Hello Hal ,
My car is essentially a "kit" car . Try to find a car that is not too rusty
, and has no major
collision damage . An unmolested car with all the hard to find bits and
pieces would be great.
My car needed everything that wares out replaced . It was also missing many
of the Bugeye
only "Bits and Pieces" I have found almost every hard to find missing part .
I suspect that it
would have been cheaper to buy a car that had all the pieces . Plan on
buying a new wiring
harness , hydraulics , all rubber parts , suspension , bearings , interior
trim , carpets . The
list is never ending . I have been working on my car for over a year now .
All of the ancillary parts
have been restored , glass beaded , repainted , or what ever else it took to
make the parts like
new . On parts that were in nice condition I've tried to retain the patina
of age so as not to polish
the cars sole away . I am concentrating on the body work now . Every panel
at one time or another
had been dented and Bondo'd . I bought a MIG welder and replacement panels
from England .
So far the panel fit is very impressive . When finished it will have very
little lead , and almost
no plastic . I will have the car professionally repainted . I am doing this
work in a one car garage
that I have turned into a shop . I think the project will take a total of 3
- 3.5 years , and cost between
10 and 15K . It is an extremely satisfying experience to bring a Sprite back
from the dead . I am
almost giddy every time I turn another old part into a new jewel . We
consider the Sprite
to be a part of the family . We plan to attend "Sprite Spree ' 03"
If you have the time and patience ... go for it !
Mark Hanna
AN5L/13731
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hal Faulkner [SMTP:faulkner@redshift.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 3:27 PM
> To: Spridgets
> Subject: Buying a "kit " car
>
> Spridgeteers,
>
> I am beginning to think that the only way to get the car I want is to get
> into a project. There have been a few posted on PDLJMPR, "disassembled,
> ready for paint, etc." Would anyone who has bought a car in the partially
> disassembled car have anything to say to some poor fool that is thinking
> of
> this insanity?
>
> I would be particularly interested in:
> 1. What you paid. Was it too much?
> 2. General condition of the car. How much body work was necessary? Did you
> do it yourself or hire someone to do it?
> 3. How long did it take you to finish the project?
> 4. How much space did you need/have for the project was it enough? Were
> there any tools that you would not do the job without?
> 5. If you were doing it again, what would you look for in a car in boxes?
> 6. Would you do it again?
>
> Anything you can tell someone about this kind of a project to bring me to
> my
> senses (I know that doesn't go with LBC syndrome) would be greatly
> appreciated, even if I do decide to ignore all rational advice and do it
> anyway.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Hal
> mailto:faulkner@redshift.com
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