Hi george,
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Hope she gives you plenty of fun.
Personally, I think the more of these little cars on the road the
better.
Let me know if I can be of assistance, I have a good stock of original
parts. Not a dealer just fellow enthusiest.
Rick
george procyshyn wrote:
>
> I got the new trailer last week and we headed out on our "vacation".
> Cleveland to New Mexico to bring home an early yellow '58 Bugeye. I
> figured worst case if I don't like the car, I've dragged along a trailer
> and had a nice vacation in the Southwest.
>
> The P.O. is a very sweet sixty something retired teacher who bought the
> car new in Oct. 58 (AN5 3963 ((I'm doing this from memory,)) I THINK this
> is the correct number) built right about the first week of August '58. She
> has a picture of it coming off the transport truck. We went out for dinner
> together and she made us feel like family.
>
> The car won a concourse in New York in '59 with a finned aluminum valve
> cover. Unreal. She had the dealer install it when she bought it as she
> liked the look. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see the pictures
> and held the trophy. And this thing was hosted by one of the big sports car
> mags in the 50's that is not with us today. Sports Car Graphics or
> International or some such. I'm too lazy to get the picture from the van to
> get the info correct . . . sorry. I'll post pictures when I get home. Guess
> they were rare enough in '59 that it was going to win regardless.,
>
> Anyway, The specs> It's yellow, nine snap windshield, shows 23k on the
> spedo. All gauges work. all the lights work, Original Lucas headlamps
> (sp700's?) Original drive train. Compression 122-125-125-120. Original
> seats although cracked and worn. Carpeting had been replaced years ago and
> the car could use a complete interior redo. Top, Tonneau, and side curtains
> are original, useable and well worn.
>
> The car ran so-so, although it started well. Carbs set VERY rich, idled at
> apx. 2800. Plugs all carbon'd up. I cleaned the plugs when I checked the
> compression, got it to idle reliably at 1200 or so and figure I'll rebuild
> the carbs when I get it home. I think one of the plug wires were off also.
> Just fixing these few things made it run MUCH smoother. I asked her to
> take me for a ride and we putt putted around at 30-35 mph the entire time.
> This car MAY never have gone any faster in it's lifetime. . .. heh heh heh.
>
> No rust anywhere except where battery acid has eaten away at the firewall a
> bit, but a reasonably easy fix. Good brakes, like new tires. Transmission
> (original) actually works well.
>
> Paint is fair, it was repainted (original color) about 10 years ago and the
> job was of fair quality at best, it now includes numerous scratches and
> such but looks fine if you squint a bit. It really is a very nice looking
> car if you don't nit pick too much.
>
> Excellent bright work all around. Front bumper COULD use a little
> straightening and a few little dents removed but it's there and basically
> nice.
>
> My S.O. and I are working our way home slowly, we saw the Carlsbad
> Caverns yesterday and are in a Motel tonight just outside of Dallas Tx.
> Figure we'll see Dallas tomorrow and head for Grand Old Opre country on
> Tuesday. We'll get home by next weekend or so I guess.
>
> So far we've picked up enough cotton spilled from trucks to stuff a pillow.
> and the interior of the Bugeye is currently the repository of all the
> Mesquite wood we've been collecting through New Mexico and Texas. Damn,
> those steaks are going to be GOOD.
>
> So all, the saga is going well. The car gets lots of looks and the trip is
> fun. It'll be in excess of 3000 miles by the time we're home but a
> memorable vacation it'll be I'm sure.
>
> More to come soon
> Regards
> GP
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