BugEyeGuys

Sharp green 1959 Bugeye Sprite for sale, hardtop included!

October 2, 2026 by bugeyeguy

This is Horton (AN5L 17256), a mostly stock Bugeye with the original 948 engine and smoothcase transmission, drum brakes on all four corners, and an attractive hardtop to match the white wall tires! Back in 2012 we sold this car to a great owner in North Carolina who has put very few miles on the car in the intervening years. Before it left, we made a number of modifications to make the car more reliable than ever.

For example, we put in an electronic fuel pump, a new electronic distributor, and a generator/alternator conversion. We added new three point retractable seatbelts, a new tonneau, new side curtains, and also a side curtain wallet to protect them. We also added rubber floor mats and installed a hidden cigarette lighter so you could charge your phone. The car is now negative ground as well. We put in a better and slightly larger dashboard mirror, and also put in new rear shocks and replaced the fuel gauge sender.

The car is quite solid, and the new owner gets the benefit of the work that we’ve done and our checklists that we’ve used to run through the car and look for any issues when we sold the car last. That said, there are going to be some new issues to address just from age and if anything, lack of use; for example, even though they look great, the tires are aged-out and the master cylinder is leaking. From sitting, these fail, and we should restart the clock by replacing these items.

I love the hardtop! It’s a good one with an original glass window and the white and green contrasting tires and roof makes a great look! But if the new owner hates the hardtop, we will be happy to take the hardtop out of the equation and give you a $1,500 discount off the purchase price of the car.

There is no soft top currently and no top bow because the car has lived with a hardtop for the last 15 years; that said we have those additional components in stock so that you could run the car with a soft top alone. The tonneau is in great shape, and most of our clients are primarily running with just a tonneau anyway.

So if you’re looking for a solid car, that’s mostly original and quite cute, Horton is an excellent candidate.

We’ll change the master cylinder so that’s new for the new owner, and that’ll be included in the purchase price.

It’s up to the new owner to choose which tires they like… I prefer white walls but the buyer can decide. So a new master is included in the sale, but new tire are not. We’re happy to discuss tires options as well as any other details!

Click “read more” below for the full suite of photos, and give us a call if Horton speaks to you!

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Barry’s (dad’s) Bugeye begins its journey!

October 2, 2026 by bugeyeguy

Let’s nerd-out on a Bugeye Sprite restoration right from the start. This is Barry’s Bugeye. It’s been sitting in a field for a very long time; the restoration was started by his father, and our job is to finish it. This is a car with tremendous sentimental value, and Barry has hired us to finish his tribute to his dad so the legacy can live on for future generations.

The car will need at least a year to be usable, and the first step to achieving this is a massive amount of fabrication and welding to build the foundation for bodywork and paint. Only then will assembly begin.

Check out the video below, in which I describe a few of the central foundational issues that we need to address first and foremost. Too often we see restorations where critical details have not been addressed at this stage, and you end up paying the price because once everything’s painted, it’s way too late to correct some of the alignment issues that this car now needs addressed.

Like everything in the restoration world, preparation makes a world of difference. I would argue that this stage of the restoration is the most important of any piece of the process that lies ahead. It may not seem very glamorous, but unless we fix all of these minor details, well, we won’t end up with a car that’s worthy of the massive amount of energy and work that’s about to begin.

If you want your car restored (or want anything else fixed on your classic vehicle), please get in touch. We’re happy to go to work for you with passion and integrity!

Torn Rubbers

October 2, 2026 by bugeyeguy

It’s time for another reminder about the age of your tires! Seven to ten years is pretty much the norm for maximum tire lifespan. How old are yours?

Most of us don’t use our car is enough to wear out the tires, so they age-out. The cracks prove it… fine cracks are visible on this tire tread and you have to ask yourself if you want that vulnerability driving down the road in these little classic cars. Fortunately, 13 inch tires that we stock are pretty reasonably priced so it’s not too painful to change them! These tires are from 2011. Make sure you check your classic car tires accordingly!

Click the photos below to purchase new tires for your car!

*155/80R13 tires, great tires at a great price!*

*Michelin XAS 165/80R13 tires, superior vintage look and feel!*

Restored 1974 Tesla powered Midget for sale at a radical discount! Take another $4000 off the purchase price!

October 1, 2026 by bugeyeguy

This is a massive price reduction! Owner wants to make space for something new! Now $35,900... this is the best deal you can find on any classic car… she’s a beautifully restored Midget with an impressive electric conversion!

We’ve drastically dropped the price on this EV Midget in order to find it a new home quickly! An electrification of this quality would cost in excess of $120,000 to complete!

This 1974 MG Midget represents all of the best qualities of a top-flight restoration: new minilights wheels and tires, stayfast canvas top, top notch paint and interior work, and so much more. Now, couple that with the expert electrification undergone by the Bugeyeguys team, and you end up with what may be the nicest roll-up window Midget in the world! You will not find another one like this, especially at this price!

Here’s a unique chance to purchase an all electric 1974 MG Midget conversion we just did in 2025. With just 450 miles on it since the conversion, it’s virtually brand new, and health issues for the current owner sadly force a sale.

We started with a beautifully restored Midget with new paint and interior, upgraded everything that wasn’t previously restored, added rear tube shocks, and fit five Model S batteries and a the same direct drive motor we’ve used in all our Bugeye electric rocket ships. The performance is quite impressive.

Range is about 100 miles, which I found to be quite useful for local drives. More range might be nice for your everyday driver, but for a classic Midget, 100 miles works out just fine for most. Regenerative braking is excellent, and one pedal driving is easy. It’s a great set up for anyone with left leg physical challenges, easy to operate with just one foot.

*The HyPer9 electric motor shown in the background is the same motor we have employed in our last three EV Bugeye builds. This was taken during the conversion process.*

You are buying a massive amount of labor and work to fit this equipment into a small package, and it’s all done to a very high standard…. fit-out beautifully and a work of art! Now fit with Minilight wheels, but both alloys and wire wheels (all with good tires) come with the car.

The Tesla batteries are recycled from a crashed low mileage Model S, tested and ready for a new life, and then sold to us by a Tesla reseller. Coolant lines run through the car to keep the batteries optimized, all on a closed loop with an ignition coil sized water pump. That circuit also cools the computer that manages everything. Charging takes about 5.5 hours on a household or public level two charger. You cannot use a level three Tesla supercharger. The system is designed for overnight driveway or garage level-two charging at your house.

The seller spent in excess of $120K for the restored Midget and to have us build-out this beauty (and it took a year to build)… You can buy it now ready to go for $35,900 complete and ready to enjoy this Fall. If you want a super cool classic car that hums along quite nicely, give a call! This is a steal!

Click “read more” for some more photos, including some of the conversion process!

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Take a Loop

September 25, 2026 by bugeyeguy

This is “The Loop,” (AN5L 34434) a 1960 Bugeye that’s just about right. Get this car and loop back to where you started…this is the car you had (or once saw) way back when you first fell in love with classic British cars. It looks just like it. Olde English White paint, deep red interior, mostly stock. It surely looks the part. It’s a 948-powered car so it’s not super quick, but it sure will loop you back to those great old days in a hurry.

Take “The Loop” home for $19,995.

This car is solid. The cosmetics are quite good. Its mechanicals are also good. The upgraded four speed rib case transmission is strong. This is a very respectable driver that is certain to impress.

The body is very straight. The floors were replaced at some point and while the paint is peeling on the new floors in a few places, the sheet metal still looks new. You can see the centerline seams where the new floor pans were attached. It’s a solid car.

The interior is in excellent shape, and is a lovely deep red color that is a favorite among Olde English White Bugeye owners.

There are a few things that need addressing on The Loop, which we will take care of for the new owner and are included in the quoted purchase price above. Our initial punch list includes a new master cylinder, new clutch slave cylinder, new rear wheel cylinders, and all new carb gaskets for the float bowls and jets. That will come as part of the purchase price.

Of course, plenty of other optional upgrades are available to whomever decides to purchase this lovely Bugeye, such as an electric fuel pump, aluminum radiator, front disc brakes, electronic ignition, alternator, and so much more! Click “read more” below for all of the pictures we have, and give us a call to discuss!

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How many MPH per 1000 RPM?

September 25, 2026 by bugeyeguy

I love these charts.

Over the years, we have been asked a time or two, “What makes the biggest difference for those of us who want a Bugeye that runs at highway speed?” The two charts shown in this post (originally made for a Morris Minor, but apply to Bugeyes just the same) will give you a sense of which ratio, which gearbox, and which tire size produces the best mix of results! Chart one above shows the RPM’s with a variety of different tire sizes when a stock transmission is used, with no overdrive.

Chart two, shown below, provides the RPM ranges using the same tire sizes as the first chart, but with an overdrive fifth gear. A Datsun B210 was used in sampling, which has a .82:1 overdrive ratio; all three of the major overdrive gearbox conversions, Datsun, Ford, and our newest option which will be available soon, Suzuki (contact us for more details!) use similar overdrive ratios to the B210, so the numbers will be pretty consistent throughout.

There is one other variable… comfort! We generally do not deviate from 13 inch wheels because we find 14 or even 15 inch wheels excessively harsh riding in a Sprite. Still, these charts provide you the ability to look to see how wheel size and tire size makes a difference.

You can also see how a wider tire also brings the RPMs down at speed. We generally do not use wide tires because they also make for a harsh ride and stiffer steering. One exception is the 185/60X13 Toyo tires we just put on our Bugeye build called “Kit” that you can see in the photos below, along with our VTO Black Classic 8 wheel. These performance 185 tires are a sufficiently soft compound that they ride nicely in spite of the extra width. They look cool and ride nicely with lots of grip! (If you’d like a set of these tires or wheels, you can find them in our parts catalog by clicking on the photos below!)

*Click here to purchase the VTO Black Classic 8 wheels used when building Kit! (Tires NOT included)*

*We are a big fan of the tread pattern, grippiness, and performance of these Toyoy Proxes tires, now available for your Bugeye!*

We are constantly rebuilding differentials too, so if you want a 3.9 limited slip differential for example, click on the photo below to order one and get your place on the waiting list secured! (Currently quoting December/January delivery).

*Now taking orders for our next batch of 3.9 limited slip pre-built differentials! Click here to reserve yours today!*

Thank you to Brian Lane for creating this very useful document!