BugEyeGuys

The road to recovery

April 18, 2025 by bugeyeguy

This is Ray’s Bugeye, which he has owned since 1970. We picked up “Dudley” (named in upon acquisition after Dudley Do-Right in Rocky and Bullwinkle) last week in Minnesota in an enclosed trailer.

Dudley needs lots of restoration work. All the posts this week feature maintenance required to get this car ready for the trip home. When we are done, Ray will drive the car to Vermont to visit his daughter, and then he will drive it all the way back to Minnesota (hopefully with her).

This is a “reality TV show moment” for us, as we plan our assault to bring “Dudley” back up to speed while keeping to a reasonable budget. The car has to be reliable and highway capable for the big adventure to come. But first, all the systems need restoration. Below you will find a few posts about different issues we are sorting-out to bring Dudley back to his former glory!

1960 Bugeyed Sprite for sale!

April 18, 2025 by bugeyeguy

Here’s a nifty Bugeye called Owen (AN5L 38484) which came to us from its recent home in Kentucky. With this car, Bugeye fun can be yours at a reasonable price!

This is a solid car with a 948 engine, original smooth case transmission and drum brakes. The car was painted (non-original) gray about 10 years ago. The paint shines nicely. It’s a nice amateur job, good enough for someone who just wants a decent looking Bugeye… perfect for someone not fussy about paint. There are a few small chips and scratches so if you’re looking for a cosmetically sharp car, we have some other choices that would be a better fit. That said, Owen looks nice and I certainly wouldn’t repaint the car in its current condition.

The interior is also good enough, but not brand new. It works for anyone not cosmetically critical who wants a sharp looking Bugeye that turns heads and, given the magnetism of any Bugeye, this car can still win at local shows.

The car drives nicely… the 948 engine has plenty of pep. The 175 tires are a bit dried out so I would change them. Handling and ride is nice.

There is service needed, particularly to the hydraulic system; some new parts are needed, specifically rear wheel cylinders, brake hoses, and new hard hydraulic lines, among other items. We haven’t really dug into this car because we’re quite busy with other projects, so we thought we would offer it for sale as-is and that might be attractive to someone looking to do work on their own this spring. Alternatively, we can address the punch list and run through the car and complete its service needs. I would budget $5000 for that package of upgrades and improvements and as always, we’re happy to partner with the new buyer who wants to get in at a reasonable price and then we can work to build-out the car exactly to the new owner’s specific needs.

Owen comes with an older top with yellowed windows that fits well, and also comes with a set of side curtain cores for rebuilding. We sell all of the components to rebuild them in our catalog, or you can buy new ones, if you prefer. A tonneau is not included but a new one can be fitted for the new owner, if desired.

Owen is a strong car and available for anyone who wants to get into the Bugeye scene without breaking the bank. Click “read more” for the full gallery of photos and call or email if you’re interested!

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Feeling Bushed

April 18, 2025 by bugeyeguy

Gotta have a tight front end. Otherwise, bumps resonate, steering wheels shake and Sprite don’t track true. Control arms are foundational. They have to have good bushings. They have to be tight. The car below isn’t. Not yet anyway.

We’ll fix it!

If you see perished rubber or feel play in your front end, time for new bushings! We offer a complete line of front end components for your Bugeye or Spridget; click the photos below to learn more about some of our suspension components, or click here for our full catalog!

*Control arm bushing set (all Bugeyes/Spridgets) (1 kit required per car)*

*Lower control arm bolt kit (All Bugeyes/Spridgets) (2 kits required per car)*

*Front shock absorber bushing set (all Bugeyes/Spridgets) (1 kit required per car)*

Bearing it

April 18, 2025 by bugeyeguy

The ball bearings that came from the factory on all Spridgets are merely a set of caged ball bearings, and they wear and pit. And when go too long without maintenance, they can get really, really loose. See the video below:

We’ve suggested it in the past, but it bears repeating that tapered wheel bearings are a really important upgrade for every Spridget for safety, adjustability and durability. Click on the photo below to order a set for your Bugeye or Spridget today!

Click the picture to order an important Spridget upgrade!

Gummy Mounts

April 18, 2025 by bugeyeguy

Transmission mounts have a hard life. They are constantly bathed in oil from the leaking engines nearby. They crack. They get gummy. They perish.

*The circled area is the side mount failing due to age, heat, and oil contamination. To the left of it is an area normally occupied by a center mount; it is missing entirely.*

There are three on the back of every Spridget with a four-speed transmission. Above is a photo of a car that just arrived here with gummed-up side mounts; the center mount missing completely. You need all three, and you need them in good working order.

You need all three to keep your car rattle-free. And you can’t get to them unless you remove the transmission… so make sure you change yours next time the engine is out! Even if they are just starting to crack, best to put in fresh ones and restart the clock!

Click the photos below to order a new set of transmission (and engine) mounts, or click here for our complete catalog!

*Transmission mount kit (948-1275 engines with either rib case or smooth case transmissions)*

*Engine/motor mount (948-1275 engines) (sold individually)*

1098/disk brake equipped 1959 Bugeye Sprite for sale, well-sorted driver!

April 11, 2025 by bugeyeguy

Now SOLD to Juan in Connecticut! Bugeye #430 sold! Congratulations!

This is a great Bugeye from a loving family with a long list of brand new parts! Meet “Rocky”, a 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite that came to us from Arizona after a lengthy stay there with its most recent owner.

A lot of modestly-priced British classics that you see on any of the popular internet selling sites may appear like an amazing car on the outside, but a lot of issues can linger underneath and turn your investment into a money pit. Ask us how we know, we have purchased more than 400 of them!

We’ve gone through this car and performed about $10,000 in upgrades, repairs and improvements that will save the next owner a lot of hassles. Rocky is ready to go!

To be specific, this week, we did the following work to the car to transform it into the amazing machine you see here:

New brake hydraulics, including brand new rear wheel cylinders, master cylinder and slave cylinder, new hard hydraulic lines and hoses, new clevis pins, push rods, pedal pivot bushings, and pedal box gaskets
New rear brake drums, shoes, and adjusters
Completely new exhaust including brand new stainless steel header, new center pipe, and stock muffler, and all hangers and hardware
Alternator replaced, new fan belt installed
Dashboard restored to original red vinyl with new knobs, cables, and switches
New battery cables
Richer #3 carburetor needles and tune-up
And more!

A lot of time and money has been invested in Rocky to ensure its next owner is getting a car that they can trust to drive every time they fire it up. It’s a wonderful car, with wonderful upgrades, such as a peppy 1098 engine, electronic ignition, HS2 carburetors, aluminum radiator, three-point retractable seat belts, air horn, LED tail and turn signal lights, and more!

This is a car any Bugeye enthusiast would be happy to own! Check out the driving video above, click “read more ” below for a full gallery of photos, and give us a call or shoot us an email if you’d like to take Rocky home!

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