bugeyeguy

1960 5-speed Bugeye Sprite for sale! 1275 engine, four wheel disk brakes!

January 16, 2026 by bugeyeguy

Solo’s recent buyer has decided shift gears and instead purchase our concours Bugeye (552) so Solo is available once again!

This is a great car, just back from a 1200 mile trip from Connecticut to Florida. I’ve been driving it in our new series of up and down shift videos (click here for the upshifting post and here for the downshifting post). It will give you a sense of how nicely Solo drives and performs!

Take a look at the listing below and give us a call if you’re interested in adopting this fine Bugeye!

Solo is the perfect Bugeye for anyone looking for the ultimate in mechanical reliability. The car is fit with a 1275 engine, Datsun five-speed transmission, 3.9 rear end, LED lights, stainless exhaust, electronic ignition, and two recent comprehensive services to ensure it has been fully sorted!

We upgraded the car for an owner in 2022 with about $20,000 in improvements, and then another roughly $10,000 was spent by the most recent owner this year, who drove the car from our shop to Florida and needed optimal reliability. Check out the walkaround tour video below to see many of the improvements made!

Now, after the 1500 mile excursion to Florida, that customer has decided he wants to move on to a different vehicle, so we have the car for sale again.

Solo has been heavily improved and upgraded with reliability in mind. And it’s a stunning car with chrome wire wheels and a very vintage British racing green finish. We also recovered the dashboard and rebuilt the seat bases with new foam so that the ride is nice and plush.

The Michelin XAS tires also help improve the ride quality to make this Bugeye as comfortable as can be. The cosmetics are not perfect. There are a few little paint imperfections, but they’re minor. I just wanted to be clear this is not a brand new paint job… that said, the car shines quite nicely and has excellent curb appeal.

*The stanchion mirrors can be returned to their original location on the front fenders, should the new owner desire.*

Click “read more” below for all of the pictures of Solo, and feel free to give us a call if you’re interested in hearing more! There are dozens of improvements built into Solo for the new owner to enjoy! You can also click here to hear from Solo’s most recent owner about his (and his brother’s) trip to Florida before they left Connecticut!

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“Sterling,” 1964 mod-Midget, five speed, disk brakes, leather interior, new wheels and tires, for sale!

January 16, 2026 by bugeyeguy

Available at $29,995

This just in!

This is a superb Spridget that has been appropriately modded with really cool upgrades. “Sterling” is a 1964 Midget, dressed-up with a custom leather interior, Stayfast top and tonneau, new wire wheels and Michelin XAS tires, Datsun 1300 engine, Datsun fully synchronized five-speed transmission and more! Paint work is excellent. Color is stunning. This is an excellent restoration.

If you want a roll-up window sportscar that is unique and gorgeous, this is worth serious consideration! Check out the driving video below, up to 75 MPH!

More pix to come! Click “read more” below for a sneak peak at the gallery!

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How to downshift your Bugeye!

January 16, 2026 by bugeyeguy

We’ve been asked many times the proper way to shift… how, when, how often… and so, here is a pair of videos, part two of our series in “How to Shift your Bugeye Sprite” to help anyone who has been curious! Enjoy the ride, featuring “Solo,” our sweet Bugeye we have currently for sale!

Part 1 (above) is an overview of the multiple different ways to downshift, while part 2 (below) focuses on the art of double clutching.

You can see the Spridget transmissions we sell in the links below. But no matter what British classic car is in your stable, we can fix your transmission so don’t hesitate to get in touch!

And don’t forget the cardinal rule… be kind to your gearbox and it will reward you for generations!

I always add oil, do I still need to change it?

January 16, 2026 by bugeyeguy

Yes!

Take the photo below as an example. This is an engine that did not get sufficient oil changes. We wiped one finger from center top diagonally downward and you can see sludge and water that has lived in this pan for too long. It’s a great reminder that you should change the oil on your classic car at least once per year (and more frequently if you exceed 3000 miles per year). We’ve had more than a few folks suggest that oil changes weren’t needed since they add so many quarts of new oil routinely throughout the year (one quart at a time).

We took the pan shown above off a 1275 engine to reseal it and add a rear main seal kit. We were surprised to see evidence of a history of insufficient oil changes. We published this to hopefully help remind the community that oil changes matter. We use Valvoline VR1 20w-50 non-synthetic racing oil, which has zinc additive in it to aid with properly lubricating the internal parts on these old engines. Also check out the video below from a couple of years ago, documenting a different engine with the same issue!

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Form a partnership

January 9, 2026 by bugeyeguy

We are often asked, “when do I shift?”

The answer is “that depends!”

Watch the video below, and know that you’ll eventually develop your own particular style (if you haven’t already).

Every month, we replace gearboxes that have been abused. In fact, if yours jumps out gear, whines excessively or is impossible to downshift without a major crunch, we’ll be happy to pick up your car and restore your four-speed transmission (or upgrade it to a five speed). You can see the Spridget transmissions we sell in the links below. But no matter what British classic car is in your stable, we can fix your transmission so don’t hesitate to get in touch!

And don’t forget the cardinal rule… be kind to your gearbox and it will reward you for generations!

Axle ouchie

January 9, 2026 by bugeyeguy

The unassuming pile of random metal chunks shown above may look pretty innocent to most, but they are the remnants of a crippling failure that will ground any Bugeye in an instant.

The pictures shown here are just a few examples we have encountered over the years involving axle shaft failures on Bugeye Sprites. This is a failure that is not uncommon in Spridget circles; often (but not always), overly aggressive acceleration, deceleration, clutch dumping, burnout attempts, or other automotive hijinks are the culprit.

But many of our more recent examples have come under completely normal driving conditions. For example, the axle bits in the top picture were removed from Jose’s Bugeye over the holidays in our shop after he heard a pop and lost all forward motion while driving in New York City. He originally thought he had a clutch issue, but once we learned more, it became apparent a broken axle shaft was to blame.

We offer in our catalog both new and used axle shaft options, should you encounter a broken one in your Bugeye. Click the links below for more information, or click here for our complete catalog!