I thought you might like to see some photos of our new Super Sprite “Sage” as it’s coming together, with a powerful 1380 Oselli Engine and Ford five speed transmission, as well as rear disc brakes. Terry is doing an awesome job building this car from the ground up, and someone is going to get a very special machine!
[Read more…] about Sage takes shape!We handed Terry an entire skid full of electric car parts and pieces, and invited him to build us an electric car. That’s exactly what he’s doing.
In these pictures, you can see the results. Kenny built some stout mounts, and Terry is now making it happen, and soon the electrons will flow. Like a kid on Christmas morning with a new boxed train set, he’s been building a wonderful diorama all week long.
I would like to think an electric car kit would be an easy thing to put together and sell, but at this point in the evolution of the conversion industry, we have a long way to go. Without a master technician like Terry, I’m not convinced electric car kits are a reality for an average DIY consumer. We’d much prefer to convert your oil leaker here; in fact, we’ll be starting on a ’74 Midget next, and if you’d like us to convert your classic, give us a call and we will be happy to discuss the particulars. That said, we are working on making a kit that adds the necessary pieces so that the average sports car owner has a fighting chance. But it’s complicated.
EV classic car conversions will be an important part the future of our company, as is restoration and modification of gas powered classic cars (just like 501, which we are also out driving around, restored to perfectly accurate, original ICE specs).
I’m certain that there is a large contingent of petrol heads out there who hate these electric things, but at the same time, we’re just delighted to be able to offer a different point of entry for anybody who loves old English cars and wants modern convenience. And convenient they are- this is the ultimate, reliable antique British car. While it still has a few obvious original systems, all the new battery stuff is designed to work forever without a whole lot of maintenance. In fact, we’re using Tesla batteries and expect great results from them. In these photos, you can see the electric heater that we’ve built into a Smiths heater box, on top of a modified original heater shelf.
You can also see the battery disconnect/kill switch under the dashboard that allows us to shut off and pin the switch in the off position for service and safety. At the moment, there are no batteries in the car, so nothing is live, but we’re laying out all the systems and pieces. I’m sure you’ll agree that this is a very tidy and clean layout. We’ve designed this, our third electric vehicle, so that it can be serviced in the future should any thing need replacement. Quick-disconnect fittings will be in place on the battery boxes, should they ever need to come out of the car.
Smooth power, no vibration, no leaks and no carbuetors. Do you need the distinctive exhaust note? Time will tell!
Come for a video shop tour below, where you’ll see our third electric Frog E coming to life (with Tesla power), as well as our new Super Sprite called “Sage,” (below) which is available! Let us custom-build for you the Bugeye of your dreams. We have 1380CC custom engines and electric kits in stock!
Give us a call if you’re interested!
Now SOLD to Rich in Pennsylvania! Bugeye #387 is on its way to the Keystone State, where it will live in the same neighborhood as Bic!
If this car looks familiar it’s for a good reason! We’ve owned “Shelby” (AN5L 33967) three times before, and the car has never been better. With this car, we have come to know three different great clients, all of whom have become friends of Bugeyeguys, and before her latest visit to Oklahoma for the past year, Shelby enjoyed another round of improvements, including a new Ford five-speed transmission and a new wiring harness.
You’ll see Shelby below on the cover of the September 2013 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotics magazine, right after we prepared the car for Scott, our first Shelby owner. Notice the white wheels… we have just mounted new black and stainless rims on the car, for a new look that we all like best.
Since that story was printed, Shelby has been upgraded with leather seats, and a supercharger. We’ve just trimmed the dash bar in matching blue, added new black wheels and 175 tires for a more aggressive look, and now Shelby is pretty much in what we believe is her final form.
If you’ve liked our high-end cars like Gumby and Gray, Shelby is an excellent alternative, with tons of premium features. The 1275 engine and Ford five speed transmission are a wonderful combination especially, when boosted with the Eaton supercharger and new single SU carburetor as shown. You’ll enjoy the driving tour video you see below, taken shortly before the car departed for its last home in the summer of 2022, as well as a sizzle reel of driving highlights above taken just this week!
Currently, Shelby is fit with front disk brakes, a new fuel tank fitted in 2021, and a strong twin-tipped exhaust with a sweet note (as heard in the driving videos).
There is no other Bugeye quite like it, with a custom license plate mount, fender-top seams removed, turn signal housings removed (they’re now integrated into the brake lights and in the grill) and custom chrome roll bar. Shelby is custom car show ready, and a creative interpretation of the original car. She’s cleaner and smoother in every way.
There is a strong market for custom Bugeyes (and stock ones, too). Mild and wild Bugeyes co-exist nicely, and the buyer for this car is someone who wants a performance Bugeye that is extreme eye-candy, with a hot-rodder vibe.
The car was completely restored and painted in Florida in about 2010. We then completed the car for our client Scott in April of 2013. It was an impressive build with new tires, new wheels, an entire new interior with new navy carpet, side panels, door pockets, custom blue leather (not vinyl) seats with white piping, new leather dashboard and my favorite, original Smiths gauges re-screen printed with white bezels to match the car. Scott could have gone with white VDO or other brand gauges, but he chose to keep things British to better complement the car.
We fully serviced the car at that time, and Scott put 364 miles on this beauty (he has a large collection, so none get driven too much). In November of 2015, we sold this car to Bill who stored the car in the Hamptons, and he too only put a few hundred miles on the car. We got the car back for a third time in 2021, and it was sold to another client, Vernon, in the summer of 2022. He opted to install the Ford five-speed for his needs, which we think was the final missing piece, along with the black wheels, to set this car apart!
If you like show-stopping custom classic cars, this is a great and rare find! Call or email if you’re interested in taking Shelby home!
Our latest Super Sprite is now in the garage of the guy below (“Cliff”). It’s a spectacular car and a great new home. But what struck me most about the journey of this car is the journey of the new owner.
When he came to pick up the car, he presented this photo below from the 60s:
We’ve seen this sort of photo before, since many of our customers grew up with “a Bugeye moment” at some point in their life. But for Cliff, what was immediately apparent because of the way he was beaming with this picture in hand (below), is that this photo represents a time when he had little, a moment of life “before.” Before family, before career, before the arc that would define him.
And for Cliff, (and for all of us vicariously), these little cars complete a powerful loop. That was then. I was starting out. Now, I have won some, lost some, and worked hard on the arc of my life.
No ordinary Bugeye Sprite would suffice to commemorate Cliff’s great ride! Thank you, Cliff, and congratulations!
As far as the car is concerned, this is also a special story. We have upgraded this wonderful car even further per Cliff’s request… we’ve added rear disk brakes, red calipers, blacked-out tonneau fittings, a USB charger and a flip-up fuel cap, all to customize Cliff’s Bugeye just a bit more, and to build-out this particular celebration.
Celebrate with us!
Check out the many subtle details that went into “Gray” in the slideshow and walk-around video below, so you can see its final configuration.
We have more cars coming soon that are not yet spoken for; feel free to give us a call if you want us to build your own custom Bugeye, to your unique specs, to complete your story arc or to satisfy your bucket list!
NOW SOLD to Cliff from New York! Congratulations on taking home Bugeye #383!
This week we have added custom black & red retractable three point seat belts as well as a hand made black tonneau with matching red stitching! Nothing but the best for our latest “Super Sprite!”
We have added a freshly-striped license plate plinthe to the rear of Gray, as well as a blacked-out license plate light housing. Every inch of Gray has been obsessed over in an effort to build the ultimate Super Sprite; we hope you’ll agree! Check out the post below and give us a call if Gray is the car for you!
NEW plinthe with matching stripes installed this week! Read below for more details!
Check out the driving video (above) and walk-around tour (below) of this wonderful automobile and give us a call if you’re interested!
If you have been looking for a one of a kind hot-rodded Bugeye Sprite, this stunner is worth a serious look! “Gray” is a Bugeye modified with many of the upgrades we have proven on my own personal modded Bugeye, “Gumby.” This is a special vehicle for anyone looking for the ultimate super Sprite. We’ve now built close to 500 Sprites, and this one has the benefit of our experience with pushing the envelope far enough to make these cars spectacular, but not so far that we lose the DNA of the original machine. We have also adorned the car with numerous high-end custom cosmetic subtleties. The end result is a special and unique work of art.
