This is Chris…
and this is Bob…
They share a Bugeye (“Star,” our 314th sold).
You can see in the video below that they’re both having a really good time with their new car.
Bugeye buddies
Where we were and where we are going
I was mesmerized by this youtube video below of the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix. The complete and utter lack of safety precautions is remarkable. From track workers to spectators and of course the drivers, it seems like this is auto racing on an alien planet compared to what we see in F1 today. In the video, you’ll even see a car fly off the track and into the harbor.
Below is a highlight video for the same Monaco Grand Prix held (a few weeks ago) in 2021. It’s a very similar course, but they have long since improved various barriers to make sure no cars go into the drink. Improved head protection seems particularly noticeable, compared to the completely un-shrouded heads and nominal helmets worn by the drivers in 1955.
This wasn’t meant to be a post solely about safety, and of course no one can argue that every aspect of cars and racing is safer today than in 1955. But I was most moved by how raw life looks in the early video. Everything is more exposed. We seem to be much more shrouded these days in just about every way, behind fences, in protected zones, behind tinted windows.
Fireproof suit and head shrouding in the name of safety certainly helped save Roman Grosjean’s life in his crash in 2020 in Bahrain, as you can see in the video below. I still can’t help but wonder if in other ways we are overly insulated.
Modern cars have become a place for isolation. Soundproof, plush, and no longer in touch with bumps in the road… now we want more screens and entertainment in our cars, because driving itself is no longer entertaining. But look at Stirling Moss interface with his Mercedes in 1955 in the video above. He jumps into Fangio’s Formula one car for a hot lap without blinking, dust on his shirt, not a logo in sight, not a seat belt of any kind to fasten, and off he drives. It all seems very simple. And exposed. And real. (And courageous!)
In our little, little car business, we are building machines to teleport our customers back to the raw simplicity you see in the 1955 GP. A Bugeye has no fences. Life with a Bugeye puts the driver out in the world, vulnerable, yet completely alive. No screens. No electronics. And just two little 30 amp fuses on board. Sure, we have made the experience more plush to acknowledge the wishes of modern drivers. We offer three-point seat belts and LED lights to make our cars as safe as possible. And we have added more power and gears so we can keep up with the madness. But fundamentally, if you enter our universe, you can count on exposing yourself.
We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Sweet 314
This is Chris from Niantic, Connecticut. He just bought himself a gift… a Bugeye called “Star,” which he purchased this week before we were even able to post it on our site.
We are very busy building cars these days. From restorations to after-sale build-outs we have never been busier. Over the years, 313 great people have come into our lives and adopted one of our cars, and every one of them has been special. Every single person has brought one of these happy little four-wheel puppies into their lives. And like a new puppy, a Bugeye in your life brings joy daily, for the driver and for spectators on all roads it transits.
Chris told me he is 74 years old and has never bought anything like this for themself. His wife of 54 years passed away a year or so ago, and he plans to put a number 54 on the hood as an acknowledgment of their long life together. While the car carries her tribute, he also said, “Now it is time for me to enjoy something I always wanted.”
Congratulations Chris, and thanks for making our 314th Bugeye sold particularly sweet.
The Bugeye Lounge
You might remember this wonderful display car that we built last year and delivered in the fall of 2020 (click here or here to see earlier posts about the project). The building is now nearly complete and the speakeasy is all set up. In the photos below, you can see the one and only Bugeye lounge. Looks inviting to me! Imagine hanging out with your friends with a Bugeye back-drop all year long!
You can find this car at 1 Bergen Street, Harrison, New Jersey. Stop in and have a look! It looks like a great space for a party, but I think it’s reserved for residents of the building.
If all units of this new building sell out, maybe we’ll be making more of these to help sell more real estate!?
You can see “Luv Me” being delivered to the project site below.
Below is a photo from the first time we saw “Luv Me”. We’re glad to help others take their projects like the photo below to a beautiful car to zoom around in, or even your own piece of Bugeye furniture!
300 Bugeyes Sold
This week, we sold our 300th Bugeye Sprite since we opened our doors in 2007.
Leaf green “Flip” is the car that tipped the scales. And like the 299 that came before it, they are all special, and all unique. As with all cars that leave our shop, Flip will depart in far better shape than when it arrived.
This is a big milestone for us.
The first 100 cars seemed miraculous. The second 100 made us realize that we weren’t just a fluke. And this third set of 100 Bugeyes sold seems particularly sweet.
We have something special in our little Quonset hut. We’ve focused on a car that was only made for three years (and last manufactured in 1960).
We’ve dedicated our days to innovation and improvement for these special machines, and we have built a large following of car owners and parts buyers, as well as restoration clients from around the country.
Thank you to our great customers, you amazing people have helped us build our business and reach this milestone! It has been an honor! (And you all look so happy!)
We are growing faster than ever and we look forward to continued improvement in the years to come!
We owe so much to the amazing people who propelled us to this moment, and to the incredible cars that took us there.
This post is a photo tribute to some of the wonderful people we have met on our journey, and a compilation of some of the fun Bugeyes we have met along the way!
2020 in Bugeye Pictures
It was another year of double digit growth for us, in spite of difficult global challenges. We have now put 298 Bugeyes in driveways around the world, a remakable feat considering that our primary product was only made for three years (and last sold in 1960). 300 Bugeyes sold is a major and exciting milestone for us, and in our immediate future.
Here’s a photo celebration from this (now past) year of Bugeyes (and other classic cars). Thank you for your enthusiastic support of our work! We couldn’t have done it without you!
We wish everyone a healthy 2021!
