Bugsy 3???

[Jim_Gruber]

I drove to Chillicothe Ohio this AM to re-visit a BE that I've chased after for 3 years now. Decision finally made by holder of the car in storage, it's got to go and go quickly. I brought home Bugsy II from Toronto in April and all is good with him other than some issues I've documented with the bonnet. I arrived at 8:00 AM and started taking a really good look at the bonnet and the rest of Bugsy III. Previously I had not been able to get a look underneath the car or even around the sides and rear as it was totally blocked and tires were flat.

I discovered on close inspection that the bonnet other than some surface rust on the lower valence is sound and will not need rear patch panels on both sides as I previously thought. There is surface rust but that appears to be it. Small dent on top of LF Fender but easily fixed. Compared to the work on Bugsy II's bonnet that is needed this one will be a snap to repair. Yeah!!!!

Took a close look underneath, floors in rear. Reach underneath and push my hand up through floor to top spring reinforcing plate. Both sides. Front floorboards appear solid both sides. Not good but rear bulkhead appears solid. A posts will need repairs both side, Outer Rockers possibly a small patch on one side. Rear of tub other than bumpers bent sideways the tub is not bent. Previously I thought there was a large dent in the rear of the tub, fortunately not. Again surface rust but pretty sound other rear floors. Interior seats still have vinyl on them. Can't tell condition of seat pans until upholstery is stripped off. All gauges are there and all instruments.

Engine is frozen up, no idea on tranny. Lots of mice remains and garbage under the bonnet that will need some serious work with vacumn and dust masks to remove. Here's some pics from my visit. Offer made to the owner. Awaiting to see if it will be accepted. If accepted Bugsy III would go to garage at lake cottage until I can get Bugsy II finished.

This one is probably too nice to part out. Bugsy II's bonnet could find a home here and the 948 and smoothcase that came from Bugsy II could end up here.

There is an interesting dashboard emblem that appears to be AH Wings type. Anyone familiar with this one. Shows up in one of the pics. Any thoughts on this BE guys. The price is truly right if I can get it.

 

[Guest]

I hate the wait-and-see crap. What was the time frame for an answer? Personally, it's either take it here and now or see ya later otherwise they have all the power. It doesn't sound like he's in that big of a hurry if you gotta hear back.

 

[jjscott]

I should probably keep my nose out of this. But, do you really need another project or a bunch of stuff sitting around that you don't need and will take forever to get to? The only way I would consider anything like this is if I wanted to swap bonnets and can convince myself I can sell off the remains and the "bad" bonnet for what was paid for it. I'd also want to convince myself I could move it in a hurry and not having it sit around for two years.

I've now spent a year and a half of dedicated work consisting of hundreds of hours on my bugeye. It never ceases to consume money, and it's unlikely I will get my money out of it. And, it's not that close to being finished. The thought of having a second one in the wings is just too much.

It's obviously your call, Jim. You know what you have now and what it is you want. If this new car is the means to get there, go for it. But for all the time and hassle of dealing with the second car, you may find equal time spent will fix your existing bonnet.

Jim

 

[sim]

It is a good investment buy it only 58K were ever made. got to be less than 1/2 that now

 

[RickB]

It is a good investment buy it only 58K were ever made. got to be less than 1/2 that now

:highly_amused:

See post above yours, anyone getting into Spridgets thinking 'investment' highly amuses me.
I mean no offense at all, I'm just amused.
Thanks for making me smile.

 

[Guest]

:highly_amused:

See post above yours, anyone getting into Spridgets thinking 'investment' highly amuses me.
I mean no offense at all, I'm just amused.
Thanks for making me smile.

It's a good investment for me and my marriage. Because of my car, I can no longer afford coke and hookers. :laugh:


I'd rather stay at home with my wife rather than go without refreshments on fishing trips. :thumbsup:

 

[nomad]

Engine may be stuck but appears to be a 1275. May want to overhaul that.

 

[JPSmit]

It's a good investment for me and my marriage. Because of my car, I can no longer afford coke and hookers. :laugh:

Don't even what to speculate on what level of coke/hookers are rendered inelligable by the purchase of a rubber bumpered Midget.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

1275? I didn't even look closely to see. It could be. Learned this was a college car for a guy now in mid '50's. A 1275 swap could have happened. I need to find out more as to why it broke?

Jim, I need to think about a response when I'm at the real keyboard later today. I do have one and indeed some logic to try and go after another BE.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Jim,

Why another BE waiting in the wings? I had given up on this car ever becoming available. I'd been working on getting this car for close to three years. It has title issues and I wasn't getting any help from the guy the car was given to, to help resolve the title issues from a distant relative the title holder. Finally I get a call last week saying we're ready. It needs to go and an offer of help to solve the title issue. That motivated me to drive 3 hours on Saturday to go and revisit this
BE and take another close look.

Do I need another project. Heck no. I don't know any of my peers in our 60's that are as busy as Colleen and I.

In the past 2 1/2 years my wife and I bought and rehabbed a little lake cottage that had not seen any love for the past 30 years. We bought for a good price 2 years ago in November and it totally occupied my time that winter and well into June last year. Almost finished but some small projects remain but it's a great place to get away about 75 minutes from home. Close enough that in the summer I can even drive in to work, leave at 5:00 and be home and out on the water to take Colleen skiing by 6:45. No one is there during the week and we've had some memorable sunsets there. A place to make memories between ourselves, with the grandkids and kick back.

New cottage made kitchen at home look bad so a rehab project started this Spring at home. Again a project almost finished but put on hold until Fall and after Water Skiing wraps up in < a month for me and sometimes longer for Colleen. Summer is just not long enough. Fall says I've got to finish what is left on Kitchen Project, refacing doors, going white on cabinets, and finishing trim and a bathroom remodel will start. So do I need another project, there is always more to keep me busy than I can possibly accomplish. Since most of this work has been done via sweat equity than by our checkbook little progress has been made in getting Bugsy II going other than small projects.

One of the things that has gotten me slowed down has been concerns about repairing my bonnet that I've documented. It's got challenges that can be over come but based on the amount of time I've had available lately making it look right will be a challenge that will take several months to fix and make work. I've now got an opportunity to acquire a Bonnet that will take weeks worth of work rather than multiple months to complete this project. I tried to buy the bonnet but was told take it all or nothing.

I have a single car garage at home that has a small shop off of the back. Fortunately there is room to store this car in the garage at the cottage. It can be tucked in at the back, kept dry, and I can decide whether or not I want to take on another project once Bugsy II is done. Lot's of good parts on Bugsy III that could be parted out and with some sheet metal body would be good. Bugsy II came to me with all metal work done. New floor, Rear Bulkhead repaired, A posts, outer rockers, rear quarters, rear valence. Bonnet has been the main issue. This solves a major roadblock in getting Bugsy II finished and back together. Time, Money, and Risk the three major components of Project Management. I've reduced time by going to a different / better bonnet. Risk of having a bonnet that will not look right when finished has been eliminated. Cost of project in acquiring another BE has increased but price was right and I know I could resell Bugsy III for more than the acquisition cost.

Trust me, my wife does not want another rusty car around either house. I've had to do some major Project Management Work to make sure my most important Stakeholder remains convinced this is the right way to go.

So tell us about your BE. You're 18 months into the project and sounds like you are very frustrated at this point. You're at the point of losing enthusiasm and wondering how it can all get finished. We've all been there and you need help and encouragement from this list. Here's how to push through and get this finished.

1) You're in Lake Geneva. Fabulous area to drive and there are great roads in SW Wisconsin to explore. Someone on this list, close to you, will invite you to come drive their Spridget. With Fall coming on, you need to be behind the wheel on a really fun and twisty back road. There is nothing like top down, crisp fall day, and a well prepped Spridget going through the twists and turns. Go out and drive. It will put your enthusiasm to get done back in gear. Hey who can help Jim out?

2) Participating in this list. I bloviate all too often but I've met lots of great folks who will help you solve and fix just about anything issue I run into. Contribute to the list. Ask questions and after a while you'll find out there are answers you can provide to newbies. Maybe you are very experienced in restoring LBC's I don't know but either ask or share, we can all help.

3) I am a tinkerer. I need a problem to solve to keep my brain working and I need to constantly challenge myself. Hence multiple projects all going on at the same time. I know I'll always tinker, it's my nature and I 'll never change it. That's why these cars interest us. They are a challenge at all times and keep us engaged.


Time to quit and go see if I can go get something done in the garage this afternoon.

 

[jjscott]

Hi Jim:

Thanks for the very thoughtful reply to my post. It wasn't intended to be about me, but just a reminder to look before leaping. You seem to have thought this car and your situation through very carefully. I wish you the best as the restoration proceeds.

As for me, I grew up with this stuff. My father bought a TC in 1950 with money he made by converting a 1936 Willys to a two seat roadster. Many cars followed after that. I bought a TD in 1967 after I got out of the army, restored that and bought an AC Aceca coupe with a Ford V-8, restored that and bought as Ferrari 250 SWB. The Bugeye was bought in 1971 when I quit my job, lost my company car, and needed an everyday driver. I kept the bugeye for about 2 years and replaced it with a 3000 because it had a back seat for my young daughter.

The bugeye came back to me last year. I had to buy it because I loved it when I owned it before. It needed everything a typical midwestern car needs, plus everything else that either revolves, moves, carries current, or is exposed to view. The restoration didn't really get to me until I started putting reproduction parts on it. Much of the stuff does not fit without modification, and the master cylinder is currently a major source of irritation. I'm also tired of fixing with money. If I make the mistake I don't mind. If the mistake is the result of something I paid for, I do mind.

As my wife said, you knew what to expect when you dragged it home. It has been a more difficult restoration than a Morgan DHC I did, I think because of the unit body. But, I'm closing in on it now: hang on some more stuff, do the interior, put the engine together, finalize the assembly and do the "fettling".

This board and its members have been a great help to me along the way. And inspiration.

Jim

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Jim,

You've obviously been around LBCs for a long, long time. You BE looks great BTW. What's his name?
The Spring Plates you replaced were likely in the same type of Rust State that I'd find on Bugsy III if I decide to undertake that restoration. About to poke holes through the floorboard from underneath. Like the color scheme. Bugsy II will be White with Red Interior.

I'm upgrading to discs up front. Gerard converted my MC to a 3/4" and I obtained all of frontend parts and know where I can get Rear Backing Plates. I hope to be in the same place you are maybe 12-18 months from now. Keep pushing along and you may be driving before Spring.

But in the meantime I'm serious about getting out and taking a Sprite for a ride. It will help tremendously.

 

[RickB]

Yes, you have to drive one once in a while - to recall why you want to go through all the sweat and blood and money!