1958 Austin Healey

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AN5L4757

Gasoline

I have always wanted an Austin-Healey Bugeye and searched for several months before finding one and shipping it here to Florida from Texas. A week later, I found this Bugeye locally and could not pass it up. This car is amazingly original. It was purchased in 1958 by the original owner in Colwyn Bay, Wales (I have the original dealer warranty shown in the photos). It was sold to the second owner in 1962 (I have that receipt also; it sold for 330 pounds in those days). The second owner passed it on to his brother in 1982, who brought it here to the US. It went into his garage, was never registered here in the US, and sat for 30 years. As you can see from the pictures, this car is very original, even down to the red rubber door insert panels and red floor covering. (The floor mats look 50 years old, but are original.) Everything else in the interior is original. It has the original owner’s manual, shop manual, and log books. It has a British Motor Industry Heritage certificate (see photo). The chassis number is AN5L/4757 (the 4,757th Bugeye built). The engine and transmission are original. The engine turns freely, but I have not touched it otherwise since I purchased it. It shows 47,249 miles on the odometer, which according to the log books seems to be correct. It needs lower body panels pretty much all around: the lower bonnet (hood) panel, and lower front and rear fender panels, which is typical for a car this age. These patch panels are available. The owner replaced the sills probably 30 years ago and never painted them, as you can see in the pictures, but they seem to be solid and have nothing but surface rust on them. The A-posts and B-posts seem to be fine, the door gaps are consistent all the way around, the doors shut solidly, and the doors themselves seem to be in good shape. I believe that the floors are fine, as there are no holes anywhere. The other repair that I see that it needs is the right side spring hanger box is rotted (see picture). This is a common repair with the Bugeye, and there are parts available for this repair at Moss Motors or Victoria British. You can read about the hanger box repair on any of the forums such as the British Car Forum. I have included a video in this listing that should show you all of the above. In my opinion, this is a unique and fabulous Bugeye. There are not many in this original state. However, make no mistake about it; this is a project that will need some work. It has not started in 30 years and it needs the body repairs I have noted above. I have described the car as well as I can, however I am a sports car enthusiast and not a professional mechanic, so there is of course no warranty implied. I have a clear Florida title. You are welcome to see this car if you are in the Orlando area. It is also for sale locally. Added: I have an interesting point that was noticed by a Bugeye buff. I have a lot of original paperwork with this car. The original warranty sheet from the dealer in Wales that sold the care new lists the car as AN5L/4757. This is also the number on the chassis plate on the frame, and on the British title for the car, which I also have. However, the British Heritage certificate shows that the car should be AN5/4757, and the certificate shows correctly that it was purchased from the dealer in Wales, and that it has the BAE/4754 body number and 4257 engine number that are on the car. So, everything checks out. However, the L designation in the chassis number AN5L/4757 would only be appropriate for a overseas market car (left-hand drive).. I am certain that it was not an overseas market car, because it was purchased in Wales, driven in England, titled in England as AN5L/4757 and has right-hand drive which is original. My best guess is that the L designation in the serial number was mis-stamped at the factory, and the Wales dealer sold the car with the number that was actually on it, AN5L/4757.