We’re proud of the car you see above. It was a fine Bugeye when it showed up after we retrieved it in Texas for the client, but now, after 100 or so improvements, this car is really great.
It’s not hard for me to imagine a time when people are intrigued by our classic car hobby but are thwarted because they grew up on (and demand) electric vehicles. Those of us in prior generations may struggle to understand, but automotive expectations are changing fast, and we are proud to be on the cutting edge of what I believe will be inevitable. Whether you love or hate electric cars, at some point, gas powered cars may be a liability. I’m sure they will always exist, but we want to make sure our little car survives, regardless of what powers her. If electric power keeps people interested in classic British sports cars, then we are very interested.
I know a lot of people out there are kicking and screaming about this possible transformation and maybe I’m wrong… perhaps gas cars will continue to be a big part of our lives, but given the number of new electric vehicles coming down the pike and the massive marketing investment major auto brands are making, I don’t think anyone has much of a choice. EVs are going to be a big part of the rest of our lives. Let’s all watch the next Super Bowl together to see if I am right… I’ll bet we will see many commercials that relate to what I think is an inevitable EV future.
Thus, I am proud to share our new electric frogE, our attempt to help classic car folks get excited the forthcoming transition.
TJ bought Ducky from us back in 2021 (roughly our 300th Bugeye) then flew in with his wife, and drove it home. In 2021, TJ and Ducky went on their maiden voyage of a 4,000 mile journey back to his home in Washington state, which is about as far away as you can get from our shop within the continental USA. That adventure was with the original 948 engine.
He had so much fun on the trip that he came back to do it again this summer!
Notice the orientation of the wheel cylinders in this photo – they’re backwards (front wheel cylinder is upside down)!
Every Bugeye rolled off of the factory floor in England with four-wheel drum brakes. When maintained properly, drum brakes are perfectly adequate for stopping a Bugeye, as long as they are properly installed. We had a car arrive this week with the backing plates reversed, which might be hard for some people to recognize, but this is a problem that can dramatically reduce braking performance.
“That is one awesome f***ing automobile right there,” exclaims the traffic guy. “I gotta have a picture of that!”
Traffic stops. Everyone waits.
What is it about this car? After 389 sold, you might think this is getting old, but the reverse is true. We still marvel.
This is Sea Biscuit, and we are getting ready to ship this Bugeye to Jeff in North Carolina, the proud new owner. The final test drive yields great comments and smiles. People pause. They pull alongside and ask questions. The world slows down a little bit. And that is such a welcome relief, when it seems like EVERYONE is always in a rush these days. There is, for all of us, just too much to do and not enough time.
NOW SOLD to Sean here in CT! Congrats on taking home car # 391!
If you are looking for a hot-rodded Bugeye, check this one out! “Lilly” (AN5L 49238) is a well-patinaed 1960 Bugeye with some souped-up goodies under the hood!
Lilly was built by a very skilled restorer, who had a very clear vision of the best blend of fast, original, patina, and fun. The result is a car that feels like that Bugeye you saw sometime in the ’70s, when it was the ’70s. In other words, it looks and feels like a Bugeye time capsule, one you might have designed in high school on your notebook during class, or built with your dad, or cobbled together from hot rod parts you accumulated… the car has the look and feel of a great beachside parking lot car that got your attention back in 1974.