BugEyeGuys – Page 55

Junk In The Trunk!

August 26, 2022 by bugeyeguy

In the photo above from the original Frogeye brochure, you can see the correct early car boot tray with the spare tire installed.

Welcome to another chapter in our Concours 501 story. We are working out the final details on car 501 (the first production Bugeye) for the September 18 Austin-Healey Club Enclave and National Concours in Pennsylvania. This week, we finished making our proper boot compartment spare tire tray, and we’re excited that this detail is now made right for our special car. We are even more excited to be offering this as our newest product!

The earliest Bugeyes (chassis number AN5L 4684 and prior), had a tray in the boot for the spare tire, not just a flat mat. In the photo below, taken from the factory parts manual, you’ll see what exactly the factory had in mind with this component (16 is trunk tray, and 16A is the later car flat mat).

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1960 Bugeye Sprite for sale, weathered to perfection, with a 1275 engine and front disk brakes. VIDEO!

August 23, 2022 by bugeyeguy

Now SOLD to Matt in New York! Congratulations on Bugeye #371!

If you like patina, this is a great car for you! This is “Callie” (AN5L 30255) and she’s weathered to perfection with superb patina. Callie is solid under that weathered look… we did make one repair in the passenger side floor pan where there were some pinholes, so the car is ready to go!

We have made a couple of videos, which you will find below, so you can get a feel for how well the car drives. Callie has a 1275 Engine that was replaced somewhere along the line, and a rib case transmission. It’s just a joy in every way! The tires are recent, as well.

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Modified 1275 5-Speed 1960 Bugeye Driver For Sale!

August 22, 2022 by bugeyeguy

NOW SOLD TO D.R. in Pensacola, Florida! Congratulations!!! Excellent choice! Car 361 for us!

New this week for your consideration is “Ames” (AN5L 34510). This car is perfect for anyone looking for a modified Bugeye with many of the popular improvements. For example, Ames has a larger 1275 Engine, front disc brakes, a Rivergate five-speed Datsun transmission, Minilite wheels, newer tires, LED brake lights and a front anti-roll bar. The car has a flip forward nose too for better engine access, as well as a nifty concealed bonnet latch.

In Ames, the basic Bugeye has been transformed into a more user-friendly automobile that can do a whole lot more than one of its original counterparts. For example, Ames will go faster and is easier to operate with the fully synchronized five speed Datsun gearbox that gives you overdrive for quieter running. The car will also stop better with these uprated brakes and tires.

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501 Floor Mat Fact-Finding!

August 19, 2022 by bugeyeguy

Thanks to Kenny, we now have the correct snaps on 501’s floor mats! But what about the back half of the footwell?

As we continue on our quest for Concours Gold status for AN5L 501, we sometimes come across components of the concours process that can become a bit of a grey area. On some things, the judging standards aren’t very clear on how a part is assembled, or what hardware is used, or whether a component was used only on early cars or only on late cars, and we have to use other research methods to draw a conclusion on how that component should be handled.

We want this car to be exactly accurate, to win the gold medal in Concours judging of course, but also to leave behind a Bugeye legacy that looks exactly like the day it left the production line. Long after all cars are electric or flying or teleporting for that matter, we hope that Bugeye #1 will be the gold standard for anyone who wants to know how these things were long ago once built.

7 snaps? The standards said 6. Where did we come up with 7?

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1275 disk brake equipped 1959 Bugeye Sprite For Sale, new paint! Video!

August 19, 2022 by bugeyeguy

NOW SOLD to Brian in Mass, congratulations Brian! Our 360th!!!

We are pleased to offer today “Keith”, a strong car with a solid floors and new paint. As you should be able to see in the driving video below, the car is very nice to drive with plenty of power courtesy of the 1275 Engine on board, which is strong and runs quite nicely. Old English white always looks great on these cars!

The car is quite handsome all the way around. We’ve just fit a new gas tank, and there’s already electronic ignition, disk brakes, new king pins and an electronic fuel pump, as well many upgraded drivability features that have been addressed, with the exception of perhaps a new aluminum radiator, which will be nice depending on your climate. Keith has a full set of 5 newer tires, as well.

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The Perfect Engine Bay!

August 12, 2022 by bugeyeguy

National concours judging is a difficult game that requires meticulous builders. It’s a nerve-racking scavenger hunt, and at times it’s not even all that clear what is needed to win. It’s easy to be dismissive of Concours fanatics as an oddly detail-oriented bunch, who perhaps don’t understand all the benefits of modern improvements.

I am beginning to realize, however, that Concours is not evil. In fact, it has been a real gift for us to take on this project; in sweating these originality details, in spite of any self-proclaimed mastery, we still have to sweat just as much as anyone else. The pursuit of concours gold has allowed us to come back to the very humble beginnings of the Austin Healey Sprite and to appreciate and acknowledge the beautiful simplicity of its design. I’ve said before this a second honeymoon, but I’ll say it again: we’re falling in love with these cars in a whole new way.

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