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My First Bugeye

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Texas_Cicada

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After a more-than-a-year long search and an equally long "discussion" with my wonderful wife, I am one week away from claiming my first LBC...a mosyly-original 1960 Mk. I "Bugeye" Sprite. I think I fell in love with LBC's when my older sister dated a boy who had a MGA. It was made mostly of Bondo and pop-riveted sheet metal and I think he repainted it with red house paint, but it looked very cool to a 6 year old boy. Later, when I was in Jr. High, my Dad bought a Triumph Herald for my other sister...who didn't like it because it only started occasionally and pieces kept falling off. And I think it caught fire once. My Dad and I rebuilt it on my mother's Ping Pong table in our back yard. We ended up with lots of pieces left over. To my eyes, it was much neater than the typical 1970's family cars on the road. Then, I nearly got an MG Midget of my own a few years later...but my Dad got stuck in it during the test drive and that was the end of the discussion. I don't think I helped my bargaining position by convincing him to visit the dealership in the middle of a West Texas snow storm. (In West Texas, these storms are characterized by a 50/50 mix of ice pellets and snow flakes blown around by 50 mph winds. And lightning.) Mine were the mistakes of a 16 year old with a days-old driver's license and bad case of new car lust. I framed the recent discussion with my wife with a bit more forethought. The happy result is that next week, my 9 year old daughter and I will spend her Spring Break making a 3200 mile round trip to trailer the little Bugeye back home to Texas from northern Michigan. My plan is to get to know the car this Spring and Summer and develop a restoration plan for next Winter. I am looking forward to any ideas or advice that you guys might have. Wish me luck!
 
My dear Mr. Texas Cicada.
We welcome you with open arms to our forum. You obviously have met all the possible criteria for membership, including the hard to obtain "Flaming Herald Merit Badge."
I once had a Morris Minor that was infested with fire ants, but that was as close as I ever got.
Your test drive, in a Texas snowstorm fits right in here, as many of us, lacking in common sense, along with many of the other social graces, have had similar experiences.
One thing that I would sincerely like to know, however, is, how did you find a Bugeye for sale in Michigan that I wasn't aware of?
Darn, I missed one!
Seriously, welcome.
You will soon find some good friends here, and an unlimited source of advice, information, and enthusiasm.
Jeff
Bugeye58
 
I wish I had a good story to go along with how I got the Michigan Bugeye from under your nose...but after scanning classifieds, club newsletters, junkyards, old barns and such for about three years, I wimped out and bought it on eBay. I am either a shrewd bargainer or I am somebody's dupe. I'll know in a week.

I have been "lurking" around this forum for a month or so. I have made a few posts to keep your webmaster / administrator (Basil?) from calling me a cyber-stalker. I am looking forward to becoming a more useful member soon. (I will either stimulate some good discussion or some laughs at my expense.)

Bugeye58, when you share your story about the fire ant infested Morris Minor, I'll tell you about my brother's VW Bug infested by tarrantulas. (A hint - baby tarrantulas are cute and red and fuzzy and after a rain storm you can catch them by the dozen in a paper cup. But don't.)

By the way...I will be dragging an empty trailer from Lubbock, Texas to Michigan, if anyone has something going in that direction. I may have some room coming back, as well.

Thanks for the welcome. I hope you can imagine how excited I am by this new chapter in my life. Yipee!

[ 03-09-2004: Message edited by: Texas_Cicada ]</p>
 
Tex. Yeah, I know about them tarantulas. I lived in Arizona for eight years, Texas for one. How are you routed on your way up north through Michigan? I'm about 5 miles east of US 23 as it cuts up through the center of the state.
Jeff
 
The seller is in Escanaba, on the upper pennisula, so I won't actually make it onto the "mitten/potholder" part of the state. The seller and I have tentatively agreed to meet in Racine, Wisconsin. The route is planned to be Lubbock - Wichita Falls - Oklahoma City - Topeka - Kansas City - Des Moines - Davenport - Rockford - Racine...unless someone has a better plan. I have a sister-in-law with a new baby in Minneapolis, so I may go home via the Twin Cities. It kind of depends on how my 9 yr old is holding up, the weather, and my desire to get home and go for a drive.

By the way...(my first technical question)...any info on what kind of trailer ramp approach angle a Bugeye can handle? I have this fear of getting all the way there only to find out that the car won't make it up my (borrowed) trailer.
 
"Tex", your route looks good to me, except for all that Oklahoma and Kansas stuff. Isn't there a law against that? (C'mon, guys, I'm only joking!!!
Gotta be PC, ya Know)
If it's a stock Bugeye, I would guess that if your trailer deck is 18" from the ground, your ramps should be at least 6 feet in length. Not knowing any dimensions other than that of a stock Bugeye tends to hamper the calculation. (Given X, solve for Y and Z)
But, on the other hand, you'll be in the land of plentiful lumber, so anything is easy!
Jeff
 
TEX, Don't worry about short ramps. Back in 74 I drove my 6o up 16'-2x10s with conc blocks midway under into the back of box truck 4'high for a 500 mi. move. The whole neighborhood was there to watch it fail, but it worked well. So if you have to buy lumber and blocks to make it up unto trailer, don't sweat it. I wish you well.
 
My trailer has 5-foot ramps & they work fine with my Midgets!
 
I always borrow trailers, and there have been a few times when I had to put a jack under the hitch and raise the truck (and trailer tongue) a few inches to keep the exhaust clamp from getting hung up.
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>When will you chaps learn to call them FROGEYES!! <hr></blockquote>

"...the Mark I becoming affectionately known as the frogeye (or bugeye in the USA)." https://www.nobcc.com/historyofaustinhealy.html

When will you guys learn to call them BUGEYES??
devilgrin.gif


[ 03-10-2004: Message edited by: tony barnhill ]</p>
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by tony barnhill:


"...the Mark I becoming affectionately known as the frogeye (or bugeye in the USA)." https://www.nobcc.com/historyofaustinhealy.html

When will you guys learn to call them BUGEYES??
devilgrin.gif


[ 03-10-2004: Message edited by: tony barnhill ]<hr></blockquote>


"You say 'tomato'; I say 'tomahto'; let's call the whole thing off"
devilgrin.gif
devilgrin.gif
 
thumbsup.gif
Thanks for all of the replies about getting my new Bugeye onto the trailer. I'll be sure to carry a jack and some blocks to put under it. I guess if I jack the trailer up high enough I can just drive right on and skip the ramps.

Now for another question: The trailer I am borrowing is not enclosed. Assuming there is no inclement weather (e.g. - rain or snow) should I trailer the car top up or top down? (As far as I know, there is no tonneau cover.) I don't want to use a tarp so as not to scuff up the paint. Any thoughts?
 
"I guess if I jack the trailer up high enough I can just drive right on and skip the ramps." erm.. not quite. I meant that I leave the trailer attached to the truck (for safety), and jack the trailer hitch on the truck up a few inches. This gains an "inch or so" clearance where the ramps meet the trailer. (all depending on the position of the trailer axle, length of trailer, length of ramp, etc.) Remember: Safety first.

If the hood/top is in good shape and securely fastened then I wouldn't worry about towing the car uncovered. You may want to take a roll of disposable shop towels and use them to stuff up holes around loose fitting side screens, etc.

Another advantage of hauling it uncovered is that you get to admire that cute bugeye following you home.
tongue.gif


If you go through a major down pour you can always stop to dry it off/out. It is all part of forming a bond with a roadster.

[ 03-11-2004: Message edited by: Trevor Jessie ]</p>
 
Old, dry, & loosely fitting tops always disappear before I get home if I tow with them 'up' position...if I put them down, at least they'll provide some protection after I get home....lesson: never tow with an old, ratty top in 'up' position...

...now, if its a good top that you would drive in the 'up' position, tow in the 'up' position
 
Congrats, Cicada!
Hope your Bugeye experience is as rewarding as mine.
BTW Bugeye= left hand steering
Frogeye= right hand steering

P.S. Does anyone know how Donald Healey felt about the nicknames for the Sprite Mk1?
 
Loading and unloading a vehicle is always easier if you can back the trailer up to a slight incline or the wheels of the trailer into a slight valley. Not too much of course but if you can picture it will lower the tailend of the trailer to a more loadable height and then the ramps are pretty much a straight shot or even a little downhill. I loaded and towed mine without adventure and as light as it was I noticed no problem. Good luck sounds like a fun ride. Don't want to be a spoilsport but you might think of having it moved professionally. If you cost out gas and time and motel costs sometimes it's not that unreasonable and certainly easier on the nerves.
 
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