FredApplerot
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My brother John passed away last week. Among his many possessions and loves was his 1958 Bugeye Sprite. John bought the car around 1975 when he was stationed at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Alameda, CA. He bought it from another fellow on the base and though the car was in poor running condition at the time, it was basically solid. John trailered the car back home to Seattle after he was discharged in 1978. He owned it the entire time, nearly 38 years.
After he returned to Seattle, John decided he wanted to remake the Bugeye into his idealized vision of a modern British sportscar, circa 1980, utilizing some of the skills he had learned while maintaining aircraft at the base. Though regrettable now, he completely rewired the car to mil-spec standards including all connections and switchgear. During this time the car was totally stripped to bare metal, went from BRG to white imron, a Judson supercharger was added, John rebuilt the engine and transmission, installed aircraft style gauges, and much more that I've forgotten.
As long-duration projects often tend to go, there were several setbacks, funds diminished and John eventually lost interest in finishing the car. He could never bear to sell it though and the Bugeye spent several years at my home, in a local garage he rented with a friend to do amateur auto repair, and finally in the little garage in which it currently sits. The car was never left out in the elements in all that time, always being garaged or dry and covered.
The final blow happened about seven years ago when someone lost control of their car and crashed into the garage door, hitting the Sprite in the left front corner and pushing it into the back wall of the garage. After inspecting the damage and taking a few pictures, John shut the door and never visited his car again. The car has good "bones" but now basically needs everything redone.
It's now my sad task let the Bugeye go on to a better home. In the next week or two I will be transporting the car several miles north of Seattle, closer to my current residence, to make a closer inspection. However, if there's anyone locally who might be interested in either evaluating the car or even making an offer, please let me know. My name is Bill Estill.
I'm not greedy. I just want the Bugeye to go to an appreciative home.
I took these pictures earlier today, an unseasonably warm and sunny Seattle day.
 
After he returned to Seattle, John decided he wanted to remake the Bugeye into his idealized vision of a modern British sportscar, circa 1980, utilizing some of the skills he had learned while maintaining aircraft at the base. Though regrettable now, he completely rewired the car to mil-spec standards including all connections and switchgear. During this time the car was totally stripped to bare metal, went from BRG to white imron, a Judson supercharger was added, John rebuilt the engine and transmission, installed aircraft style gauges, and much more that I've forgotten.
As long-duration projects often tend to go, there were several setbacks, funds diminished and John eventually lost interest in finishing the car. He could never bear to sell it though and the Bugeye spent several years at my home, in a local garage he rented with a friend to do amateur auto repair, and finally in the little garage in which it currently sits. The car was never left out in the elements in all that time, always being garaged or dry and covered.
The final blow happened about seven years ago when someone lost control of their car and crashed into the garage door, hitting the Sprite in the left front corner and pushing it into the back wall of the garage. After inspecting the damage and taking a few pictures, John shut the door and never visited his car again. The car has good "bones" but now basically needs everything redone.
It's now my sad task let the Bugeye go on to a better home. In the next week or two I will be transporting the car several miles north of Seattle, closer to my current residence, to make a closer inspection. However, if there's anyone locally who might be interested in either evaluating the car or even making an offer, please let me know. My name is Bill Estill.
I'm not greedy. I just want the Bugeye to go to an appreciative home.
I took these pictures earlier today, an unseasonably warm and sunny Seattle day.
 
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