Style: Internal slide-in design (Hidden Fastener).
• Application: Specifically for Manx-style windshield frames.
• Hardware Included: Comes with the necessary internal mounting components.
• Finish: Industrial-grade raw or polished finish (varies by production batch) designed to be hidden inside the frame.
• Weight: Approximately 0.95 lbs for the complete kit.

PRO TIPS

1. Reinforce the Fiberglass Mounting Points

Before you bolt your windshield down for the final time, always inspect the fiberglass thickness at the mounting points on your buggy''s cowl. Fiberglass can be thin in these areas, and the leverage of a windshield at 60 MPH is significant. I always recommend glassing in a small "backing plate" or using large stainless steel fender washers on the underside of the body. This distributes the load across a larger surface area and prevents the mounting bolts from "spider-webbing" your gel coat or, worse, pulling through the body entirely during high-speed runs.

2. Use Anti-Seize on the Internal Bolts

Since this kit is designed to be hidden inside the windshield frame channel, it is often exposed to moisture that gets trapped within the aluminum extrusion. To prevent the hardware from seizing over timewhich makes future glass replacement a nightmareapply a small amount of marine-grade anti-seize to the threads before installation. This is especially crucial if you live in a coastal area or plan on washing your buggy frequently. It ensures that if you ever need to remove the frame, the bolts will back out smoothly without snapping off inside the hidden mount.

3. Perfect the Alignment Before Tightening

Achieving the perfect rake on a dune buggy windshield can be tricky because fiberglass bodies are rarely perfectly symmetrical. I recommend sliding the mounts into the frame and "dry-fitting" the entire assembly with a helper. Use blue painter''s tape to mark your exact hole locations on the cowl. Once you have the windshield centered and the angle looks right, drill your holes slightly oversized. This provides a tiny bit of "wiggle room" to square up the glass perfectly before you torque down the hidden fasteners. A crooked windshield is the first thing people notice at a car show, so take the extra ten minutes to get the alignment spot on.