We’ve been building a supercharged Bugeye for a customer and while testing this week with the nose off, I was able to make the under-the-hood video above. I love this configuration, with a new single 1.75 SU carb. It’s fussy to set-up but works great once it’s sorted out. The kit doesn’t add a lot of boost but it makes the engine more lively and feels just right to me. If you add more boost, the car stops being true to it’s DNA. I’ve found these cars work best when you don’t try to eek-out the last 10%. Instead, this is a just right power improvement that allows the car to retain great drivability.

We have done quite a few supercharger upgrades and we welcome the opportunity to do more conversions on customer cars. Let us know if we can pick up your car and bring it to our shop to add this wonderful Bugeye enhancement!

Click “read more” to see the listing for our Black Bugeye “Carmine,” supercharged in the same configuration as the black Bugeye you see here in this video. This car is for sale, if you would prefer a turnkey supercharged Sprite.

[Read more…] about Supercharged 1275 Bugeye Sprite under-bonnet video

Albert Armstrong struck quite a pose with his new cherry red Sprite, somewhere in LA in 1959, shortly after taking delivery of his new car.

Many thanks to son Alan for sharing this photo of his dad and the car that was used, among other things, for successfully winning over his future mom. We regret that Alan passed away in March of this year, and hopefully Alan will one day have a Bugeye of his own, next to which he too can strike a similar pose!

Caitlyn Jenner has done a lot for Bugeye Sprite awareness. I can’t think of any other 60-year old British classic car that is enjoying such great publicity, all courtesy of Caitlyn. (EG in People magazine recently, as shown here.) Her new memoir features the story of the family Bugeye from the 60s, and also includes pictures of the new Bugeye she purchased recently from us, as shown.

All of us who love Sprites are lucky to have Caitlyn’s support for our cars (and for collectible cars in general), and her notoriety will only continue to support enthusiasm for the car we all so dearly love!

Here’s one of our best new products yet! These new mats will transform your Bugeye Sprite cockpit! This rubberized floor mat set is true to the heritage of a Bugeye Sprite while adding durability and style. It’s easy to clean and a perfect match for original Bugeye trunk mats.

For years we have tried to develop a practical non-carpet solution for Bugeye Sprite floor covering. The original cars came with thin rubber footwell and tunnel mats which were not very durable and did not last. They have proven difficult to manufacture.

Instead, we have now developed a new kit that uses the same material used to make the original trunk and rear shelf mats, which allowed us to create an elegant yet authentic extension of those rear mats. Now, you can cover your entire Bugeye floor in a non-carpet material that looks correct. It’s durable, lined with horsehair for sound deadening, and it also looks more appropriate in a Bugeye than carpet.

Carpet is nice, we’ve been selling our own carpet sets for years. But this new material looks to me like what a Sprite should have on it’s floors. I love this product so much, I have built it into my personal car. I think you will feel the same way and want to add it to yours!

The tunnel mat is the centerpiece. It’s molded into a single central cover, unlike the usual two piece carpet kit seen on most cars. It’s then French stitched with contrasting thread for an elegant longitudinal detail. These seams are inspired by the ribs that were molded into the original rubber mats.

We have also improved upon the layout that’s common in carpet kits. These front footwell mats are one piece, thereby eliminating the need to glue in the small inboard triangular pieces found in carpet kits. It’s one more improvement to make installation easier.

Above you can see our green kit installed in my Bugeye “Gumby.” Contrasting thread helps to produce a high-level result. A heel pad is also available for the driver’s footwell, which are available in rubber or deluxe wool sisal-just ask. Color combinations are extensive, each kit is made to order. We stock the most common Bugeye colors, Black with white stitching, red with white stitching, blue with white stitching and green with silver stitching as shown.

All the photos shown do not show panel kits in place. Once installed, the stock vertical panels will cover the edges of the mats and secure those edges. So please excuse these prototype photos. We’ll have more pictures once Gumby’s custom leather green seat and panels are built, which will further finish off the edges. All edges that remain exposed once the panels are installed are finished-off with matching binding bound in contrasting fabric.

We’ll also add pictures of our red and blue prototypes shortly!

Transform your Bugeye cockpit today, get your set by clicking here!

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