1959 Austin Healey Bugeye Frogeye Sprite

Survivor Convertible

4 - Cyl.

Manual

Gasoline

1959 Bugeye Sprite, 65,000 miles since new, California Car, one owner since 1975, garaged kept it's entire life, NO RUST EVER, NO WRECKS EVER, NO PATCHES, ALL ORIGINAL SHEET METAL !!! This car is amazingly solid. The backside of the bonnet looks good as the front. The underside of the rear deck does too! The only place I can find of a previous dent in three small spots on the backside of the bonnet. I tried to take a picture but it doesn't show up. Usually you can find evidence where someone sat on the back of the car or ran into something in the grill area or rear but that's not tha case here. I can't find any patches or any replaced metal either and belive me, I looked! All of the factory welds are in place and unmolested. Even the battery/heater shelf is original and in excellent condition! How many times have you ever seen that on a '59 Bugeye?! If I didn't know any better, I'd swear it was a brand new Heritage tub and bonnet, but the car has all of it's original factory sheet metal. It's amazing how solid this car is especially considering it's a '59. I've never seen a 1959 anything that was this solid and never wrecked. The car is simply amazing how well preserved and solid it is. You hardly NEVER, if EVER see a Bugeye with original metal in this level of condition. A friend who knows Bugeyes well found this jem and told me about it. When I learned of this car, I rushed right out and bought it no questions asked. I know how rare it is to see one like this. There just aren't many left. It's shocking to see all original virtually undamaged sheet metal, perfect original seat frames and an uncracked original steering wheel. I can't confirm for sure, but I would venture to say that this car has all of it's original non-wear parts and trim. Granted, that's speculation, but given everything else is there and in excellent undamaged conditon, it's hard to imagine anything has, or ever needed to be replaced. If it hadn't been stored outside or wrecked, then there shouldn't be any need to replace anything, right? Previous owner started a 100% nut and bolt restoration but medical conditions prevented it's completion. Everything on the car was restored or replaced. All of the hard, expensive, time coonsuming an tedious work has already been done. The car is now about 85-90% completed. I have most, if not all of parts required for final assembly. I have several boxes of parts that go with the car. I will get a list and pictures of the other parts when weather permits. I have the unrestored original top, tonneau and side curtains as well. The previous owner stated the 948 engine has been rebuilt and everthing on the car has been gone through. He stated that there may be only an hour or so and just a few miles on the engine and restoration since it's completion. Let's say four hours total to be on the safe side. If I remember correctly, it's the original engine as well but can't confirm. The car was running and driving when the P.O removed the carbs and intake due to a fuel leak. I don't know why he removed the intake too, other than speculation maybe to avoid having to sync the carbs again later. I know I've done the same myself sometimes. The car will need the carbs reinstalled and fresh fuel to be running again. The car was taken down to it's bare original sheet metal before an entire repaint of Iris Blue. The paint and bodywork is in excellent show condition. Unfornutaly, a trailer ramp touched the underside part of the passenger rocker panel and slightly scratched the paint. Please see the pics. I do have some of the paint leftover that was used to paint the car, however; I feel it's best the the new owner address this matter to a level of their satisfaction. You honestly can't see the damage without getting under the car. I checked when this first happened and didn't see anything. It wasn't until I put the car on the lift for these pictures that I noticed. As you can imagine, my heart sank, but it's not bad at all and definatly easiley repairable. The metal in question is undamaged. The only other area of interest worth mentioning is brake fluid dripped down the pedal and lifted the paint on the drivers floor and oxidized some of the metal. Please see pics of both the top and bottom side in question. As you can see the area is in need of touching up. All metal involved is rock solid, it just has damaged paint. There are a few rock chips on the underside of the car as well that you can see also. You can also see there has been an access panel installed for the driveshaft. It's a common modification that doesn't detract from the value of the car. It allows the driveshat to be removed without having to remove the bonnet, engine and transmission. You can also see an access hole was created for this in the top of the tunnel but later reclosed using the original metal. Please note: There is dirt on the floors and under the car and in the wheel wells. If you see anything other than Iris Blue, that's what it is, dirt. I wiped most of it out but didn't get all of it. The exception to this is the drivers floor and drain hole underneither. As you can see in the pictures the metal has been slightly oxidized. 74 more pictures at : http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a321/kellysguy/Bugeye%20pictures/ Given by what I've seen Bugeyes bring on ebay, I would have to venture to say this car would be worth anywhere from $20-25,000 once completed. When is the last time you've EVER seen one this solid? I know I certainly haven't and the local LBC restoration expert expresses the same statement, "You just don't see them that solid", that's why I bought it, that's also why I have to sell it. I have unfortunatly come to the realization I don't live in the proper area, nor do I have the proper places to drive and store a car of this quality. Rather than let the car deteriorate due to my own vanity, I have decided to do right by the car and allow it to be taken care of in a manner better than I can provide myself. I live out in the country on back roads and this car deserves much better care and use than that. I regrettfully offer it up to a better and safer home. I have a close friend and car guy who has already tried to talk me out of selling it, seeing I'll never be able to find another one this nice. While I know that's true, it's more important that an example of this quality be preserved. I need something I can drive on back roads to Wal mart. This isn't that kind of car. Please feel free to ask any questions or for pictures of certain areas. I'll aid with shipping any way I can. I recommend an enclosed trailer. If you've been looking for the right Bugeye, then this is "the one" . If you want something really nice that all of the hard, tiresome,tedidous, time consuming and expensive work has already been already done, then this is it. It woulld take YEARS and THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of dollars to get another car in this kind of shape...and it still wouldn't have 100% of it's original factory sheet metal. As I stated earlier, it's my belief the car still has all of it's original non wear parts and trim too! The question isn't if you can afford to buy it, rather; can you afford to pass this one up? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a near perfect car for a FRACTION of it's final assembled value. Don't let this one slip away, you may never get another chance. I know I won't. Click the bid button now before it's gone. On Apr-08-12 at 16:35:33 PDT, seller added the following information: Update: More interior pics just added. The steering wheel does show some use. There are some nicks and scratches. I just found a small hairline crack in the steering wheel while taking pics. Just so everyone understands it will require light restoration to be perfect. ( Given the condition of the rest of the car I would recommend doing so). The car is avalible for personal inspection anytime by an agent of your choice. I would be happy to provide any addition pictures or information requested of specific areas. Please let me know if there is anyway I can assist. Thanks.On Apr-11-12 at 09:40:04 PDT, seller added the following information: Pictures are now up of all of the other parts. I'm not going to list everything as you can see what they are. Please note: the box on the left side with the yellow brake hose boxes are the old original hoses and some other old original parts the previous owner saved. He was a pilot so it's not surprising to me he went through this car like a preflight checklist when he built it and saved some old parts. You know how thorough pilots are. There are extra new brake parts like hydraulic kits and rubbers and things like that too towards the back of the pic in the middle. Most everything in the middle is new parts (extra ignition stuff, two or thee gasket sets, windshield and body gromets and other items). I tried to keep used stuff off to the side or in that box. The other new rubber floor mat is currently int he car. Please note not everything in the middle is new. I have tried to place everything where it belongs on the car for easy recogition so there are some old parts mixed in with new. I have discovered that the master cylinder is empty. This would explain the brake fluid on the drivers floor. I can't confirm if this is just a leaking line or master cylinder. Just to be on the safe side, I will include a brand new master cylinder if the car reaches reserve. If the buyer is overseas, I'll send it with the car or in the US I'll have it shipped straight from the vendor. It's hard to tell if the top is in fact the original one. It's in really good shape other than the discoloration and one small inch long crack in the one of the side windows. The tonneau may be original but I can't confirm. The side curtains are discolored, but othwise in good shape and the frames are nice. Cockpit surround trim, windshield frame and posts are in good condition requiring a good polishing out. I thought he may have already done that seeing he had them wrapped up like the painted pieces but they still need polishing to be perfect. The windshield glass looks really good, however; needs the rubber replaced. Please let me know if you have any other questions. A note to my overseas bidders: Please let me know if there is anything I can do to aid with inspection or shipping. I will do my best to make this as easy as possible. To all: additional pictures and detail avalible upon request. Please feel free to ask. Thanks and good luck.On Apr-16-12 at 08:24:20 PDT, seller added the following information: NEW LOWER RESERVE ! To help make shipping more affordable I have lowered the reserve. Many of you live far away and some even overseas. This will help make things easier for you. We're close folks, don't give up now, it's within easy reach and now more affordable than ever. Don't wait or you'll miss your one and only chance to buy an almost PERFECT CAR for a fraction of it's assembled value. If I can't find someone who appreciates it as much as me, I'll keep it. Click the bid button now before it's too late.