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RE: General Advice on Restoration Requested

To: spridgets@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: General Advice on Restoration Requested
From: "Hanna, Mark" <mhanna@ball.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 15:26:49 -0700
Reply-to: "Hanna, Mark" <mhanna@ball.com>
Sender: owner-spridgets@autox.team.net
      Hi Philip ,
      There are probably as many answers to this one as there are people
       on this list . For instance I am building a '59 Bugeye . It will look

       pretty standard from the outside . The inside will have a stock dash
       (fascia) , stock gauges , switches , steering wheel , seats . I will
cover
       the seats in leather , the interior panels will all be leather . The
floor
       will be covered in wool carpet (Wilton) . The engine will be a 1275
(1380)
       Five speed transmission . Alternator , front disk brakes , front sway
bar ,
       poly bushings all  around , all ancillary parts rebuilt / refurbished
. I want
       to retain the flavor and charm  of the car , and at the same time
increase
       its performance and appeal  as a car that can be used and enjoyed
regularly.
       I am personally not interested in a $30 K gold level car that would
be a crime 
       to use . Nor am I attracted to cars that have been butchered to the
point 
       of loosing all of there quaint British charm and character . In the
end the
       choice is all yours . Good Luck !!! , 
       Flame shields up ,
                                  Mark Hanna
                                  AN5L/13731

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Philip Hubbard [SMTP:hubbard@idir.net]
> Sent: Thursday, February 11, 1999 2:12 PM
> To:   spridgets@autox.team.net
> Subject:      General Advice on Restoration Requested
> 
> As you all know from some recent posts, I'm toying with the idea of
> getting
> a companion for Arioch, my '74 Midget.  This would be a restoration
> project
> of some kind.  Through list advice, other research and some thought, I've
> narrowed it down to a Bug-Eye or Spridget.  (Dropped Lotus Elan, MGB,
> Spitxxxx, etc. for now)
> 
> I'm just looking for some general advice right now.  What are the
> essentials before I even think about doing this?  Parts manual, Workshop
> manual in addition to the Haynes I own, etc.  I've talked to my dad about
> using his garage and pit and looks like he might go for my trade of labor
> for space, so I'm starting to collect info.
> 
> Not sure which way I'm going to go on type of resto.  Part of me gets into
> the originality thing a la "look, it could have just rolled out of the
> factory".  Part of me wants to make this one a bit of a go-fast auto.  I
> get the feeling I won't go to the extreme in either case, so maybe I don't
> have the all original in me.  As far as go-fast goes, I don't mean that
> I'll be racing it...I just mean a bit of an upgrade here and there to make
> it peppier for around town.
> 
> If I go the "as close to original as possible" route, I'm thinking the
> earlier the model the better.  If I go the peppy route, I'm thinking of
> something around '67 or '68 so I get the 1275cc motor, but still pretty
> early on.
> 
> Any advice or comments are, as always, appreciated.

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