I’m sure many of our non-British readers are saying “what the heck is this?” to themselves. This three-wheeler 1970 Bond Bug is for sale here on eBay, where bidding is all the way up to $400 with no reserve. It’s located in Tuscon, Arizona which is a good thing for me because I’d be bidding if it were closer. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Darrun for sending in this tip!
The Bond Bug has a very impressive (and strange) resume:
- It was designed as the first Bond to be produced after Reliant bought the Bond brand.
- The Czech body designer (Tom Karen) was given the brief to design a “fun” car.
- Karen later designed the Star Wars Landspeeders, one of which for the original movie was made using a Bug chassis.
- The chassis was designed by John Crosthwaite, well-known for his race car chassis design for Cooper and Lotus.
- It has been voted both one of the 15 ugliest cars ever and the funniest car of the 1970s.
- The upper end 700ES model (which this one is) came with a spare tire (!) a front bumper and mudflaps.
- All except six of the 2,270 produced between 1970 and 1974 were tangerine orange. The other six were manfactured in white for a sweepstakes.
For some strange reason, this particular car has been fitted with a VW transaxle. It originally would have had a 750 cc, 31 horsepower inline four cylinder engine under the center dash/console powering the rear wheels. I’d source something smaller if I couldn’t find the original rear end, maybe MG Midget, and go back to something under the hood. Believe it or not, one person has installed a 300 hp turbocharged Hayabusa engine (see video here). I saw that car at a British car show in
Naturally, the interior would have to be redone. There’s not much to do, however!
Yes, there is a trunk. Not much of one, but there is a trunk. As of 2013, there were five of them registered in the US, with only 117 still on the road in the UK. Feel like adding to the list?
Shame someone’s put the VW transaxle on it. At least, it would have been useable with the original driveline.
The Bond Bug was one of the great British eccentric automotive marvels.
i missed out on this as i had to go to work and was outbid. my plan was to swap the steering to the lhd and install a triumph 2300cc! a smart for two subassembley on the front for 2 wheels and the one motorcycle wheel in the rear fiberglass doors for winter driving, a flappy paddle gear change on the steering wheel……….
It can go 300 hectres on a single tank of kerosene,,,
Hectares, site is doing weird stuff again.
Put it in H!
I owned one of these while stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the late ’70’s. Driving it was an absolutely terrifying experience…especially when returning to base after a night at the pub. I sold it to a fellow airman and bought a Renault Alpine. Probably the only intelligent decision I made while overseas. Certainly wish I had brought that Renault back home!
Now imagine how “exciting” that would be if the thing had been rear engined and swing axle – – as it appears one owner was considering. Yikes. Not enough liquor in the world to get me into that thing.
Look on line for the Wheeler Dealers that did one of these; might help whomever buys it.
The wheeler dealer bug is in the line up
The photo was taken this year at the cockerbug rally
join the bug club for more details
Best episode ever of the real “Top Gear” when Clarkson drives a similar car through the BBC offices. Might have been a Reliant Robin?
Frank, the car Top Gear drive around a BBC building was the Peel P50. They were built on the Isle Of Man in the 50’s. Jeremy Clarkson drove the Peel which has no reverse gear so you pick it up and lift it around !.
It was a Robin he drove around town and kept turning it on it’s side when he made a sharp turn. The Stig did the same thing; fun to watch.
For the show, the Robin was modified with weights to make sure that it would tip over.
Tom Justice If i remember correctly the car they put in the lift/elevator and then drove around the BBC office was a 1964 Peel P50. A car that since about 2010 is back in production! Best ever Top Gear program was the hour special they did on the Reliant Robin. Absolutely hilarious. Clips are on YouTube as are clips of the Peel at the BBC…
The P50 makes a Robin look like a stretch limo in comparison! Clarkson’s Reliant Robin feature was hysterical despite being obviously staged:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8
Quick. Somebody squash that bug.
Or call the exterminator.
2 in frnt seems 2 wrk better (C the motorcycles frm Canada all over the place here).
Now we finally know where AMC got their inspiration for the Gremlin.