I'm 100% with Bruce. I restored a Bug to concours and the absolute
biggest pain in the butt (and where the wallet is) was the rust
repair mission.
The other thing is the endless search for original parts. If this
is important to you and if the car you saw happens to be, by some
small chance, close to 100% original then 1K for a rust bucket is
a good price but u will need to find a tub. I believe u said the
bonnet wasn't bad - that's a good start.
Mike L.
AN5 10426
----- Original Message -----
From Bruce Lowry <egnorant at flash.net>
To: Bill & Cindy <fatboy@metro.net>
Cc: Spridgeteers <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: April 6, 2000 6:42 AM
Subject: Re: A question of value
> 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
>
>
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