Current Restoration Project...
1960 Austin Healey - Bugeye Sprite
Click Here for the Bugeye Restoration Journal and Photos
Bandito Motorsports, LLC has teamed up with Glass Auto Works in Oklahoma City to do a complete restoration of an early Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite. Although my primary focus has usually been Miatas, I remember these Bugeye roadsters from childhood and have always wanted to own one. When the opportunity presented itself, I was absolutely thrilled at the prospect.
So, with invaluable guidance from Mike Glass, I am finally going to fulfill one of my dreams and completely restore a truly classic roadster. You will not find a better British Car Specialist than Mike Glass. He has many years of experience in restoring Classic British Sports Cars and some of his cars, when sold, have actually set World Records. I am very fortunate to have him as a mentor on this project, not to mention having him as one of my best friends.
Those who know me know that I do not do anything "half way". Sort of like Mike. I do not like loose ends or things that are sloppy. I am committed to completing this project the right way. Once disassembled, the car will be media blasted so as to begin with a solid foundation. We will then go through everything, right down to every nut and bolt.
The goal of this section on the website is to chronicle the progress of the restoration progress. I intend to provide regular updates including many pictures as we go. This may hopefully provide some insight as to what is really involved with a project like this. My hope is that it will be informative, interesting and fun, especially to those who may be contemplating their own restoration project.
A little about the car...
This is of course the original Sprite. It is perhaps better known in North America as the Bugeye, and elsewhere as the Frogeye. This nickname is owing to the unique headlight mounting, sitting as they do on the bonnet in two pods. This peculiar arrangement was actually the result of a cost-cutting design compromise. The headlights had originally been intended to be retractable and as originally conceived the pods would have rotated, when the headlights were turned off, to provide a flush fit with the bonnet top. However, the extra mechanism involved for that was deemed too expensive for a car that was to be offered at the most affordable price possible. Additionally, the headlights had to be situated at a certain minimum height to meet legal requirements, thus, the pods remained and the result was two bulbous headlights sitting on the bonnet as if stuck in the "up" position, and more by accident than by design, an icon was born.
The Bugeye was built 1958-60 (although a very few CKD - "Completely Knocked Down" (i.e., completely disassembled) examples were produced in early 1961 and shipped to Australia where taxes were averted by importing disassembled cars). There were no significant changes throughout the production run. 48,987 examples were produced, making it the most numerous, by far, among all cars ever to bear the name Healey. Power was supplied by the Austin 948 cc A-Series engine producing 43 hp, and while performance was hardly neck snapping, no one complained because the car was just so much fun to drive. (reprinted from Austin Healey website).
Overall, this particular car is in fairly solid condition. It has been stored in a garage for the past 14-15 years and is fairly complete. It has very little rust, mostly on the surface. Floors, rockers, and quarters are all good. The bonnet needs a little work. It will require some overall light body work and "one of everything else" to do the job properly. It has the original 948 engine. The interior is completely thrashed and will, of course, require major renovation.
So, if you are ready to begin the journey and come along for a thrilling ride, by all means TALLY HO, and enter "The Shop".......
Contact: brent@banditomotorsports.com
Bandito
MotorSports, LLC
8217 N. Glade Ave., Suite A
Oklahoma City, OK. 73132
(405) 720-9869
Proud Members of the
Oklahoma Region SCCA
