Bugeye Sprite

[OK-944]

My math prof. wanted to sell me a bright yellow Bugeye Sprite back in 1972 - was asking 600.00. Had the car for a weekend and what a blast! Ultimately decided against purchasing this but I've been kicking myself ever since!

I think I still have the Chilton's manual for this car lying around someplace. I seem to remember a writeup in this, detailing a cross country drive completed by three of these cars, each with a driver and a (much needed) mechanic. Just three main bearings if I remember correctly...seems a bit fragile?

[jyl]

Put it up on lift and checked it out.

No rust anywhere. No obvious damage, though I wouldn’t be able to detect subtle stuff.

Fiberglass bonnet - I’m guessing that will prevent this car from ever being more than a “driver”. No windshield washer squirters. Ribbed gearbox. I can’t verify if it’s a 1275, can anyone tell? Supposedly PO bored it to 1300, I’ve no way to know. Front disc, rear drum. Underhood looks tidy. As far as I can tell, hoses good, electricals seem neat.

Paint good, two small bubbles on rear deck, not very notable. Windshield seal old and cracking. Windshield fine. Wheels have a bit of curb rash. 175/70-13 tires, look ok.

Drives nicely. Starts right up. Seems to idle at 1000 rpm but during driving it’ll idle 2000 rpm, sticky throttle cable? Shifts fine, though I’m not sure where reverse is. Oh, I found R. Stops, steers, rides fine.

Interior complete, everything works except windshield washer. Seats kind of plain, brightwork dull, lacks carpet right under seat bases but otherwise has carpet in the usual place.. He has the soft top. Not sure about tonneau cover. No hard top.

Far from a show car. I can polish it up to look like a very nice driver car.

[jyl]

[jyl]

[jyl]

Typical condition of underside. It all looks like this.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

That looks great and is dying for a tiny bit of Gulf livery orange, like a 2" strip off center going down the hood, maybe 1" white next to it.

Or just enjoy the hell out of it!

[masraum]

I don't know squat about them other than that my dad had one before I was born and liked it.

That looks like a really clean little driver. I think I'd be all over that.

[recycled sixtie]

I suspect the engine would be buzzing at 60 mph hiway speed? I never drove one but my old 1970 Austin Mini at 60 mph would be noisy with engine noise. My old 1958 Triumph TR3A had an overdrive and it made a big difference. Having said that for a local town car it would be a blast! I am pretty sure there was no overdrive on an old Sprite.

I like the rollbar in that Sprite. It can also act as a headache rack.

[jyl]

[jyl]

[jyl]

[jyl]

I didn’t drive it on the freeway, I was too nervous, got it to 50+ on surface streets. Owner says it is mostly wound out at 60 mph. It is a lively ride, not bouncy but car gets moved around by bumpy surfaces, no steering wheel play and very quick steering. It’ll be a great AX car, which is apparently what the PO built it for.

[Shifter]

I actually saw that car driving the other day. First thought it is beautiful. Second thought it is beautiful.

However, I would never buy it. You are going to be a caretaker. It can't be realistically driven in Portland 6-8 months of the year. Been a caretaker, never again. If that works for you, power to you.

First time and only time a driver hits you because they were texting? Bumper height on most vehicles is about eye level in that car.

I do love the idea of the car, and that is an awesome example, but the risk and love that car requires isn't for me.

[jyl]

Set up with five point belts, though the shoulder harnesses would rest on your shoulders instead of being held by the rollbar. The rollbar limits the rearward movement of the seat base, but I have short legs so I fit. In a perfect world the steering wheel would be smaller; getting legs in and out without holding on to stuff you’re not supposed to put weight on (windshield, etc) is a learned skill.

The engine lugs below 2000 rpm, wants to be revved. Temp, oil pressure, volts all fine per the gauges.

I told him I’ll sleep on it. I’m not planning to nickel and dime, just need to make sure wife is okay.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

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!

$20K for a running beetle with a "few issues" is a good price.

A guy on The Samba just bought this rusted out hulk for $900. No engine, no interior, wrong body parts, rust everywhere. Consensus is he got a good deal.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by Shifter

I actually saw that car driving the other day. First thought it is beautiful. Second thought it is beautiful.

However, I would never buy it. You are going to be a caretaker. It can't be realistically driven in Portland 6-8 months of the year. Been a caretaker, never again. If that works for you, power to you.

First time and only time a driver hits you because they were texting? Bumper height on most vehicles is about eye level in that car.

I do love the idea of the car, and that is an awesome example, but the risk and love that car requires isn't for me.

That is the question for me. I wouldn’t drive this even semi-regularly. It would probably live on my lift, get tinkered with and polished up, and be autocrossed during the summer, do a couple of fun drives a year, that’s about all. Maybe 200 miles a year? I will have to be disciplined on not tarting it up, as I’d want to be able to sell in on in a couple years and not lose money. If I can have the experience, scratch the itch, for just insurance premium money, that makes some sense.

[SpyderMike]

My first car was a sprite while I was in Salem, OR. I used it to go back and forth to college in Walla Walla. That was pushing it...but it did it for three years.

[jyl]

Hmm, I’m getting hung up on the fiberglass hood.

Not that I care personally, in fact it makes the car lighter and fits an AX prepared car, but I’m thinking it significantly hurts the car’s value. Browsing BAT, I only see one fiberglass hood Bugeye and it was billed as “modified” and “race car” and sold for $12K. I’m wondering if I’ll get stuck in this car - like when I want to sell it, all the buyers are turning up their noses at the plastic bonnet and the only buyers are racers (aka cheap skates).

Help - anyone know the Bugeye Sprite market to opine?

[masraum]

Find an original hood, buy it, paint it, and have it ready to install?

[Shifter]

Not to be a downer again, but that car will have a limited market. I think you have kids in college, ask them. Would they want to buy that car for 10k in a couple of years, or a sorted 90's Honda?

The market is our age, and getting smaller every year. Maybe a bigger market in CA?

I went down this path with my Alfa. Loved the car. Even replaced damaged wiring with factory color coded wire. Fixed a ton of stuff the normal person would have never noticed. I loved the process, very satisfactory.

Sold it for a huge loss, which was fine, I was never going to recoup my time and money. I knew that, and was fine. The heartbreaker was when I got the photo from the new owner three months after I sold it, nose of the car planted in a pole.

He was older than me, and was looking to scratch that itch.

That said, I would love to drive that car but I would hate to own it.