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Bugeye Options Delete

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Editor_Reid

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Yesterday I attended the Western Washington All British Field Meet in Bellevue, Washington, and while talking with friend Walt Harrison and examining his Bugeye's BMIHT Certificate listing the original options that were fitted to his car, an interesting question came up. Since the "Rev. Counter" and "Laminated Windscreen" were options, what did the cars without those options look like?

If there was no rev counter (tachometer) installed, was there just a round hole in the dash, or was there a blanking plate? I've never seen, or even heard of, a Bugeye that didn't have the "optional" rev counter, but if it truly was optional, then it stands to reason that at least some cars would have been produced without it.

Likewise, what happened when the laminated windscreen was not specified? Was there an empty windscreen frame? Certainly there wasn't a non-safety glass windscreen, which would have been illegal, not to mention tremendously hazardous.

It's easy to imagine a Bugeye coming without the "optional" front bumper or heater, but the laminated windscreen hardly seems like it could have been an option, and I can't imagine what would result from refusing this "option."

Any knowledge out there about cars without these options?
 
These and others could be "mandatory" options aimed at keeping the "base price" at or below a certain level. I seem to remember the list price of an original Bugeye at something like $1599. Then the options were added on along with dealer prep, shipping etc, possibly bringing the real price up over 2K. Bob
 
One thing that comes to mind regarding the windscreen, is that back in the fifties and early sixties, British cars were still being made with the "toughened" rather than laminated windscreens. These were not phased out until the late seventies. These windscreens, rather like today's side windows, were designed to shatter into tiny pieces, but could still cause terrible facial injuries, especially if seat belts were not worn or even fitted! Seatbelts were not mandatory for cars in the UK until 1965, by which time the Bugeye was out of production!!
 
Maybe the "laminated windscreen" was deleted for cars that the owner intended to race? As for what the cars looked like without the optional tach, there is a picture in Terry Horler's book "Original Sprite and Midget: A Restorer's Guide" on page 27. Horler notes that, "[c]ars without a rev counter had a blanking plate over the aperture on the panel, and two red main beam warning lights set in a chrome bezel in the blanking plate." The picture shows the warning light in the lower center of the blanking plate, which is finished with the same material as the dash.
 
Is it possible these options were for UK and anything going to the US would have them automatically?
 
While the "options list" said the laminated windscreen, heater, and rev counter and other choices were "options", cars entering the USA were all equiped with these "options". In the home market they were "options" and cars could be ordered without them. Horler even admits thou that the rev counter "option" was rarely not installed even on home versions. No car without the laminated windscreen or front bumper (another "option") would have been imported into the USA by BMC. If you were willing to wait months for delivery, you could have ordered a car without the heater or rev counter "options". However, in reality your choice of "options" was limited basicly to what color do you want from the few available at the dealers.
 
That would make more sense. I know that cars coming into the USA usually had more features fitted as standard than home-market cars, so I would be rather surprised to find any "stripped" models here.
 
My car also listed sliding sidescreens, tonneau cover, and "less heater"

As the original selling dealer was in Honolulu, they skipped the heater. Now here is the nice part. The TPO, (terrific previous owner) upon shipping the bugeye to the mainland, had the factory heater installed. Cold blooded I guess, but I am very greatful.
 
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