Good or Bad BE Find? SOLD, now what

[smaceng]

So as Sarastro said, it doesn't hurt to look, right?
The BE had been hit at the left rear and had rust and typical problems associated with 36 years of use when the owner bought it. First he wanted to turn it into a race car, but could not. Long story, shortened, he had the tub and bonnet body work and paint done in OEW. He had a 1275 engine with a smooth case trans. He had purchased a lot of parts, like a disk brake conversion, but lots of stuff was missing, top, bows, side curtains, grille. The body was declared good enough to start hanging parts, not perfect, but 95-98%.
I plan to keep it as original as possible, with the logical upgrades, 1275 with rib trans, disk brakes, orig. wheels and hub caps, red vinyl seats and interior but with black carpets (anyone have a picture of this) I will keep it front opening, with original instruments. I will send the tach to Palo Alto Speedo for mods. Should I keep the gen or convert to an alternator? I would like to go with Pertonix on the dist. I had serious questions about the title, as the owner did not have one. He had a bill of sale. I went to CA DMV, and told them he lost the title. Registration is good to go, once the missing VIN label is replaced! It is AN5L 30409
What are your thoughts?
Cheers to your all!

 

[58Custom]

So as Sarastro said, it doesn't hurt to look, right?
The BE had been hit at the left rear and had rust and typical problems associated with 36 years of use when the owner bought it. First he wanted to turn it into a race car, but could not. Long story, shortened, he had the tub and bonnet body work and paint done in OEW. He had a 1275 engine with a smooth case trans. He had purchased a lot of parts, like a disk brake conversion, but lots of stuff was missing, top, bows, side curtains, grille. The body was declared good enough to start hanging parts, not perfect, but 95-98%.
I plan to keep it as original as possible, with the logical upgrades, 1275 with rib trans, disk brakes, orig. wheels and hub caps, red vinyl seats and interior but with black carpets (anyone have a picture of this) I will keep it front opening, with original instruments. I will send the tach to Palo Alto Speedo for mods. Should I keep the gen or convert to an alternator? I would like to go with Pertonix on the dist. I had serious questions about the title, as the owner did not have one. He had a bill of sale. I went to CA DMV, and told them he lost the title. Registration is good to go, once the missing VIN label is replaced! It is AN5L 30409
What are your thoughts?
Cheers to your all!

Huh? Whaaaa? This was in California? Where? How much?

If you don't plan to add an electric fan, the generator is sufficient, IMO. It's also cooler looking. Vintage. With a bill of sale and a good reg the DMV will be able to replace the title. Just pay close attention to instruction they give you and take notes directly from the attendant. Be sure to get the needed forms and instruction of what sections are required to fill out. I had some problems due to conflicting instructions and had to make multiple trips for a dirt bike title, but I did get it. AAA does not help with titles.

 

[smaceng]

Car was in San Jose and paid $4000. I did not tell the owner this but he may have received more calls from craigs list if he had not misspelled the listing as a 1960 bugeye autin healy. DMV looks go to go once I get the VIN tag. I plan on using a SU electronic fuel pump located in the back on a late motel bracket (anyone have one?). Will the red seats with white piping, red vinyl surround and black carpets look OK?
I saw one with all red/white, and it seemed a bit much.
Cheers,
Scott

 

[jvandyke]

I think OEW and red is GREAT look. Sorta think mixing too much black in might be harder on the eyes then more red. Two high contrast colors seems enough without adding a third? Don't know, just guessing. Good call, IMHO going for mostly stock/spartan original but with some driveability/performance upgrades, 1275, ribcase, disk brakes, electric fuel pump. I'd consider converting to front bonnet flip forward instead of up, but I don't know squat. Love those bugeyes!
This is one I love a guy (from here?) restored, although not a bugeye and not OEW (Dove Gray) it's cool.

 

[jlaird]

Here ya go with all red.

 

[58Custom]

Here ya go with all red.

Swoooon. (flop) The white/red Bugeyes give me the vapors. Same with white/reb '64-66 Mustangs & 66-67 Failanes. It's just right.

 

[Pythias]

IF you're going for driveability rather than originality, as you seem to be with the disc brake/1275/alternator upgrade I highly recommend the Crane unit instead of the Pertronix. Many here will dispute the reliability difference, but eventually it seems sometimes sooner instead of later, Pertronix units leave people stranded. It happened to me, and tho is was an installer that caused the problem (ME!) (I let the wires rub the rotor and eventually they wore thru) and not a failure of the electronic themselves, but i have NEVER heard of a CRANE unit failure. Not ONE. they are, i admit a pain in the ass to get set up, especially when compared to the pertronix, but then, you're DONE. Also, if you go with a FACET (good old square cheap NAPA) fuel pump and get a pressure regulator, when the pump fails when you're out on the road, the replacement is easy, cheap and AVAILABLE, rather than expensive and time delayed.

My two cents.

 

[scoutll]

Here is one with red white and black in the interior