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Bugeye Restoration Finally Started

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Keith,

Bugsy II is in just about the same state of Project Restoration since he came home from Toronto in April. Spring and Summmer have been just too busy to spend any time with Bugsy II. I'll be interested to watch your project progress. Just be careful with blasting, sometimes you can make things happen very quickly simply with a Flapper Disk and an Angle Grinder and can avoid the risk of panel warpage. New bonnet from Bugsy III should be in my hands within the next 2 weeks and then progress can begin once again in earnest.

Oh and we all need to know does your BE have a name yet?
 

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    Bugsy out of the garage after 28 years 03 30 13 resized.jpg
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Actually that's not where Bugsy II is right now but that's how he was first time out of the garage in 28 years when I picked him up in April from Toronto.
 
Jim_Gruber said:
Keith,

Bugsy II is in just about the same state of Project Restoration since he came home from Toronto in April. Spring and Summmer have been just too busy to spend any time with Bugsy II. I'll be interested to watch your project progress. Just be careful with blasting, sometimes you can make things happen very quickly simply with a Flapper Disk and an Angle Grinder and can avoid the risk of panel warpage. New bonnet from Bugsy III should be in my hands within the next 2 weeks and then progress can begin once again in earnest.

Oh and we all need to know does your BE have a name yet?
Click to expand...

The blasting will be done by the body guy; the same body guy who did my BT7. He thinks it's the best way to get all the paint and rust out of all the crevices etc., and after seeing the results with the BT7, I would have to agree. He's pretty careful.

It will be fun to watch our two projects progress and compare notes. I'm making this car for my wife. She enjoys driving the '65 Sprite, and has always loved bugeyes. It will be up to her to name it.
 
Wow, Keith, great news-the Bugeye on its way to recovery! Good luck :smile:

Larry
 
Keith, I blasted my Bugeye with excellent success; however the drawback is that the sand will find every nook and crevice being that the car is a unitized body, not like the BT7. I had my car on a rotisserie and it still took weeks of rotating the car while beating with a rubber hammer and high pressure air and a industrial vacuum cleaner to remove most of the sand, I still see small spots fall out from time to time especially after it’s transported. Good luck on your restoration!!

View attachment 29200View attachment 29201
 
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She enjoys driving the '65 Sprite, and has always loved bugeyes
Click to expand...
. While the two cars are very similar, they are also quite different. The ride quality of a bugeye is not as posh as the '65. The handling is also quite different when driving aggressive. But for short fun drives around town and such they are basically the same.
 
BlueMax: those are great pictures. I hope to see my car in a similar state soon. I have also followed your pictures of the bonnet restoration. I will be showing those to my body guy.

Trevor: First, that's the first time I have ever heard anyone describe the ride quality of a Sprite as "posh"! :smile:

Second, I see you have a bugeye and a later model midget, so I'm interested in the comparison. Except for the quarter vs half elliptical rear springs and a slightly shorter wheelbase, the bugeye body doesn't look that different from my '65. Why is the ride so different?
 
Wheel base is the same. The only thing differences are the springs and weight. And the seats make a bit of difference, but that is a matter of preference.
 
Thank you Keith, It has been a long time in preparation since I’m doing all the body prep myself. A buddy of mine calls it a fantasy Sprite; I call it “FUN” even if its engine hasn’t sparked its first drop of fuel. I can guarantee when it does see that drop it will light!! I’ve always felt that your endeavors reflect that individual character. I’m sure your car will have the same dedication and outcome too, keep up the hard work!!!
 
macsprite said:
Eric Dymock's book "The Sprites and Midgets" has some information detailed. Bugeye chassis numbers started at H-AN501 and finished H-AN5-50116.

In 1958 only 8,729 Bugeye Sprites were manufactured.

In 1959 there were 21,566 produced, in 1960 there were 18,665 and in last year of production, 1961, only 39 cars were produced.

Therefore. iI'd say that the title is correct and yours is a 1959, since 17,684 would have been in the first half off 1959 production.

Regards
Lew
Click to expand...

WOW - only 39 in 1961? I guess mine is pretty rare! :smile: I even have the Heritage Certificate


BTW, Keith, if those axle straps are in good condition, hang on to them! That part is NLA...
 
Here's an update on my progress. I got the front and rear suspensions off the car and finished removing the all the remaining bits and pieces. The rear suspension gave a little trouble, and I had to cut some bolts on the DS rear spring. Otherwise, everything eventually yielded to PB Blaster and an electric impact wrench. The rear spring boxes look solid, but the cockpit floor will have to be replaced. Sandblasting revealed a fair amount of bondo and some previous repairs, but no major unexpected problems. The only exception is some damage to the rear cowling that will require some work with an English Wheel to make a patch. Here are a few photos.

IMG_4335.jpgIMG_4336.jpgIMG_4337.jpgIMG_4338.JPGIMG_4339.JPG
 
funny spot on the back - looks like someone mounted a spare tire without bracing
 
JPSmit said:
funny spot on the back - looks like someone mounted a spare tire without bracing
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Agree JP and then cut it out and "welded" in a patch. AH Spares has a repair panel for 795 pounds. It will be a tough repair. Could always make it into a Sebring Sprite :encouragement:.
Paul
 
There was definitely a hole cut in the rear cowling, but it seems to have been cut for a very specific purpose because the shape is very regular and it has holes around the edges that look like they are for pop rivets or screws. As soon as we get the bondo out, I'll post a picture and see if anyone has any ideas as to what it might have been for.

Adding a trunk lid is an interesting idea, but I doubt I'll go that way. I'm having the body work professionally done, and I think the guy doing it will be able to get looking decent.
 
Keith_M said:
There was definitely a hole cut in the rear cowling, but it seems to have been cut for a very specific purpose because the shape is very regular and it has holes around the edges that look like they are for pop rivets or screws. As soon as we get the bondo out, I'll post a picture and see if anyone has any ideas as to what it might have been for.

.
Click to expand...

Fifth wheel? :jester:
 
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