Bugeye Sprite

[jyl]

My neighbor wants to sell his Bugeye Sprite. I’ll go look at it soon. Any tips on what to look for? And price range?

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by jyl

My neighbor wants to sell his Bugeye Sprite. I’ll go look at it soon. Any tips on what to look for? And price range?

Look for rust and fried Lucas wiring.

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[jyl]

I assume these are about as electrically complex as my former 1961 Landrover. Lucas was never a problem with that car, because it had so little Lucas in it.

[GH85Carrera]

Back in the early 70s one of my buddies had a "Sprigit" as it was part Sprite and part Midget. He had a really high gear ratio in the rear end, and it would do 0-60 in about 10 seconds. 61 MPH was redline in 4th and max speed. He had large flared fenders and wide tires and it was brutal in corners with so little weight. My 1974 2.0 was just a tick faster that him to 60. Of course we would never race on the street.

At the foreign parts dealer we used, he had a spoiler labeled "Bug Eye spoiler" and a lot of people asked what the heck was bug eye spoiler.

Cool toys but very primitive and very small.

[masraum]

Sounds cool. I'd love to have something with tons of character that could be an occasional toy.

You may want to check some regular parts to see if they are readily available, things like alternators (or would it be a generator on something that old), water pump, spark plugs, fuel pump, master cyl, shocks, etc...

I like to know what I'm getting into as far as parts availability and cost.

I assume cost will have a lot to do with where you are and condition. I really have no idea, but these days old, interesting vehicles in decent running condition seem to be 15-45k.

[jyl]

I can get it for $10K.

Clean car. Starts, goes, turns, stops fine. Baby blue, paint good (couple chips at doors). PO before my neighbor set it up for AX. Rollbar, loud, stiff, feels fast (but its not). Cheap vinyl buckets. I fit in it. Will put on lift to check underside.

Quite tempted.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Price range I would go through BaT to see historical sales. $10K seems like a good price for a better than driver quality car. Hagerty #3 has them at $16K.

I had one 30 years ago, true barn find. The best thing about them is doing 55 feels like 100.

[Zeke]

Moss Motors carries Sprite parts. Lots.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jyl

I can get it for $10K.

Clean car. Starts, goes, turns, stops fine. Baby blue, paint good (couple chips at doors). PO before my neighbor set it up for AX. Rollbar, loud, stiff, feels fast (but its not). Cheap vinyl buckets. I fit in it. Will put on lift to check underside.

Quite tempted.

I haven't checked, but that sounds like a pretty good deal for a nice car to me.

[5495bb]

I've had Midgets since I was a kid. My sons and I put together a Bugeye about 10 yearsa go. I still have it. The worst thing about the cars is rust. Check the entire lower parts of the body and the door pillars. The bottom of the doors rust out as well. Particulary check the quarter eliptical rear springs where they slide into their receptacles. If the that area is rusty the car is not safe to drive. Other than that they are very basic and are a ton of fun for the money. 10K is a good price for a solid one.
The nice thing about a Bugeye is that it brings joy where ever it goes. People just love them. Good luck.

[LWJ]

I had a 65 MGB for years. Loved it. Super simple. A Bugeye is very much on my short list.

Is it stock engine or later 1275?
Stock transmission or later ribbed one?

Both of the above mods are thought as improvements. Not sure the rear end ratios offered but they may not do well at modern highway speeds.

If it is stiff, does it have after market shocks? Stock would be those oil filled gizmos. Aftermarket would be telescopic.

Does it still have drum brakes?

I don’t know pricing. Sounds like a boat load of fun. I like that it was souped up a bit. This is not a DD. It is a toy.

Pictures needed!

[jyl]

I think 1275. 4 speed. Flip forward hood. Don’t know about the rest yet. The owner was at my house for a going-away party for another neighbor, mentioned he was thinking about selling the car, I walked over today and chatted, looked over the car, drove it around. Talked price a bit, I told him I’d think about it and get back to him next week.

I read a lot about Sprites when I was young, but have forgotten it all, am trying to quickly get educated. He’s had it a decade, as a very occasional toy drive, I’ve seen it driving around occasionally and we’ve chatted about it. He’s older (than me, I mean) and it’s time to let it go. Parts seem very available. It has Minilites, or at least wheels that look like Minilites, which look great. He has the top and sidescreens, not that they are ever used.

Been thinking what I’d do with it. My conclusion is it’d be an occasional fun drive, something to tinker with, maybe get back into AX a bit, basically just a scratched itch that isn’t expensive, probably pass it on in a few years and get my money out of it, maybe with interest. I don’t need another car, that’s for sure, but ski season is drawing to a close.

I think I’ll ask him to put it up on my lift to thoroughly check it out, and if it’s the honest car I think it is, I’m fine with $10K.

[latunabernie]

The biggest problem is rust and the transmissions are weak.
Check the front lower A arms for cracks at the trunnion.
You want the 1275 and the rib cage transmission.
The 1275 has the larger diameter crankshaft.
The rib cage trans has bearing instead of brass bushings.
Parts for the 1275 and rib cage trans are readily available.
You will also be using a larger clutch assy.
Disc brakes from a later midget & sprite are the way to go.
I put in alternators and change to negative ground. very easy to do and bolts right in.
Some parts for 950 and smooth case transmission are unavailable.
On the racecar I usually run the stock 4.22 rear gears depending on which track I am on.
The streetcar I run 3.9 gears.
Close ratio gears in the transmission really wake the car up.
Hopefully it has some of these upgrades.

Bernie


Bernie

[jyl]

Thank you very much! It is always amazing and gratifying how much information is here and how you all share it.

[speeder]

My friend has one of the best British sports car garages in the country, right in south Minneapolis near where I grew up. There is always eye candy like this around:

[Seahawk]

Interesting:



I went with a friend of mine to look at a VW Beetle last week.

Good shape with issues, took it to Bill's Auto, who really knows German cars and he gave John a price he thought was fair.

The seller would not budge off of $20K.

I had no idea!

[targa911S]

small, low and slow. I had a friend who raced one for years. Fun car to drive and as Shaun says 40 feels like 100..

[Captain Ahab Jr]

$10k sounds like a bargain to me if it's not rusty and mechanically sound

[latunabernie]

One of my best friends sold Bug Eyes new at a dealership in Burbank Calif.
He would drive the car with the potential buyer and then let the buyer test drive the car.
He would always drive the car uphill and let the buyer drive it back.
He knew the cars were slow and you had to learn how drive them.
The cars were easier and faster to drive going downhill.
When I sold one of my Bug Eyes, I drove it to the L.A. Observatory in the Hollywood Hills.
I let the potential buyer drive it back down.
He came into a tight turn downshifted from 3rd to second and punched it.
The car just stuck in the middle of the turn he hollered "I'll take It"
Part of the deal was when he was going to sell it. He would let me know.
It's the only car I have ever sold and bought back.
Still have it.

Bernie

[wdfifteen]

I rewired a Bugeye that had an electrical fire. It was dirt simple, and as I recall there were only two fuses in the whole system - probably the reason there was an electrical fire.