1959 Austin Healey Mk 1 Bugeye Sprite Rotisserie Restored SoCal Rust Free Cond 1

1959 Austin Healey MK1 Bugeye Sprite

VIN #AN5L30323

Professional Ground Up Restoration

(Over $50K in rebuild receipts)

78928 miles on Chassis
85 miles since Restoration

Southern California Car Always
Two Owner
Never Hit/Zero Rust Body
 Rotisserie Restoration

Original 948 Engine/Smooth Case Trans
(Rebuilt to Higher Specs. runs like 1275. )
Engine #9CG D - H 21825

COMPLETE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION REBUILD
Complete Cooling System
Complete Suspension

Complete Interior Kit

Seats Rebuilt and Reupholstered

Complete Rebuilt Dash and Gauges
Leather Wrapped Sport Steering Wheel 

&
Original Bugeye Steering Wheel

New Austin Healey Hub Caps

Rear Bumpers Re-chromed

New Headlight Assemblies

New Exhaust System 

Complete Brake System 

(including Master Cylinder)

Complete Cooling System

(including New Radiator)
New Differential
New Radial Tires
New Austin Healey Hub Caps and Trim Rings

Link to Photobucket Pictures if not loading on eBay

http://s669. photobucket. com/user/fmattingly/library/Austin%20Healey%201959%20Bugeye%20Sprite

NOTE ON PICTURES:  I don't know what is wrong with the pictures loading from Photobucket. but in some pictures they make it look like there is rust along the seam between the hood and the body on the right and left side behind the front wheels.   THERE IS ZERO RUST ON THIS CAR!!!!  Let me restate that again. THERE IS ZERO RUST.   I don't know why the pictures look like that. if you want me to email you the pictures I will be happy to.   I just put those particular shots into the eBay Photo section. so look at them there as well and you will see there is no rust.  

For sale is a #1 Condition 1959 Austin Healey MK1 Bugeye Sprite or more commonly known as an Austin Healey Bugeye in the US. The vin # is AN5L - 30323. I bought this automobile out of a 60 car collection in San Diego about two years ago.   The gentleman that owned the car had a complete ground-up restoration done on the car by a high-end restoration shop in Escondido. CA.   There is over $50K in restoration receipts that come with the car.   A little of the cars history and condition:

According to the caretaker of the 60 car collection (owner died). this Bugeye has always lived in the Escondido area and was a one-owner vehicle. until purchased by the collector. The car was completely original with a near perfect. rust free body and original paint. The motor. trans and all components were original to the car and in wonderful original condition with roughly 78K miles.   He stated the original owner was an older man when he bought it and only drove it for about fifteen years and then it was put away.

I saw the car once around 2002 and it was in wonderful “patina” survivor condition (I would have left it that way).   I do not remember even seeing a ding in the car.   The paint was tired but restorable.   Rudy however was the kind of guy that wanted to make his cars BRAND NEW. and fixated on finding the most solid and original cars that he could find.    

These little cars are perfectly round in shape and very difficult to put back to perfection if they are rough.   I have only seen a few examples with an original body in this kind of condition.   The car was completely disassembled and the body was then mounted to a rotissere and media blasted (inside. outside. and underside) to bare metal.   The Chrome is all brand new.   All rubber and weather stripping is new.  

The body was drenched in PPG etching primer to ensure a tight no rust finish.

Multiple coats of High Quality 2 part epoxy primer with hours and hours of block sanding between each coat until all panels were absolutely perfect.

Rudy used the Highest Quality PPG Two Stage (7 coats total) color sanded with consecutively finer grades of paper to a final grade of 3000.  

Buffed and shined to the ultimate mirror finish.  

The result is a finish that is truly spectacular.   The finish is less than four years old and is absolutely fabulous #1 condition in every way.   This is an extremely high-end paint job that should endure the test of time. being that the body is completely bondo free.    

All new Rubber Seals. Brand new Headlight Assembly Kits. Wheels were blasted and repainted.  

Mechanicals:

When the second owner bought the car back in 2000 time frame he drove the car like it was for several years.   Rudy was a motor “FREAK”. he had over 60 cars and had a motor builder working for him in his business.   They rebuilt the motor around 2004 and I am not really sure what was done.   I was told he always tore engines down to the crank and built them back to the highest spec that he could.   When you drive this car it is clear the engine was completely done to a very high standard.  

Two Austin Healey guys I know have driven the car and they both say it is one of the fastest Bugeyes they have ever driven.   Both said it feels like a 1275 engine.  

The car runs strong and while I have only driven it less than 30 miles in the two years that I have owned it I am amazed at how smooth it shifts and the amazing power it has.   I have a Morris Minor Traveler with basically the same engine and it won't get out of its own way.   Something major was done to this engine. but I just cannot tell you the specs.   If you are in or near Southern California. please come drive this little hot rod to see for yourself what I am talking about.  

The Clutch and Complete Cooling System are all new.  

A complete new wiring harness was put in the car during the restoration. As well it has a brand new alternator and regulator and all other electronics were either rebuilt or overhauled.  

The front-end and suspension was completed overhauled with new bushings and components.   It drives straight down the road at 70 mph with your hands off the wheel.   It tracks perfectly.    

Everything in the Braking System is brand new including brake lines. master cylinder and all brake components.   Brand new small white wall radial tires.  

Brand new Wiper Motor. two new Mirrors. Tail-light Lenses.  

Interior: 

The interior was completely removed and replaced.   It boasts brand new Door Panel Kits. Carpets. Seat Upholstery. Dash Recovered.   It has a brand new Top.   The interior material was carefully scrutinized to come as close to original as possible.   A cat got in the car once and climbed up the passenger seat I guess. because there are some fine puncture marks in the side/top panel.   It is probably an easy fit at the upholstery shop. but I just don't have the time and barely notice it myself.   Personally I just would not redo it unless I was going to a concour level show.  

There are no side curtains (I would never drive it in any weather so didn't see the need to buy any) with the car and the new wiper blades got lost along the way. I am looking for a set now and should have them by the time I ship the car to its new owner.   There is a removable radio antennae that is not pictured. as there is no radio in the car.   Why. you will want to listen to the sound of this stellar motor and exhaust anyway.  

The little Bugeye is the right color. completely restored and ready to drive. show or both.   I have too many cars and it must go.   You would be hard pressed to find one with as original a body anywhere.   It is by far one the straightest examples I have seen.   Mechanically it runs and drives better than any I have driven.  

I sell cars for people and have been around the car business for a long time and have sold a lot of cars on eBay over the years.   So. look at my rating and look  at what people have said about the cars they have bought from me.   I have restored and rebuilt many cars in the last 25 years and have judged car events up to Concour level.  

If you have any further question. please feel free to call me at 949-310-6262.  

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

The car is for sale locally and we reserve the right to cancel this auction at any time before the end of the auction.   We do not have a Buy It Now Price listed.

The car will be made available for inspection by serious bidders throughout the auction. Please e-mail us if you would like to see the car. If you prefer. we can arrange to have a qualified. independent. professional mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection for you (at your expense).

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL NOT ACCEPT PAYPAL AS A FORM OF PAYMENT. THIS IS TRUE FOR BOTH THE INITIAL DEPOSIT AS WELL AS THE FINAL PAYMENT.

Winning bidder must contact us within 24 hours of auction end. and make arrangements for payment at that time. A $500. 00 deposit is due within 48 hours of end of auction. The deposit can be made by cash (please do not mail cash!). bank check. cashier's check. or bank transfer (preferred). The remainder is due within 10 days of Auction end. The remaining balance must be made in the form of a bank transfer (preferred) Cashier's check. or bank check (all forms of payment subject to verification). PayPal will not be accepted as a form of payment for either the deposit or the final payment. If no contact is made within 24 hours we reserve the right to re-list the vehicle. sell it to the next high bidder. or sell it otherwise. Please arrange financing prior to bidding. Once the final balance has been paid. title transfer paperwork will be initiated.

Buyer is responsible for pickup or shipping of this vehicle. If you wish to have it shipped using a service. we will gladly cooperate. you can locate shippers by doing a search for “auto shippers”.   We have relationships with both domestic and international shippers should you need some assistance.  

This vehicle is being sold as is. where is with no warranty. expressed written or implied. The seller shall not be responsible for the correct description. authenticity. genuineness. or defects herein. and makes no warranty in connection therewith. No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness. imperfection. defect or damage. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to purchase based upon that judgment solely. The seller shall and will make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects associated with this vehicle at the buyer's request prior to the close of sale. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any oral statements about the vehicle.   Please Check My Feedback- I value my 100% positive rating. and will do my best to keep it.

The winning bidder should have the car insured from the time the final payment is made to us. Once final payment is made. we will exercise a generally accepted standard of care. but the buyer assumes all liability and risk once the final payment is made.

Before delivery of the vehicle. the winning bidder must provide a photocopy of a valid driver's license. Delivery is defined as the time at which physical possession of the car is transferred from us. the seller. to the buyer or the buyers' agent or chosen transport company.

If you are not sure about something. Please ASK. Do not assume anything not listed is included. We reserve the right to cancel bids for excessive negative feedback. We reserve the right to end the listing if the vehicle is no longer available for sale.  

Also published at eBay.com

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