To use front bumper on Bugeye or not?

[Keith_M]

I'd like to see some contemporary price lists to see what was optional in the U.S. A front bumper was optional in the UK and they had that little plinth to fit the UK plate that fastened to the four screws at the bottom of the grille opening. But with a US car, where in most states a front license plate was required, it wouldn't surprise me that a front bumper was a "mandatory" option. I know that a rev counter was also an option as was the heater, but I wonder if any cars were actually sold in the US like that.

Rick, I think you're right. Here's a quote from Lindsay Porter's book "MG Midget and Austin-Healey Sprite" about bugeyes.

"BMC pricing policy actually showed some deviousness. The Sprite's basic price did not include such "ancillary equipment" as a front bumper, adjustable passenger seat, heater or tachometer. in fact the number of cars supplied without "extras" and especially the tachometer and heater was very, very small indeed. it is just possible to hear an echo of the salesman's voice across the decades: "Actually sir, you're fortunate that this car is already fitted with a heater, tachometer, front bumper and screenwasher. We can include the cost in the H.P. price, saving you from having to find L33.11s.3d. later on ..." Some things never change."

I'm pretty sure my car came without a front bumper, though. At least, that's my story, and I'm sticking with it. :wink:

 

[HealeyRick]

Holy Crap! I'm listed in one of Lindsay's books as a US contact for Sprites. I think it was a Bugeye/Frogeye one, but check yours for Richard/Rick Neville in the contacts section. Amazing what crawls out of the woodwork in almost 50 years of messing about with Sprites.

 

[HealeyRick]

Keith,

If you are lucky enough to have an untouched dash in your car, they wrote the options in yellow crayon on the back. I know heaters and rev counters and MPH speedos were listed there, but frankly I can't recall whether front bumpers were listed there too. I should check mine to see if there's a reference to a bumper, but I'm not as limber as I was when I was 17.

 

[Keith_M]

Holy Crap! I'm listed in one of Lindsay's books as a US contact for Sprites. I think it was a Bugeye/Frogeye one, but check yours for Richard/Rick Neville in the contacts section. Amazing what crawls out of the woodwork in almost 50 years of messing about with Sprites.

Yep, there you are: listed as the contact for the Austin Healey Club of America.

 

[Keith_M]

Keith,

If you are lucky enough to have an untouched dash in your car, they wrote the options in yellow crayon on the back. I know heaters and rev counters and MPH speedos were listed there, but frankly I can't recall whether front bumpers were listed there too. I should check mine to see if there's a reference to a bumper, but I'm not as limber as I was when I was 17.

Unfortunately, almost nothing on my bugeye is untouched. The dashboard had been painted at least once (front and back) and had multiple non-original holes in it. I welded in patches and had it sandblasted and painted. Any original markings are long gone. But it doesn't matter: I KNOW that it came originally without a front bumper...:joyous:

 

[HealeyRick]

Keith,

If you are lucky enough to have an untouched dash in your car, they wrote the options in yellow crayon on the back. I know heaters and rev counters and MPH speedos were listed there, but frankly I can't recall whether front bumpers were listed there too. I should check mine to see if there's a reference to a bumper, but I'm not as limber as I was when I was 17.

So I just checked my BMHIT certificate. The car was delivered to Dusseldorf, Germany. Options were a windscreen washer, rev counter, heater and laminated windscreen. Doesn't mention anything about a bumper, although one has been on the car since new.

 

[drooartz]

Penny was delivered to Penryn, Cornwall and lists windscreen washer, rev counter, tonneau cover, laminated windscreen, and locking petrol cap. No mention of bumper either way. As a UK home market car, the bumper may have actually been optional.

Here's what the back of the Tunebug's dash looked like. I'll have to look up what the heritage cert said.

 

[Rut]

So I just checked my BMHIT certificate. The car was delivered to Dusseldorf, Germany. Options were a windscreen washer, rev counter, heater and laminated windscreen. Doesn't mention anything about a bumper, although one has been on the car since new.

Rick,
Mine was also delivered to Düsseldorf, Germany to A. Bruggemann and Company GmbH. It was equipped with laminated windscreen, heater, windscreen washer, rev counter, black hard top, and European specification lights (whatever that means). There is no mention of a bumper...
Rut

 

[Keith_M]

This discussion has prompted me to order a Heritage Certificate for my bugeye. (I have one for my 3000; probably should have one for my '65 Sprite too)

Not that I think it's going to tell me anything useful about my bumper. layful:

 

[CLEAH]

I just pulled out my Heritage certificate. It lists the following under details of factory fitted equipment: Heater, windscreen washers, rev counter, miles per hour speedometer, front bumpers, red and white indicator flashers.

i don't know why it lists front bumpers in the plural, but there you have one example of it being listed. May car is early, born on October 1, 1958. It is a USA car.