1969 88" Bugeye Rolling Chassis Project

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Driftwoodfarm
    Low Range
    • May 2010
    • 6

    1969 88" Bugeye Rolling Chassis Project

    I originally posted this without the attached pictures, but have now also found a few more parts and invoices.

    I have a 1969 Series IIa 88 "Bugeye" project for sale. Right now it is basically a rolling chassis, but it comes with over $7,500 worth of new parts (some of which were already installed on the frame and in the running gear, but I've got the pile of invoices), including seat cushions, wheel bearings and races, brake rebuild kits, brake drums, brake lines, clutch, Old Man Emu shocks, complete stainless exhaust, and a NOS gas tank. Already welded to the frame are new gas tank supports, firewall outriggers, and rear frame cross member replacement. It also includes all new: front bumper, vented rims with Bridgestone AT 255/70 tires (5 of them), both front floor pans (already welded into the firewall), door seals for all 3 doors, hitch receiver, swing away spare tire holder, engine and transmission mounts, check straps, hand crank, poly bushings, shift knobs, and a long list of nuts, bolts and other parts still in their Rovers North bags & boxes.

    After we replaced the frame parts, we painted it with Sherwin Williams Industrial Red Primer, followed by two coats of chassis black enamel topped with two coats of black Awlgrip, but it probably should have a Waxoil treatment. The firewall has two coats of Marine One Green Awlgrip (Yep, Marine One, as in the Presidential helicopter. I got it from the same company that supplies Andrews AFB. We had planned on painting the body in the same colors.). Gassman Automotive Products (specialty British car restorers in Waynesboro, VA) checked out the transmission after we removed it and said that it was in great shape, and that they wouldn't suggest doing anything to it. I think that they did change the exterior transmission seals though, but I can't swear to that. And the exhaust manifold has been checked & surfaced.

    The story behind this Bugeye is that it had been purchased back in the late 1980's by a fellow who folks have told me was the retired CEO of a huge company. He had bought a horse farm west of Charlottesville, VA for his wife, who also had a few really big dogs. Their Veterinarian was 'over the mountain', about 15 miles away, and he hated it when she would take the dogs over there in their car, so he bought the Bugeye for this, and also the occasional trip to the farm supply in Charlottesville (I think that it kind of fit the 'look' that he wanted to go along with the farm). The engine leaked a bit of oil, so he had a local garage put a shortblock in it, as well as a new set of seals and an overdrive in the transmission. He told me that he didn't think that he had put 500 miles on the engine since that work was done. Hard to tell though, because the odometer wasn't working, so that is just a guess on his part, I have no way of knowing for sure. Then back around 2002 or 2003, my brother in law bought it a bit before the fellow sold his farm. It had been stored in a barn, and judging by the dust, it definitely wasn't his daily driver! It ran great, but had the usual rear crossmember rot, so we decided to replace that part of the frame. One thing led to another, and it became a frame off resto project. Then we both got too busy to work on it, and the frame and running gear gathered dust in his garage, and the body panels were left outside. Meanwhile I bought a Model A Ford that he just couldn't live without, and so the Bugeye got thrown in as part of the deal for it. Since then, all the parts and the frame have been stored inside in my garage. I bought all the parts that I figured that I would need to restore it, but I don't have time to do it, and I really don't want to part it out and see another Bugeye disappear. But if you buy it, what you decide to do with it is up to you. I'll take $4,750 for the lot. It's like getting all the new parts for less than 2/3 of cost, with an almost new engine and apparently great transmission & overdrive as well as the running gear, body panels and the 5 original rims all thrown in for free. It comes with a clear Virginia title. I can tell you that this was running great when my brother in law last shut it off about 7 or 8 years ago, but other than that, I'm relying on what I've been told by other people.

    If you are interested in seeing more pictures of the body panels and all of the parts, or if you have questions, I can be reached by PM here, or email me at outafl2@comcast.net .
  • Rineheitzgabot
    4th Gear
    • Jun 2008
    • 386

    #2
    What is the VIN of this vehicle, if you don't mind me asking?

    Thanks,
    Gary
    "I can't believe I'm sitting here, completely surrounded by no beer!" -Onslow

    Comment

    • Driftwoodfarm
      Low Range
      • May 2010
      • 6

      #3
      I'm open to any reasonable offer. If I don't find someone here, I'm going to put it on Ebay either as a lot, or in pieces in mid-August. One way or another, it is going to be out of my warehouse by September!

      Comment

      • mongoswede
        5th Gear
        • May 2010
        • 757

        #4
        I am not making an offer but just a guess....given that you have all the parts to put it back together and that the chassis and bulkhead look nice and the engine looks nicely painted...I'd guess a reasonable offer would be in the $5000+ range?

        Comment

        • kevin-ct
          3rd Gear
          • Oct 2006
          • 309

          #5
          Seires

          E-mail sent
          Kevin

          04 XJ8
          92 RRC
          02 Benz E320

          95 RRC (sold 5/10)
          72 Series 3 (sold 4/10)
          70 Series 2A (sold 6/10)
          Morgan +8 (sold 8/09)
          90 Jetta (308k miles) (sold 5/11)
          72 Triumph Stag (sold 1/08

          Comment

          • Driftwoodfarm
            Low Range
            • May 2010
            • 6

            #6
            Thanks everyone for all of your interest. I now have a sale pending on my Bugeye, and it is going to be finshed rather than parted out, which I'm really happy about!

            Comment

            • Driftwoodfarm
              Low Range
              • May 2010
              • 6

              #7
              Sold! And staying here in Virginia, being restored by a professional. Another Bugeye saved!

              Comment

              Working...