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Bugeye In The Weeds!

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John Moore

John Moore

Luke Skywalker
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When I was up at Stowe for the British Invasion a friend of a friend told me about a bugeye that was potentially for sale just a few miles from my house. Today, I found it. It was in some weeds behind an old corner garage. I spoke to the mechanic inside and he said as I already knew, that the owner of a local salvage yard owned it and he might be willing to sell. The SN# was AN5 134235 which seems to make it a '59. I didn't have a magnet, but the body appeared to be in great shape with only some slight perforation. I felt all along the bottom of the rockers and they felt solid. Looks like one could get away with patching rather than complete panel replacement. It did have a factory hardtop and aside from the glacier white paint and stripes seemed very much unmolested! The guy took my name and number and said he would see the owner tomorrow and pass it along. I also drove by the salvage yard but it was closed. wow! If I could score this one it would put me MILES ahead with my Bugeye project, but I sure don't know what to think about dealing with a salvage yard owner. Who knows!
 

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Let me see if I can add more photos...
 

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the engine bay... looks like the original 948 and SU's.
 

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Here's the other side. The hardtop has gotta be worth some bux.
 
Let me try that again...
 

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What do you guys think would be good value for this project? What would the hardtop be worth?
 
Hey Tony... if you read this.. what's the best way to deal with a Salvage Yard owner? It's been awhile since I read your buying article. I would imaging have cash and be willing to walk. Personally, looking at the car I wouldn't want to go over $2K, but sure I would like to pay as little as possible.
 
WOW!! Nice find!! Something looks a bit odd at the rear (tail-light area). Is it rotted or chopped up there?
 
bugimike said:
WOW!! Nice find!! Something looks a bit odd at the rear (tail-light area). Is it rotted or chopped up there?
Click to expand...

While it was mostly complete, I did notice it was missing both tail lights.
 
John Moore said:
Hey Tony... if you read this.. what's the best way to deal with a Salvage Yard owner? It's been awhile since I read your buying article. I would imaging have cash and be willing to walk. Personally, looking at the car I wouldn't want to go over $2K, but sure I would like to pay as little as possible.
Click to expand...
Choose your top dollar (no pun but wonder if that top is correct for my '63 Midget?) & carry it in hundred dollar bills....put the larger part - your 1st price - in a clip in your pocket, the rest folded in your pocket in case you have to discuss price...carry your first born with you (or both if you can control their excitement) but tell him not to act excited but to just look cute (tell him he's a prop).

..Remember, he probably has very little in the car so its complete profit for him....after he says he wants to sell it, let him make the first offer (Remember my granddad's policy: the guy who mentions money first loses).....then, show him pics of your MGB project & the total cost of that restoration (have that photo of the 2 boys working on your Bugeye placed appropriately inside the photos - near the top)....explain that Bugeye's are more expensive to restore but you're trying to put together a project where you can teach the boys something about mechanics.... and if his 1st offer is within your range, pay him...you'll make a friend by not trying to haggle him down & that's worth more than the few hundred you might save by haggling (next time he has something like that, he'll call you first).

...If his price is above your range, tell him how much you are prepared to pay in cash & show him the hundred dollar bills in the money clip (hold back the smaller of the 2 bundles in case he counter offers within your range - you can leave the larger stack with him while you go get the rest & your trailer, hehehe).....if he won't come down to your range, walk - but leave him your card with the price you're willing to pay written on the back.
 
Thanks Tony!

I had thought that I wouldn't want him to know about my MG. I guess I could drive it over there. But I don't want him to think I'm a money bag! lolol I hadn't thougt about taking my boys, but that's a good idea.

How do you handle a seller that insists on you making an offer first?

I did some googling. The LOW price on a bugeye on NADA and KBB is around 6K. Then again, that's for a running one. And NADA says the hardtop is worth $1500! Both would be WAY out of the ball park for me.

Also the guy in the garage said something about this fellow going to "Hershey". I looked it up and there is a big classic car show there the second weekend of October. I wonder if this guy was planning to take this car down there to sell. I dunno.

Any thoughts on what this one might be worth, given my description?
 
From the pics, 2 to 2.5K should cover it nicely.

Remember it needs a complete restoration, Hehe
 
I'm not a Bugeye guy but here's how I value one: I look up the high dollar value of one in the condition in which it'll be after my restoration.....then, I estimate what the cost of that restoration will be in parts/shop labor (not mine)....the rest is my high dollar purchase price.....anything below that is padding for the "might-as-well's" that'll occur during restoration!

You definitely don't want him to think you've got lots of money...you're right: maybe just show him the photos of your old Bugeye & not say anything about the MGB....if you take the boys (which I would), make sure they don't volunteer it either.

But, I think the father/son aspect should be worth something....like I said, junk yards don't have a whole lot of money in their cars...you can figure he's got about 25% of what he's asking in it!

If he sticks to a high price, he's just out for the money...walk away!

<span style="text-decoration: line-through">Oh, if the hardtop's correct for my '63 Midget, I'd give $500 for it if there's no serious damage</span>....never mind, it isn't!
 
Thanks Jack, that's what I was thinking too.

When I got my current bugeye, the plan was to sort it out mechanically first then do the body later. So I have a rebuilt front end, all new hydraulics, rebuilt SU's, wiring harness, etc. Tons of parts, even tires!. But when I found out how bad my current body is, I decided for safety reasons I needed to address that first. And that has really set my project back. This car could potentially, get me back on the road, much, much sooner and back on my original plan.
 
Can't wait to hear what happens.

The rest of the story.
 
Thanks Tony!

Yeah, I'll keep you guys posted. I hope it works out.
 
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