Now SOLD to Roger in North Carolina! Bugeye #364 is on its way to its next home!
We are delighted to be able to offer “Candy” to you once more! This is the type of car that doesn’t come around often, and we are elated to be able to offer it again for your consideration. The previous owner had us do a ton of work to this car; check out the listing below to find out what we have done to Candy to make it such a great car!
Candy is one of my favorite Bugeyes, because it has a wonderful growl, and all the right upgrades without being “over the top.” I bought this 1958 Sprite about ten years ago and sold her to a family in Illinois, who drove it less than a thousand miles before we helped to find its most recent home, where it has been since September of 2021. The car is still excellent. And of course I am ecstatic to be able to offer it again because it is hard to find cars this nice.
This car was built beautifully when it was restored; the paint and metal work is excellent. The 1275 engine was built with performance in mind, with a higher compression ratio and uprated cam (all documented). It idles with a really nice growl and is quick and fun to drive, while still very street-able. Tires are oversized 165s (185s were fitted in the photos but the most recent owner opted for new, narrower tires) and grip the road very well.
The Delorto side-draft carb works really well and is tuned properly, and helps to deliver what must be 90 or so horsepower on a .060 overbored performance engine. And the Datsun five speed transmission is also a real bonus… easy to shift, fully synchronized, quick off the line, a delight to cruise at speed with overdrive fifth gear… this is a really nice package.
The Porsche Arena red is a stunning color on these cars. It’s a rich burgundy that evokes the original Cherry red color that came on these cars (it was in fact more of a deep red burgundy) and this modern interpretation has a stunning metallic finish. The interior is excellent; the seats were custom covered with matching burgundy piping with lumbar support air pumps added. The cockpit trim has new custom matching tan coverings.
Upon the prior owner obtaining the car in 2021, they had us upgrade several things that we thought Candy could use to really set it apart. This includes, but is not limited to, a new aluminum radiator, new radiator hoses, a new tan top and tonneau, LED lights all around, a new ignition switch, new fuel tank, a battery, new master and slave cylinders, new rear wheel cylinders, GPS speedometer, new clutch, three point seat belts, and much more!
In the videos below, taken before the most recent owner bought the car in 2021, you can see just how wonderful a specimen Candy really is! Taking into account everything we have done to the car since this video was taken, Candy’s next caretaker will be getting a very well-sorted, ready-to-cruise Bugeye with some serious power!
Candy comes with a new top with a top bag, a new tonneau, and some good used side curtains with a side curtain wallet. There are more upgrades that we could make to Candy before it heads off to its next home; for instance, an electric tachometer and wipers would really complete this car’s transformation. These bits can be purchased and installed here before the car leaves to its new home. No heater currently as this has always been a fair weather car, but we can add a heater if the new owner desires.
Check out some of the receipts in the video below!
Below we have a fun little video taken all the way back in 2010 that shows a comparison between a stock-appearing Bugeye called “Iris” and Candy (known then as “BugZilla”) prior to many of the changes and upgrades that transformed it into the specimen it is today. Check it out!
Give us a call if you would like to make Candy your own!
