They exist and are worth the effort to look for. I would take a rust free
no engine car quicker than a rusted runner any day. Ask yourself (As I do
often) would you rather pull an engine or replace sills and floors! I
personally have no talent for body work.
But I do seem to have an almost mystical knack for fixing thing
fluid(brakes,fuel,cooling etc) Friends and family cover electrical and
mechanical.
$1000 for a ruster....not me!
Bruce Lowry
Bill & Cindy wrote:
> Tonight we went to look at a 60 bugeye, and unfortunately came away
> disappointed.
>
> The current owner has had this car since 1972, prior to that it's
> history is unknown, but highly suspected to be a local Northern
> California car for it's entire life. For the past ten years it has
> been idle and stored either outside and tarped or beneath a carport
> and tarped, but always over earthen or gravel surfaces.
>
> Equipment-wise, the car is pretty complete. Vented wheels, tach drive
> generator, solid un-cut (except for a radio) dash, top-bows and very
> salvagable bonnet. The engine (948) was all there, including original
> air cleaners, but the intake and exhaust manifolds had been unbolted
> and where just laying there. The grille was rusted beyond repair and
> the seats were some kind of Toyota/Datsun replacements.
>
> Here are the disappointing parts....both floorboards were rotted out,
> and each A-pillar sported walnut sized rust holes, though they did not
> appear to have reached the door hinges ,but seemed to be external
> only, as the sills felt solid as well.
>
> Anybody care to venture an estimated value. The owner told us that he
> had refused $1000 a few years back...to me...a $1000 seemed like a
> fair price for a car with extensive floorboard rot, and one that has
> not run in quite a few years.
>
> Am I deluding myself to think that it is possible to find a decent
> bugeye shell. A solid tub that I could swap all the later mechanical
> stuff into, perhaps give it a paint job, some interior, new
> hydraulics, brakes... and have a driver? Not a show car or trailer
> queen or a recent restoration/refurbishment, but a decent original
> car.
>
> Any and all opinions, thoughts, rants and/or comments you might have
> as to the value of a car as described and my question of self-delusion
> or bugeyes for sale would be interesting.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill & Cindy
|