Bugeye with late model front end ?

[mightymidget]

I see where it seems popular to install a bugeye bonnet on a later model car. But what about the opposite ?

any photos of a Bugeye with a later model sheet metal on the front

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Why?
Then you've just got something with a "plain" nose, and not the class of Kermit.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

I've got a complete set in my garage from my '68 Sprite I'd love to find a home for. I can't see me removing the BE Bonnet from my '68 and going back to a Square Bodied Spridget. Bugsy gets too many smiles and thumbs up when he's out and about.

 

[regularman]

I asked this very question once before. The bugeye back end is all healey and those midget front fenders are all healey. The rear of the midget was MG design.
I think a bugeye with a square front would look close to a small big healey if done right.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I've seen an old picture of a black one. I thought it looked good.

 

[bill_young]

With a little paint work on the sides you could have a mini early Corvette.

 

[aeronca65t]

Kind of a different idea, but one time, I took some old, mangled box-Sprite fenders and cut them down to a "slant-nose" front.
You can see it below.
I chopped off the headlight forms and flattened the tops so that they were even with the bonnet...I guess if I ever went further with it, the headlights would have to go in the grill.

It was just a few hours of quick work, just for fun.

I sort of like it and have considered making a nicer set at some point.

 

[Tullamore]

I have always liked the front end of the boxy sprites and I absolutely hate the MG rear end. I think a car with the bugeye rear and boxy front would be a very good looking car. When I first got into sprites I thought the bugeye was a little silly looking, I probably would have done the conversion back then, but now I don't know if I could do it.

 

[jaegzie]

Interesting, I never liked the box rears with the be front but the other way around doesnt sound too bad. Maybe this weekend I will slap some fenders on the one of the BE's in the garage and take some pics, if I can get time.

 

[mightymidget]

I think it would make a good looking car and would really like to see a mock up. I have two bugeyes already so I don't need another, but I was thinking if I ran accross a bugeye for sale with out a bonnet I might put one together.

I personal love the styling of the Bugeye from windsheild back (MGA-Healy 3000)but the front is just OK

The bugeye is neat because of being diffferent but I think the later sprite front end is more agressive looking

 

[jvandyke]

Kind of a different idea, but one time, I took some old, mangled box-Sprite fenders and cut them down to a "slant-nose" front.
You can see it below.
I chopped off the headlight forms and flattened the tops so that they were even with the bonnet...I guess if I ever went further with it, the headlights would have to go in the grill.

It was just a few hours of quick work, just for fun.

I sort of like it and have considered making a nicer set at some point.

That looks pretty cool. Maybe some Fiero pop up lights or something.

 

[glemon]

Never thought of it, to each his own, but I think the BE rear end looks more 50s like, and the front more 60s, never seen one, but don't know if I would like it, I like Speedwell front ends and the like, also the idea of converting bugey front end to pop up lights as was originaly intended by Healeys. Saw a bugeye vintage racer with a tailfin once, ala a jaguar D type, very very cool.

 

[bthompson]

Kind of a different idea, but one time, I took some old, mangled box-Sprite fenders and cut them down to a "slant-nose" front...

I've said it in a different post and I'll say it again: if you ever decide to produce those fenders in any sort of volume, you'd have quite a little cottage industry going. I <span style="font-style: italic">LOVE </span>them.

Maybe an exchange program? You sell a slant-nose in exchange for the buyer's fenders, cut down <span style="font-style: italic">those </span>fenders to sell to the <span style="font-style: italic">next </span>buyer in exchange, etc. You'd have a perpetual supply of fenders to play with, and a ready waiting list of spridgeteers. <span style="color: #CC0000"><hint hint!></span>

I can see a couple of P700s in the grill, <span style="font-style: italic">a la</span> Arnolt-Bristol...

 

[mightymidget]

Well I am going to try it and I have figured out the perfect solution:

I will do this with my V-8 Bugeye

I have purchased a one piece fiberglass late model front end. When I paint my Bugeye which now has a forward tilt Bonnet I will paint the one piece fiberglass late model at the same time.

I will be able to switch from bugeye to late model by a quick wire disconnect and hood tilt disconnect.

I just need to figure out a way to design a quick change slide in bracket for front tilt brackets.

(This is two years away)

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Kind of a different idea, but one time, I took some old, mangled box-Sprite fenders and cut them down to a "slant-nose" front.

So, the ad guys were RIGHT! "The shape of things to come..."

 

[GeeBee1]

Early Sprite II prototypes had this combination.

Pat

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Hey my buddy here in Dayton has a one piece Square Bodied Front end he might want to sell. The car it's currently on is going to get an Arkley Kit. NFI PM me if you want his contact info.