Modified Bugeyes

“Goldie,” a 1959 Super Bugeye Sprite for sale, superb performance and upgrades! Signature model!

November 1, 2024 by bugeyeguy

If you like upgraded classic cars, this one is worth a serious look. We built Goldie in the Spring of 2021 for a client who wanted the best of everything (he’s now got too many cars and asked us to find Goldie a new home). This five-speed 1275 engine car has a big boost (up to 8 pounds) supercharger kit (and an upgraded clutch kit to handle the extra power) as well as a new ring gear, rear disk brakes and a complete new valve job with hardened valve seats for unleaded pump gas. Just about every part of this car is restored or upgraded within the past four years.

The transmission is a Datsun 5-speed, in excellent condition. In Spring of 2021, we changed the radius arms and changed the rear wheel bearings and axle shafts. Previously, we had put in a new wiring harness, all new copper nickel brake lines and installed new powder coated black rims with powder coated lug nuts. We also put in four new lever shocks and LED lights.

We upgraded the interior hardura mats and custom stitched them with matching gold thread. We then built custom seats with all new foam, also with matching gold thread. And we made a matching custom tonneau too. We also removed and polished the cockpit trim, replaced the windshield and glazing rubber.

The car has a 1275 engine and supercharger, alternator upgrade, new carburetor, spin-on oil filter, electronic ignition, seat belts are upgraded, speedometer is upgraded to a GPS unit, exhaust is better, header, supercharger, high performance clutch for the power upgrade, aluminum radiator, rear disk brakes, etc, etc.

If you want a really zoomy Bugeye, take a close look. This super Sprite is worthy of my signature that lives on the fender, and she was built by our dedicated team of pros, just 387 miles ago. The prior owner has a large collection of cars and only used the car sporadically since we delivered it in May of 2021 so the new owner will get to enjoy a long list of upgrades, which totals more than $40k! Someone will be very lucky to take Goldie to a new home!

Click “read more” below for a full compliment of photos and give us a call if you’re interested!

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Car Number 06

October 18, 2024 by bugeyeguy

We have a car in our shop this week that we picked up from the client in Arizona. 06 was a recent acquisition he made from an Internet classified. The client chose us to restore the car because he wanted it done right, quite an honor since he is about 2500 miles away (more and more, we are picking up cars thousands of miles away to sort them in our shop). It’s a nice-looking car and like so many aging British Sports cars, it needs a lot.

The car didn’t run reliably when it arrived and the clutch was making lots of noise…. the client opted to do a five speed upgrade since the engine has to come out anyway so we can address the clutch. On the way to our five speed conversion for the customer, we found many other unexpected and sorely needed repairs, all of which are good learning opportunities we share in the many posts below. Welcome to the 06 series, a grouping of posts about broken things on this particular car. If you were here on a shop tour, I would say, “take a look at this, never seen one like it!” The posts below are the next best thing, a tour for you via your digital device of a series of old car mechanical restoration opportunities.

We hope these posts will help you keep your car in tip top shape and if you need any of the parts discussed, you’ll find them all (and more) in our parts catalog!

Enjoy!

That special Bugeye thing

October 11, 2024 by bugeyeguy

To be fair, I was driving a really unique Bugeye the other day (Sage), so the fact that I attracted attention from an otherwise seemingly completely non-car person perhaps shouldn’t surprise me. But surprised I was nevertheless.

I would swear that the lady taking pictures of Sage in my photos here never thought about owning a classic car before, but she sure looked like she is now and was attracted enough to Sage that she got out of her late model Mazda at the pump next door and proceeded to make her own photo album.

“I like the color,” she said.

I hope she has now doubled her Instagram followers after posting all those pictures.

I was so inspired to see this woman touched by our rolling sculpture. No one seems to be paying attention anymore, we all have a lot of distractions. But here was someone who noticed, and that was very affirming. Bugeyes do that to people. We’re very lucky to have a business that puts these unpretentious little cars back on the road, and that magnetic Bugeyes keep getting new people to come out and play.

A contemporary interpretation of a very basic car

October 4, 2024 by bugeyeguy

Back in 1958, $1795 didn’t buy you many color choices. That was then. Now, we want it all. And thus we have built a Bugeye, reinterpreted.

If you like modernized classics, we think you’ll like “Sage,” our newest stunner. We will have this car done in about a week. Check out the video below to see how we are doing, and check out the photo gallery at the end of this post for some up-close photos of some of Sage’s best features!

Of course, if you prefer original stuff, we have offerings more suited to you, as well. Check out AN5L 552, a Gold medal-winning Concours Bugeye, and a rare opportunity to own a preproduction Bugeye! Click the photo below to learn more about 552.

Give us a call if any of our inventory tickles your Bugeye fancy!

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Bugeye interior decorators

September 6, 2024 by bugeyeguy

Every completed restoration is a rolling sculpture. Our job is to optimize the visual experience for every viewer that encounters one of our cars (and certainly for the owner). Enter Sage, a new super Sprite we are building. I chose the sage green paint as a modernized interpretation of the original Sprite color leaf green. I wanted something derivative, yet modern and creative. And we are happy with the result!

But what about textiles? Check out the video below for some insight into our selection process for Sage’s interior!

It is extremely difficult to envision an entire auto interior from small swatches. We considered multiple green and gray choices for the interior… our goal as always is to produce something stunning!

We finally settled on a pallet of brown and earth tones, including wool square weave carpeting for a more elegant look. We wanted leather that would be a bit dramatic for the dashboard and leather a little bit more subtle for the seats. Check out the video above to see the pieces start to come together!

We’ll bring you more updates soon as this one of a kind Bugeye emerges! In the meantime, take a look at some of the photos we used to help us through the selection process!

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An “Otto”-matic Bugeye that anyone can drive!

September 6, 2024 by bugeyeguy

For many of our clients, joint replacement and other mobility issues have cut Bugeye driving season short. This automatic Bugeye “Otto” allows for an extended season as it is easy to drive with no clutch. If you have been lurking on the sidelines and hoping to get involved, perhaps Otto is just what you need so you can enjoy the Bugeye lifestyle. Bugeyes make people smile and bring out the best in everyone. Otto could be your opportunity to connect! Check out the listing below and give us a call if Otto could be your Bugeye!

This is a Bugeye we call “Otto” (AN5L 9824). Otto is a unique car in Bugeye circles, for one big reason: it has an “Ottomatic” transmission. If you are a purist, this car is probably not for you. But if you love Bugeyes and need or want an automatic transmission (for whatever reason), this car is the greatest thing going, and it could be the ticket to a Bugeye in your life if a manual transmission is not workable for you!

This car is very well-restored, and is uniquely fitted with with a GM three-speed automatic transmission with an electric 4th gear overdrive system, all coupled behind a 1.4 liter Isuzu G140 engine found in Pontiac T1000s and Chevy Chevettes. The engine number is V0401CHX. The engine has about 52 horsepower, perhaps a bit more since a nice header is installed. Compared to a 43 HP stock 948 Bugeye, the power plant feels more than adequate–not quite as quick as a 1275 Bugeye but quicker than a 948 car. It also got an estimated FORTY Highway MPGs when new, courtesy of the overdrive!

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