Build your own Bugeye! Here’s a rebuildable 1960 project car for sale, with straight panels.
There is a bunch of surface rust and floor pan rust to address. But this tub and the body panels are quite a bit less rusty and dented than many of the project cars we find. She’s 98 percent complete (and we have any missing items in our parts catalog).
AN5L 28130 was first sold on June 15, 1960, according to the title. That title (which comes with the car) was issued in 1996 in Norman, Oklahoma. The windshield has a 1971 Oklahoma sticker. So we presume the car spent it’s early life in Oklahoma. The car was originally cherry red (you can see the original color on the transmission tunnel).
The car then ended up in Queens, New York where it has been sitting for about the last 15 years, and which is where we bought it.
That’s about all the history we know, although a former owner in Oklahoma is listed online, and we hope to reach him for more details.
Many of these back decks are dented at the rear bumpers. Many are also faceted from people storing items or sitting on the back deck. Not so here. This rear clip is quite straight. The trunk floor and the rear valence, while crusty, are better than most, as are the inner rear fender bottoms, all of which are commonly rusted away on project cars such as these.
The rockers are not bad, except in the forward section, which will need to be replaced (see photo album). The “A” pillars are also not as bad as many we see. It would be common to see many more blisters in the areas pictured below.
The nose has some bondo repair, and this is the worst part of the car. Nose damage on these cars is common, and this one has been repaired with filler in the past. The floors will also need repair. There is rust in the footwells, also common, and rust under the passenger’s seat, as you can see in the underside photos. Complete new floor pans would fix those issues.
It’s a big project, but with good potential. I would suggest stripping the parts off the car and having it media blasted and starting from there. We are happy to help advise the new owner on the best restoration pathways to bring this car back to the road.
The head was removed a long time ago (perhaps for a blown head gasket?) but now the engine is sure to need a rebuild. We didn’t try to turn it, as the cylinders have been sitting open for a while. You should presume this engine needs to be torn down and bored, or replaced with a different engine (we have some options for that, if you are interested).
The engine is a 948 from a Morris Minor, the correct engine but not original. The car comes with a good correct head for anyone who wants to rebuild this one. Or we have other complete 948 engines available if so desired. Transmission appears to be the original smooth case transmission, condition is unknown. Original drum brakes are present on all four corners. Mileage indicated is 04058, although total mileage is unknown. There is also a top bow included with the car, as shown in the photo album.
She comes with a clear Oklahoma title, and we have all the parts here to support bringing this car back to life! Call or email if you are interested! The tires hold air and the car rolls and steers. Plan on a full restoration! We can ship it anywhere in the world.
