This is “Star” (AN5L 14729), a 1960 Bugeye that we adopted about five years ago and transformed for a customer named Chris in Connecticut. Chris is now done with the car and offered it for sale with us on consignment. Check out the video drive below to see (and hear) Star’s 948 and smooth case transmission in action!
We cleaned the car this week and have some nice pictures below. It’s a very good Bugeye for somebody who isn’t fussy about restoration quality. It’s a bit of an amateur restoration with a very shiny red paint job. The floors are a bit rough, and will one day have to be replaced… Chris didn’t mind and they didn’t diminish his enjoyment one bit. However, the workmanship on past floor repairs is a bit amateurish.
What’s great about this car, however, is that Chris spent about $18,000 upgrading the car when he purchased it, and now Star’s new owner gets to enjoy all of those upgrades. For example, a whole new wiring harness was added as well as new switches and I believe we also recovered the dashboard because it looks quite nice. We also upgraded the fuel pump system (solid state electronic pump) and the braking system and handling of the car (shocks, tires, upgraded tapered wheel bearings and sway bar back in 2021). It has all been gone through. Take a look at the video tour below to see some of these upgrades!
That said, the wheel cylinders (from sitting a lot) are ready to be replaced again, and we can do that for the new owner, but that’s on our minds… there is a little bit of maintenance required. Chris had not been using the car much in the last year, so the new owner will need to bring the hydraulic system up-to-date. I would budget about $1500 for that service.
Other than that, the car is a really good driving machine. The $2000 Chris spent on brand new HS2 carburetors back then (as well as lifetime K&N air filters) was an excellent investment. The seats are in top shape with good foam and covers. The ride is good. The three point seatbelts (once they’re cleaned up-see driving video for what we mean) are also a nice upgrade.
The tonneau fits well, and I believe the top will also be workable for the new owner (top pictures coming soon). So if you’re interested in getting into Bugeye but want to lower upfront cost, Star is worth a serious look! And the car is almost ready to be sent to your door for a fun summer! Click “read more” for the full compliment of photos and give us a call if Star is right for you!
