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Long wheel base bugeye

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Trevor Jessie

Trevor Jessie

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I noticed (via youtube) that David (bugeye guy) is having a sprite's wheelbase lengthened by 5 inches for a client. What are the tradeoffs in doing such a thing. Assuming the pedal position and steering wheel works for your body; what are the negatives?
 
drooartz

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I've been following that too, Trevor. Interesting project.

Will be interesting to see how that car handles once it's done -- I'd expect that's enough wheelbase change to be noticeable, though for better or worse I don't know. Hope there's plenty of reenforcement in what they're doing, would hate for it to fold in half once done.

Hope it turns out well.
 
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Trevor Jessie

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Both my spridgets have been constructed by splicing two different cars together. I purchased both of them this way. Neither has shown any signs of failure. My concern would not be about the strength of the car, but (as you said) the handling.
I guess he is going to make custom sidescreens as well as a custom top.
 
Jim_Gruber

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This must be for one really tall customer. Is there a link for that YouTube Video Trevor?
 
AN5Sprite

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grrrrrrroooooaaaaan :pukeface: that's my reaction.

If you're too tall and too old, too bad. Get yourself an MGB. No sympathy.

I get what he's doing marketing wise but, to me, reverence for the marque should trump this kind of modification/desecration.
(If that makes me as a purist, so be it.)

It's a spec build, not a customization for an existing customer. Somehow that makes it worse to me.
 
Gerard

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HealeyRick said:
A real bugeye guy would cut 5 in. out of his legs to fit. :jester:
Click to expand...


Hey, why not cut it lengthwise to and widen it for all the fat, ummm, I mean 'broad shouldered' guys that want to stuff themselves into a Bugeye... what the ****, lets make it as big as a Big Healey while we're at it...

A new low in the hobby...


:pukeface:
 
Last edited:
AN5Sprite

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My initial reaction was negative. Now that i've stood before my own car with a tape measure....

I'm horrified. 5" to the door/etc is ridiculous. 2" maybe, but then why do all that work for 2"?

Exactly. Don't.
 
JPSmit

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OK, I'll be contrary and say I think it is pretty cool. Yes, for the money etc. etc. I'd probably just upgrade to a bigger car but, we've seen Jag powered Sprites, Zetec, Hardtop sebring sprites, so, why not? They aren't THAT rare and the beginnings at least looks like it is being done to a high standard. It would certainly be more interesting at a car show that 3 dozen identical cars (including my own). I'm going to follow it.
 
Jim_Gruber

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At 5'6" on a good day I don't see how someone 6'+ fits in this car. I drive with Miata Seats as far back as Seats will allow with rollbar in place. Rollbar does limit how far seats can recline.
 
58Custom

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I'm agnostic on the stretch, but would it kill the guy to zoom out? Man, all of those tight shots in the videos and the constant panning make me frustrated and nauseous.
 
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Trevor Jessie

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I'm 5'10" and almost 13 stone. The bugeye seems spacious to me, but my '70 Midget feels a bit cramped (but more comfortable).
 
Jim_Gruber

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Trevor, I will be interested in seeing how I fit in Bugsy II once he comes home. I can't recall sitting behind the wheel of a Bugeye, it's always been in a Spridget. The Miata Seats in Bugsy are definitely roomier than stock high back with headrest later seats that were installed in Bugsy my '68 Sprite when I acquired him.
 
aeronca65t

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If I wanted a skinny, long car, I'd buy an MGA :playful: ( a fine car, by the way).

Honestly, if I really wanted a Spridget that was easier to get in and out of (and I had a huge budget), I'd cut back the area where the door hinges are and just make the door longer at that end (yes...this would require fender mods and all sorts of cowl reinforcement and modification).

Once you're actually IN a Spridget, there's a fair amount of leg room if you have the thinner seats (like in a Frog). I'm a bit over 6' and weight around 210 and it's not even a slight problem for me......once I'm in.

But getting my left leg in at times (LHD car) can be a challenge.

Maybe because I'm 62, but even when I was in my 20's, it was a challenge.
My MGB and my Miata are much easier.
 
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Trevor Jessie

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Honestly, if I really wanted a Spridget that was easier to get in and out of (and I had a huge budget), I'd cut back the area where the door hinges are and just make the door longer at that end (yes...this would require fender mods and all sorts of cowl reinforcement and modification).
Click to expand...

At one time I gave much thought to that, but I decided it was well beyond my limited engineering knowledge. My plan just kept getting more elaborate. The benefit of doing such a mod is that it could hide the a-post to make the car's lines much smooth
 
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