That’s me having an awesome drive in Cole! The video from this drive is posted below.
Check out the NEW driving video below!
And check out the new pictures in the gallery!
[Read more…] about One of the ten best Bugeyes in the world, for sale!This week, we performed a tube shock conversion on this cool Bugeye called ‘Cinnamon.” We did this because this is a performance car with a performance driver, and the lever shocks were not keeping the tire on the road uniformly while going over bumps, particularly during spirted driving. It’s really hard to have two mated lever shocks (they often have different damping left and right). Tube shocks are always uniform so you get symmetrical performance left and right.
The tube shocks will better dampen the bumps and ensure the tire contact patch is always optimized, and the increased negative camber will also improve handling. Reliability and longevity, as well as control and performance… these are the benefits of our front tube shock conversion kit. And Cinnamon will enjoy these benefits going forward!
We go through tons of lever shocks in our building.
Great shocks are required for a wonderful ride in any Spridget, but the original lever shocks are a serious wear item, constantly aging-out and leaking. Even the rebuilt ones are not as good as they used to be, and we’ve had to struggle to find a great and reliable source for the lever shocks we sell.
I love the way the correct lever shocks ride. They are the perfect balance of performance and comfort on a tiny car that needs all the comfort it can get… but lately we’ve been moving in the direction of this tube shock conversion simply because it eliminates the dependency on the old-fashioned lever shock design. While these are a little more pricey than the lever shocks, if you think about changing your lever shocks every three years or so (which has sadly become the norm), it’s a great way to economize in the long haul because the tube shocks should last 10 to 20 years.
NOW SOLD to sold to Charlie & Andy in Florida! Congrats on taking home Bugeye # 416!
We are highlighting “Milano” this week, a car that combines the best 1958 provenance with the best modern upgrades. We can’t build a nice five-speed supercharged Bugeye with these modifications for anywhere near $40k, (especially not a restored early ’58 Bugeye), so check Milano out!
Check out the video below for a taste of life with a performance Bugeye!
For folks who like early-production Sprites, here’s a special opportunity to purchase a very early car! This is “Milano”, a 1958 Bugeye that wears serial number AN5L 981, which would make its build only 480 cars later than 501, our first production bugeye sprite. We only know of a handful of cars with serial numbers below 1000, so this is one rare (Milano) cookie that would have been built sometime in the summer of 1958. (We’re happy to get a heritage certificate for the new owner to confirm the build date). The car has tons of ’58 only early car features, like the correct early gussets for the back deck, the different early rear shock mounts and radiator supports, and early top bow, all the cool features that you’ll see also on AN5L 501, the very first production Bugeye.
Ride quality is something we take very seriously here at Bugeyeguys. If a Bugeye comes to us, and during subsequent test drives we feel something “off” in the suspension, we will investigate to determine the cause of the issue. We did just such an investigation earlier this week on a Bugeye we are preparing to ship to Oregon. The rear suspension had an overly harsh quality to it, making the ride unpleasant. What could cause this?
A harsh ride coming from the rear suspension can be due to a number of things. The rear lever shocks could be worn or leaking (click here if you need new rear lever shocks) or the “dog bone” connecting links could have failed (click here if you need new shock “dog bones”). Both of these had just been replaced, so the next most likely culprit was the rear springs. Upon inspection, we discovered they were worn out.
This is a simple photo of my Bugeye drive today on a two-lane road heading north. But to me, this is a very significant photo.
Since 1978, when I bought my first Bugeye “Gumby,”, the arrival of summer has always been marked by the start of new adventures. A Bugeye is always the conduit, my ride to special places where summer adventures can unfold. This year, I’m learning all about horses, and a Bugeye takes me to school.
Today, I am on my way to the barn for a riding lesson to work on my jumping technique, and I am excited. I am hot. It’s summer. School’s out. I am off on an adventure, a new summer celebration. I am learning a new skill, once again heading to my destination in a Bugeye. I am a little older now, but the unknown summer adventures ahead, the raw sports car, the special exhaust note, the smell of an old English car… none of that has changed.
This year, I am in Todd’s green Bugeye, diagnosing for him a noise he wants us to fix. This is a test drive, and I am working (barely). Yet this is serious work, because I am putting a customer’s car thorough its paces, to ensure that Todd too can enjoy the summer adventures of his choosing without issue. The car is perfect except for one small rattle, which we will fix. This Bugeye still transports me with ease, and a smile, and with air blowing upon my body from every angle. I am heading North in a Bugeye. It’s summer. And I am free.
NOW SOLD to David in Colorado! Congrats on taking home Bugeye # 415!!
Marvin, Marvin Marvin!!!!
Marvin has had a list of improvements made this week, so if you’re looking for an inexpensive Bugeye Sprite, Marvin is on the rise and worth a serious look.
This week, we put four brand new (black wall) 155 tires on the car. We’ve also upgraded the rear suspension with new radius arms and rear shocks, and now Marvin drives quite nicely! I think Marvin looks better with black wall tires, but you be the judge. You’ll see the white walls in some of the old photos, but the black wall photos you see (like above) are the newest pictures.
Above is a new video of a 0 to 60 run in Marvin, and you can see the car is quite capable for all your summer adventures! This car is quick and sounds great, with a much improved ride courtesy of the new tires and rear suspension upgrade. Take a look at the rest of the post below and give us a call if you’re interested in adopting this fun car!
[Read more…] about 1959 Budget Bugeye driver for sale, new improvements, new price! $16,595
