Every online beauty that’s marketed as “perfect” seems to inevitably end up as an array of removed parts like you see below.
This stuff is old.
We can do better.
In the case of our Yellow Bugeye “Sharpie,” which we just sold to a client in Vermont, he was interested in investing in reliability at all costs. So we’ve gutted the car in favor of maximum drivability and optimized improvements.
[Read more…] about Adorable Classic Sports Cars with Modern Reliability UpgradesWith our recent focus on the first production Sprite and concours accuracy, I thought you might find the following article particularly interesting. The April 1961 issue of Car and Driver Magazine featured a road research report which is reprinted below. I found it very interesting to read Bugeye driving impressions from 61 years ago.
The article makes it abundantly clear that Bugeyes are a very malleable platform. In the report, you’ll see the stock Sprite reviewed, and a pile of parts offered to transform your Bugeye into a capable rally or race machine. The author made it quite clear that the car was designed to do many different things with simplicity and grace. (Check out the end of this post to see the article in its entirety.)
Since 2007, we’ve transformed hundreds of Bugeyes; just as the article predicted in 1961, some folks enjoy the stock version, and others prefer to customize their ride.
[Read more…] about Bugeye Sprite Driving Impressions From 61 Years Ago Still Ring True Today!This week, I would like to spotlight three Bugeyes currently in our inventory which are my personal favorites and which any Bugeye hunter should really like. Each of these fabulous Frogeyes is looking for its next caretaker! Call us today if you are contemplating a new ride!
All three of these have been upgraded in our shop for prior owners, so you get the benefit of our experience from the hundreds of Bugeyes that have come before. You also get a long list of now depreciated improvements, courtesy of the prior owner. Thus, each of these cars would cost significantly more than the current asking price if you had to pay for the improvements that are already now built-in to these cars. Remember, most of the generic classic cars you see online for sale will come to you with a lengthy punch list. Our job is to eradicate that punch list before delivery, to save you the headaches. These three cars have already had their punch lists (largely) eradicated!
This yellow beauty is a Sprite named “Sharpie” (AN5L 27824). We call this Bugeye “Sharpie” because it was actually last owned by none other than Bob Sharp. If you’re unfamiliar, Bob was a Datsun dealer here in Connecticut for many years, and he owned Paul Newman’s Trans-Am racing team. Sharpie has undergone some upgrades recently. We put in all-new wheel cylinders to restore the drum brakes to their peak performance, and replaced the radius arms to make the car ride more smoothly. Price reduced! $29,995.
“Mahoney” (AN5L 19886) is the perfect Bugeye cruiser. This is a 948-powered car, with front disk brakes and upgraded wheels, and you’ll find this Bugeye great fun to drive. We have had the privilege of working on this one a few times for the prior owner, and we’ve repaired and upgraded this car with a new four-speed transmission, so the new owner can now jump in and enjoy it. A different white Bugeye you might find online could look similar, but too often that other car will need upgrades like the ones already done to this car. This one was fully sorted in our shop for the prior owner. This one is available for $29,995.
This is “Eggplant” (AN5L 49187), a Bugeye built in late 1960 (near the end of production) and titled as a 1961. The car was originally red and was completely stripped to bare metal in 1999. She was then painted this very deep and luscious color of aubergine. She shines beautifully!
Eggplant has a 1275 engine and just about every drivability upgrade we offer already installed as well as several cosmetic improvements and is ready to drive anywhere TODAY and win shows!
Eggplant is a deep shade of purple; in the sun, she brightens into an absolutely breathtaking hue, one you need to see to believe! It looks even more beautiful with its chrome wire wheels! Eggplant can be yours for the reduced price of $37,995.
Now SOLD to Gerard in Florida! Bugeye #367 is off to the Sunshine State!
Meet “Delores” (AN5L 30460), a stunningly-restored 1960 Bugeye. Delores has been to our shop multiple times before, and each time has received extensive attention and upgrades. The car was last owned by a family in New Jersey, where it has spent the last year, and it is now ready for its next home!
When Delores first came to us in 2017, it was a well-sorted, authentically-restored Bugeye, and the owner at that time wanted several upgrades done before they took delivery. This included three-point inertia seat belts, new minilite wheels and tires, a wood steering wheel, no-drill windshield post mirrors, new tapered front wheel bearings, a rebuilt smooth case transmission, and much, much more! These items are all still present on this iteration of Delores and still look great. When Delores’ latest owner purchased the car in late 2021, they wished to take it to the next level. We installed a front flip-nose kit, aluminum radiator, exhaust header, rebuilt HS2 carburetors with new K&N lifetime air filters, a 6-blade radiator fan, and more!
[Read more…] about Stunning White 1960 Bugeye With Many Upgrades For Sale! Driving Video!
We did it!
This past week, I attended the National Austin-Healey Club Enclave in Pennsylvania. I decided to bring two Bugeyes that could not possibly be more polar opposite from each other. Car 501 was there to be judged as a concours vehicle, undergoing 4 hours of relentless judging from a panel of 4 experts with the goal of attaining gold medal certification. Gumby was brought to show at the popular vote show in downtown Stroudsburg. Much to my delight, we left the Poconos with both cars receiving the highest possible awards!
[Read more…] about 501 & Gumby Return Victorious!
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.
[Read more…] about For Sale! 1958 Bugeye driver that snarls!
