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The Bugeye arrived today ... and I'm thrilled!

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livinginthepast

livinginthepast

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This is a 61, unrestored car and it arrived about an hour ago.

The truck driver had it up on the top rack and I had an opportunity to really see the condition of the undercarriage and it is remarkably clean - amazingly so, in fact. Better than described and expected. There are a couple of very small dingers that I wasn't expecting, but I'm not worried about them as I knew there were some drilled holes that needed to be fixed and the car repainted anyway. Good - met expectations.

The car starts right up and runs smoothly. The clutch is a little worn (I may be able to adjust it out) so I made an ass of myself as I popped the clutch or alternately started off in wild jerks as I came to know the car.

The original hardtop is in better than expected condition - overall fair, but I was expecting worse. Side curtains are good... Car is complete and I am just thrilled.

I've wanted a bugeye for as long as I been interested in LBCs, so this is a monumental occasion for me. Yay!
 
Congrats on the new baby! Great feeling, ain't it?

Pictures?
 
Dang I was getting all worked up reading that. Pictures man! Pictures!
 
That is gorgeous! please don't repaint it - clean it up, blow in some spots if you have to but don't spoil the patina of an original loved car - you have now what most of us never will. And keep the peace sign - man
 
Well, I wish I could say that it was all original patina, but if you get up close, you can see that there have been many scrapes and chips that have been touched up (by brush), and I think the driver's door has been resprayed (the color is just a smidgen lighter than the rest of the car). So I don't know how this counts towards originality. I am also pretty sure a small repair was done to the passenger side vertical post (in front of the door) quite some time ago (there appears to be a paint run that was buffed out). And the rear deck is not without evidence of touch ups.

It's unrestored, but it is certainly not without indications of old repairs.

Sadly, some dumb PO decided he/she wanted to make sure the carpet never moved again - and used carpet tacks straight through the pans to make it happen <sigh>. So about every 8 inches, there is a pin hole...sheesh. Maybe this "custom drainage" helped keep the pans from rotting out? ;-)

Like other Midgets and Sprites I've owned over the years, this one also enjoys marking its territory. It's already taken ownership of the driveway and garage. :smile:

My seven year old is begging for a ride, so we're taking off the hard top and doing a little neighborhood cruise tonight.
 
Congrats! Very nice find and just in time for summer. A day like today is perfect for a drive, this NW weather is just right for convertibles. You have some good roads down in your area. Too bad you are getting rid of your 62, looks like it is a nice car. Don't you need a matching set or as the used to say "Collect them all!"
 
Wooo Hooo...she's a beauty !
There is just something about the Mk1s that is hard
explain. They seem to be transcendent. Young and old alike seems drawn to them. I love how people will go out of their way to drive up along side to get a better look at them.
Real crowd pleasers. A HOOT to drive. :driving:
Kudos.
 
She is a beauty, and the mirrors are in the right place too :thumbsup:
 
I took it out a while ago for a drive around. The PO was spot on - the brakes are in need of some help! It stops, but the pedal is pretty squishy. Also getting some scraping sounds on deceleration. That said, the engine sounds great and it really wants to cruise at about 50. The steering is tight and responsive. Need to fix the turn indicators!

Fun car!

And you're right - people really do take a second look at that little smiley face as it scurries down the highway. Zooooom....
 
That is really nice looking Bill! A bit of fixin' and it will be ready to go.
Have fun!
BillM
 
It looks absolutely brilliant! Very good find on your part. The color is a keeper. Watching the program this morning about the girl in the UK restoring one made me realize just what fun little cars they are and how good they look going down the road.
 
Hi There livinginthepast,

"CONGRATS" on a Gorgeous Bugeye! I personally "LOVE" the color.

There was one on ebay a few months ago (Same as Yours) with Wide Whites on her & looked quite stunning.

She sold for something around $23K!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Best Wishes",

Russ
 
That was a great find!!! She is a beauty! You will not believe how many smiles per gallon you will be getting!!! :wink: :thumbsup: :cheers:
 
Congrats, another to love, care and enjoy a treasure. I have mirrors in the same place as yours. I'm sure that others chuckle when they see mee adjusting the drivers mirror with a 1" square yardstick I found somewhere. It seems the drivers mirror is the one that gets knocked out of focus the most. Enjoy!!!!
 
Lovely, do not respray.
 
Thanks, everyone, for your enthusiastic responses.

I'm really looking forward to the fun this little car will bring. Geez, I may have to rethink the body work and paint job. :smile: In either case, I would not change the color. I think it's a good fit.

But all this talk of painting is jumping the gun. The reality is, she needs some mechanics straight away, so with what little money I have left, we'll be going through the brakes thoroughly (and maybe replacing the clutch (which probably means a whole lot more - using the "since we're in this deep" logic))...hopefully within the month so I can feel confident in the brakes while driving farther from home. I do want to take it to our local all brit field meet in July.
 
You could take it to someone who would touch up the areas you don't like ie do a paint match with the rest of the car for the door you said doesn't match now.
Nice to have the doors match the body.
Congrats on your Bugeye finding you, I'm still waiting. :wink:
 
Very nice find! I vote for doing what is necessary for drivability and safety, then get out there and drive it for a while. Resist those "while I'm in there" thoughts -- take it from someone who went from "clean out the radiator" to "new engine, transmission, disc brakes, lines, etc..."

And a lovely color as well!
 
Hey Drew- I noticed from your sig that you have one of the new Bonnevilles. How do you like it?

For years, all I rode was Triumphs. My first bike was a TR6 and I had that bike until about five years ago. It consumed most of my young adulthood. I was one of those shady ride to live, live to ride guys! - but I never meshed with the Harley crowd terribly well. Not a one percenter by any stretch, but certainly not an AMAer either, I was more of a rocker, I guess (well, a wannabe, I suppose - being a little late in the game for such self-identifying. Maybe I was just a greaser...ha!). But I always dreamed of hangin at the Ace Cafe or the busy bee, enjoying a cuppa watching those wild biker chicks strutting by :smile: I was one of the lucky guys who managed, through dumb luck really, to take years of riding obsession, barely able to afford to keep my bike on the road, never endorsed, and with very few other interests, come out okay. A lot of friends didn't fair so well!

I had a new Triumph - a Legend - and loved the bike. I was accustomed to 650s and 750s - and that bike blew me away. Sadly, I had to give it up in a bankruptcy about 8 years ago. I never really got used to a bike with a radiator, though.
 
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