Meet Bob in the video below. He purchased a beautiful 1959 Bugeye we had called “Pedro” from us back in 2015, and we loaded the car into an enclosed trailer for him and shipped it to Florida. Before we did that, we designed a build sheet together that included the modifications Bob wanted to make this car his own, and to optimize it for his location and type of usage. Let us build the Bugeye of your dreams for you! Call us for more details!
Turn-key, ultimate five-speed 1959 Bugeye for sale!
We’ve sold more than 400 Bugeyes, and we know how to upgrade the cars without spoiling the DNA. This car is no exception, and if you are looking for the ultimate interpretation of a Bugeye, give this one serious look. This Bugeye showcases what we have learned from the 400 cars that came before it… here is a sorted and exceptional, show-winning, modified Bugeye that you can drive anywhere!
We set out to create the ultimate Bugeye with this one, and “Jesse” is the result. Everything on this car is the best of the best. We took Jesse’s 1275 and equipped it with a supercharger and new carb, exhaust header, rear disk brakes, new chrome wire wheels, new custom leather seats and dashboard, new powder coated windshield frame and new glass, uprated Dunlop tires, and more! Every component of this car was upgraded and improved. If you are looking for the most hassle-free and upgraded Bugeye in the fleet, Jesse is the car for you!
If you grew-up with a less than perfect Bugeye (when you had no money but lots of time) and now you have (no time and) a few extra dollars to invest in the ultimate nostalgia machine, call us to discuss this one-of-a kind dream machine!
We’ve been on a mission to make Jesse an immaculate show-stopping machine!
Jesse is painted Nevada Beige, a great original color seldom seen on Bugeyes, which we have coupled with brand new custom red leather seats with color-matched piping, a matching leather-clad dashboard and dash bar with the same piping, and even a custom red leather key chain. We also fitted a custom red hardura floor covering with contrasting stitching and a custom beige wool heel pad. This makes for a spectacular car that turns heads everywhere it goes. The paint shines beautifully.
Big person in a little car
“Will I fit?” is a popular question among prospective Bugeye owners. Check out this fellow, who is 6’5” tall and about 350 lbs. In he goes, and he looks very happy indeed!
We have a removable steering wheel that makes access easier, you can find it here. But even without, these pictures demonstrate that Bugeye Sprites accommodate a large range of body types. Like classic Minis, they are bigger on the inside than they look!
Bugeye dashboard therapy
A nice, properly-arranged dashboard is crucial to the Bugeye experience. It is the first item that catches your eye as you climb in and prepare for a relaxing summer drive. We are merciless about building Bugeye dashboards, and have always felt they should look just like they did when they left the factory. Over the years, we have seen dozens of dashboards “updated” with the wrong bits, extra holes, and the wrong switchgear. Let’s end this once and for all!
If your Bugeye’s dash has been butchered in the past, we offer a dashboard restoration service to return your dash to its correct factory condition. We weld closed any extra holes present, smooth out any metal imperfections, sandblast, paint, and recover your dash to your color specifications. We can even do your dash trim bar at the same time! Click the photo above to learn more!
If you have a dash that has the correct holes but has worn, damaged, or incorrect components, we offer a dash rehab kit to help you restore your Bugeye dashboard with the proper stuff. These are accurate reproductions so you can make your Bugeye living room proper once again! Click the photo below to order!
Our dash rehab kit includes:
New H knob
New W knob
New headlight switch bezel
New “S” starter cable
New “C” original type choke cable
Washer pump assembly with Knob
Be kind to your Bugeye Sprite gearbox
I love old British transmissions. While the lack of synchronizers in first and reverse may dissuade some drivers from them, in practice, when shifted correctly, non-synchronized first/reverse gears are just not an issue. So what is the proper way to shift a Bugeye or Spridget transmission to keep from grinding the gears?
The easiest gear to grind is the unsynchronized first gear. It is perhaps reflex for some drivers to attempt to engage first gear while rolling through a stop sign, which invariably results in grinding. The fix is to come to a full stop and engage first. Alternatively, you can roll through while staying in second, which I do much of the time when driving my own cars. In the video below, taken earlier this year, I discuss a little bit about not only how to shift your Bugeye, but what RPMs to best shift at.
Another thing I have noticed from riding with a lot of new classic car owners is that they will sometimes accidentally catch first while shifting from second to third. The gates are pretty close together and the shift pattern is tight, and if you aren’t careful when shifting from 2nd to 3rd, grinding is the result. It’s easy to avoid doing this; simply keep a tad of pressure to the right as you push the lever forward, and the shifter will jump over slightly so it easily aligns with the synchronized third gear.
The other cardinal rule is to be gentle with the shifter, and to use light pressure. With good timing, the gear box will almost draw the shifter into gear, instead of the driver applying excessive force. The goal is to shift quickly, but gently. Challenge yourself to be 100% grind free.
If your Bugeye’s transmission is grinding, seek help! Either your driving style needs a small adjustment, or something is wrong with your driveline. A failing clutch slave cylinder or master cylinder can cause you to grind in multiple gears, as the hydraulic pressure isn’t enough to fully disengage the clutch. An improper or worn slave push rod can also cause this, as can a bent clutch fork. Each transmission only has so many grinds in it before they fail. If you keep grinding, your gears will (sadly) come to look like what you see in the above video.
Of course, the best way to avoid grinding a non-synchronized first gear is to install a fully synchronized five-speed Ford gearbox, which has the added benefit of an overdrive gear for an improved highway driving experience! Click the photo below to order one today!
Should you wish to retain the original feel of your four-speed gearbox but need to fix or replace the gearbox or any other related component, we carry a full line of driveline components to get your Bugeye back up and running! Click the photos below to learn more about some of our products, or click here for our full catalog!
Early ’58 948 five-speed Bugeye for sale!
NOW SOLD to John in MI! Congratulations on taking home this great car! #417!!
Elle now comes with a new tonneau!
Take a look! This nice car keeps getting better!!!
Here’s a sharp looking early 1958 Bugeye called “Elle,” (AN5L 2264) with lots of new upgrades.
This is a very special early car with the correct early nine-stud windshield. She recently underwent a long-term extensive restoration done by a passionate owner in the Midwest. The prior owner put-in a Ford five speed transmission mated to the original 948 engine (#2069, the correct original engine per the heritage certificate) which was professionally rebuilt, balanced and blueprinted. Excellent documentation for this engine rebuild is included… this was a huge investment, and an exceptional asset of this particular car. Couple that engine with a stout Ford five-speed transmission (which was originally designed for a much heavier Ford Sierra and is thus capable of handling much more than Bugeye output) and you have a great driveline.
An aluminum radiator and spin-on oil filter assembly are also fit… both are nice summer weather upgrades. Of course, the five speed gives the new owner overdrive in fifth and fully synchronized gears, which makes this gearbox super easy to use for all types of drivers. Check out the driving video below to learn more!
