Bugiii's Home Page

Time 2021-01-04 17:03:48

Web Name: Bugiii's Home Page

WebSite: http://www.ado13.com

ID:156506

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And May Not Be Used InAny Form Without Prior Permission Unless Otherwise Stated. Items That Do NotBelong To ADO13.COM Are Used With Permission. Link to BusterCluster 2006Link To Pebble Beach Sports Car ClubBugeye Video Down The Pacific CoastHighwayBugeye Video Over The Coastal Range to the Pacific Coast Highway********************************* TheAustin Healey Bugeye Sprite In 1956, Leonard Lord ofBritish Motor Corporation mentioned to Donald Healey that there was a need for a small,low-cost sports car to fill the gap left by the disappearance of the pre-war Austin SevenNippy and Ulster models. DMH set about designing a prototype which was to become thefamous Bugeye Sprite . This picture is a photograph of a copy of the original scale drawing ofthe Bugeye Sprite done by Gerry Coker in 1956. The original was reduced to 11 x 17 and thebody hand colored by Mr. Coker. The selected color was Ferrari Red. The reason Ferrari Redwas chosen was that DMH and Mr. Coker used to joke about the Sprite being the PoorMan's Ferrari and according to Mr. Coker, the first Sprite prototype was paintedFerrari Red. Mr. Coker donated this work to the Austin Healey club to be sold at auctionat the Lake Tahoe International Austin Healey gathering in June of 2002. I was luckyenough to have purchased it at that time. The Sprite went into production in early 1958under the Austin-Healey badge as Austin Drawing OfficeProject Number 13 (hence the site name ADO13) and was aninstant success. In the original GerryCoker design (see above drawing and photo below), the Sprite was to have pop-up headlampsthat lay flat when closed as later seen on the Porsche 928. They were deleted due to costand complexity and the headlamps were mounted on the bonnet giving the car a Frog likeappearance. The Sprite was immediately dubbed the Frogeye which was translatedinto Bugeye on this side of the pond. The Bugeye was built from 1958 through 1960 at which time it was replaced bythe MkII Sprite and the MkI Midget. All told, almost 50,000 Bugeye's, including thoseassembled from CKD kits were built. The Italian Sprites were also built on the Bugeyechassis but with a different body. In addition to the 50,000 or so Bugeyes about 75,000square body Sprites and 225,000 MG Midgets were produced between 1958 and 1979. With about350,00 cars produced you can understand why most parts are available for these cars, bothnew and used. Under the skin all Sprites are basically the same and most parts areinterchangeable. This also applies to the MG Midget through 1974. In 1975 the Midgetswitched to the Triumph 1500 engine and transmission but other than that they are stillthe same basic car.More information onthese cars can be found in this list ofpublications. These publications are listed in no particular order of importance. Mostof the book titles were provided by Frank Clarici of the Spridget list. I think Frankactually owns all of the books listed.*********************************Bugeye Sprite PrototypePhoto and Information Provided by Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird Via Mike Maclean.Note: 1) Sill Line and ExternalDoor and Bonnet Hinges 2) Popup Headlamps (in the up position), 3) Badge on the Grill Top4) Bonnet Badge5) Unusual Side Screens6) High Side Screen Hardtop 7) and Short Windscreen Pillars.********************************* Hepolite Flat Top Pistons. Aluminum Head Roller Rockers From Pierce Manifolds. Mild Road Cam. Weber 40 DCOE Sidedraft With Canon Manifold. Aldon Centrifugal Advance Distributor. MSD-6AL Ignition Triggered By Pertronix Ignitor. MSD-8680 Cockpit Timing Control (15 Degrees). 3.9-1 Differential. Datsun 210 5-Speed Using Rivergate Bell Housing Adapter Plate And Modified 1275 Flywheel, 210 Clutch Plate, 210 Pressure Plate, And 210 Release bearing. Frontline Front Tube Shock Upper A Arm Conversion. Mazda Pickup Alternator Conversion. Programmable VDO Electronic Speedometer VDO Tachometer. 13 x 5 Minitor Mag Wheels. 175 x 60 x 13 Falken Tires. Fiberglass Bonnet With Forward Tilt Hinge. RCI Low Back Fiberglass Seats. Seat Covers By: Andy And Me, Seaside CA. Paint By: Mike At Pestana s, Seaside CA. Carpets By: Rick s Auto Upholstery, Sand City CA.

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