Actually had a similar dilemma with my Spitfire that someone gave me a few
years ago (I've mentioned it before on this list ad nauseum). I was
running out of time in the garage I was working in because the guy who gave
me the Spit was going to store his TR6 in there. I slapped it back
together again (renewing the only the brakes and sealing up the diff, which
leaked like a sieve). I drove the car for 3 months, then the decision to
restore it was made for me by the car, as it began to self destruct. It
was a blast driving it, and it was a blast restoring it. Given all things
equal, I'd restore it first, though. Either way you'll have fun.
Enjoy the Bugeye, and happy holidays.
'61 Bugeye
ps - I understand the Spit just changed hands in upstate NY for $1200, sold
by the guy I sold it to who was under financial duress. If the new owner
happens to be out there - I'll give you $1250 for it!
----------
> From: FrogEye56 <FrogEye56@aol.com>
> To: spridgets@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re:Bought it! -Now what?
> Date: Friday, December 19, 1997 11:29 AM
>
> Recently I bought a 1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite. This was after
> searching for one for the better part of two years. Southern California
may
> have rust free cars but there is also no shortage of cars that have been
> through innumerable owners and many modifications. But I was lucky. I
found
> one that was original in every way and that the PO had been restoring for
the
> past 14 years. Let me put that another way. He had stripped it down and
> primed it 14 years ago and it has been sitting in a garage for the
remainder
> of the time.
>
> My question is this. Except for the engine and transmission, every two
pieces
> that could come apart have been dismantled. Some of the parts are
labeled but
> the majority of them are not. My first inclination is to put it all back
> together as quickly as I can so that it is a car rather than a collection
of
> parts and then drive it for a while so that I can get to know it. On the
> other hand, why not take the time to do it right and restore it while it
is
> all apart?
>
> Has anyone out there run into this dilemma? Is there some philosophy
that
> says that one way is better than the other? I'd be thrilled to hear
peoples
> opinion about this.
>
> Joe Burruso
> FrogEye56@aol.com
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