Bugeye sprite race car question

Sounds like you're really tempted by it.

Think about it a different way. If you bought it and decided after a month or 3 or 6 that you didn't like it or it was too much work, how underwater would you be to sell it? Can you afford the underwater difference to risk it? If you think you could get $4500 for it all day long, would losing $1000 and a lot of your time be catastrophic?

If not, then go for it.

Here's what my concerns would be. It's a 50+ year old car. It'll never been competitive in modern SCCA H Production racing without spending deep into 5 figures on it. Modern cars will beat it with much less work. If you just want to drive it on a track and could car less about being a back marker, then it's not as big of a deal.
You said it's be extensively modified. The Bugeye I saw at the SCCA races was hacked up with all kinds of suspension mods (I'm assuming HP legal) and such to still be a back marker. If it's like that, I don't know of any vintage groups that would allow it to run. Again, without lots of $$$ to fix it. If the tub is fine and the flares and bonnet are the only serious mods, then I'd fix it up for vintage racing instead. Much more "competition" and much more fun.

One final question: Do you just want to save it? As a former Bugeye owner and one who still loves them, I find myself wanting to save every car I see, regardless of how bad off it is.......

-Rob

Mark, if destroying a Bugeye would break your heart, what about a Spridget? (mk2+ sprite, or midget)

My thoughts were that the chassis would be cheaper to buy and repair, weight only a bit higher, and all other parts the same (perhaps rear spring difference).

All valid points guys. This is why I asked. This is one of those heart/head arguments. My head says RX7. I own it, it's cheaper to run, it's competitive in class and doesn't need work to get on track. My heart says, yeah, but the other car is a bugeye. BUGEYE! (lol)

FWIW, here is the ad (Which I should have shared from the beginning) https://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/5768583743.html

Vintage races are fun but which event will you find more fun? Also what are the differences in entry fees between Vintage and modern? How many events can you do of each? Lastly if the Bugeye starts to really eat up your race budget then it's going to become a boat anchor around your neck pretty quick.

Does anyone know how much a souped up 2.0 1972 Pinto engine installed in a beautifully restored 1960 Bugeye decreases its value compared to a stock version of one with a 1275 in it? I'm considering buying one but am afraid that I'll regret it if I go to resell it. It definitely performs dramatically better than stock. It also has a modified hood that looks cool but again I'm worried that it will hurt the value. 

If you're already thinking about the resale value before you buy it  then mayber you should even buy it. 

But really do some research on what these cars go for and compare it to what the seller is asking for his Ford powered one.

Bugeye's are not that valuable; compared to other English cars;  since there were a lot made.

Most of the one's I see are race cars and not street cars which doesn't really increase their value unless they have a history or winning a championship or were driven by a famous person, and for that you do have to have documention.

IF you do buy it what's keeping you from building and installing a 1275 or even 1400 cc correct engine?

See David Visard's book on tuning the "A" series engine as it's the "Bible" on what to do to make horsepower with these engines.

A 1400 cc version can be built that makes a healthy amount of power and still be true to the original car and drivetrain.

In reply to markwemple :

No !
 The Bug Eye  in the long run is a better value for fun. Speed wise it's faster than MGT series cars that make up such a decent part of vintage fields.  A well tuned and driven BugEye will even dice with MGA's in mild tune.  plus there always seems to be a few cars in that pack. 
It's a car that will have a lot of friends and supporters.  With a race history* you could possibly wind up running Monterrey.  
* We aren't talking magazine famous, my Black Jack was a regional only car and I got invitations   

If properly built  and maintained a 1275 will last decades with little more than periodic freshening. Weaknesses are well known and affordable updates are as well.  Also what works as far as modifications and what doesn't is also well known since the car was so extensively raced for so many years.    So you won't waste money going down the rabbit hole.  Tires will age out  long before they wear out. Typically owners  will buy a race or two old Formula tires and run them a season or two.  
Friends with Bug  Eye1275's have 2 engines and two transmissions. Typically one will be a mildly reworked low dollar engineTransmission.    One may be an all out 100+ horsepower with Carillo type Rods, billet crank, Forged pistons, Roller cam, scienced   out head,  10,000 Red line.  Dog ring motorcycle shift 5 speed gear box.  The engine swaps in and out really easily. 
Remarkably the maxed out engine wasn't that expensive to build.  Just regular contact with old racers and all kinds of trick stuff pops up with almost no market. 
Apparently Tech doesn't question either one .  

Apis Mellifera said:

I think the car is probably worth $3K or less, but the ad says spares are included. So unless it comes with something like 10 engines, I'd say it's over priced. That said, I'm cheap and traded a $200 pistol for my '59 Bugeye. As a point of reference, I bought a fiberglass front for another Bugeye and it was $500 new. If the engine has many hours with those carbs, it will likely need some attention.

I'm like you.  I buy really cheap or not at all.
 

SU carbs are so simple ( and cheap) to work on and remarkably efficient in making power. A Jaguar XKE with SU's will make within 15 horsepower of the same car with Weber's. Weber's to tune honestly require thousands of dollars worth of Dyno time and parts.  Plus it's typical  to tune it to perfection, then have the air density change  and  you can lose more than that 15 horsepower.  A SU will self adjust for those changes or only require a 30 second adjustment. 

Depending  on compression  and RPM used   a 1275 or BMC A engine will race for decades with little more than periodic freshening.  Tires and brakes will age out before they wear out. 

 

In reply to frenchyd :

Did you not notice this thread is over 3 years old?

In reply to Ian F :

Nope. Just an interesting subject. 

I wanted to point out that even a 1275 engine isn’t the correct engine.  

spitfirebill said:

I wanted to point out that even a 1275 engine isn’t the correct engine.  

Have you been to a vintage race lately?  There are 194X MGTC's  with 10 -$15,000 engines that last at most 3 race weekends.  They have High tech modern Rods, Forged cranks. Forged pistons, Eaton superchargers, aftermarket heads, roller cams.  Roller rockers,  only the block was cast by MG  and they have a lot of work done to them that wasn't done back in their day. 

In the high dollar late 50's class with D Jaguars, Birdcage Maserati, Ferrari Testa Rossa, Aston Martin DBR2 class 
One of the faster cars  is nothing but a replica with a modern motor dumbed down to look vintage to the ill informed. There are likely more Devin bodies on custom chassis than existed previously.  

50's era Chevy  powered cars with 400 blocks and aluminum heads using Holley Dominators.  Don't get me started on Trans Am cars.  
The only event any of that even gets a superficial glance at tech is Monterrey.  Once you pass tech there it's not unknown for changes to occur and the hood  just kept closed. 
In decades of vintage racing I've never seen a post race engine tear down.  
A 1275 replacing a 948?  Wouldn't warrant a second glance. People would be happy it's still a BMC A motor.