What do you see that is out of place in the picture above? You would be correct if you answered that there is a ton of rodent residue in the engine bay of a 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite. However, look closer. Sitting near the cowl is one of the cute rabbits that made this cute Bugeye their home. Chances are that this cute and fluffy bunny is just one of the generations that have come and gone from this desirable sports car’s innards. Would you be interested in such a car? What if it were being offered at a bargain price?
The ad for this Bugeye is about as short as that bunny is messy. The seller tells us that this 1961 Austin-Healey has been driven 1,961 miles, has a clear title, is mostly complete, has some rust, and it has been sitting for decades. While it is hard to believe that this car has traveled that few miles, anything is possible. Maybe the bunnies got to it early in its life. While you debate whether that number is true or false, take a look at the front bumper of the car. It is rare to see a bumper on Bugeyes at all, yet this one may be a factory option. Notice how far out it sits to accommodate the tilting front end.
A shot from the rear reveals a set of knobby tires and rust in the quarter panels behind the rear wheels. There also appears to be some rust damage at the bottom of the cowl where it meets the front lower edge of the door. Rust is noticeably absent from the sills. Even the damage we see is not insurmountable. The curve in the bodywork in the rear and the partially flat cowl area is subtle and likely within the talent parameters of a good body man. To be honest, the body does look quite restorable from this angle.
There is more rust when you look at the other rear quarter panel. While the damage seems to be a bit more pronounced, it could also likely be repaired with little fuss. We can also see that the windshield and its framework are missing. These are reproduced, but the seller may have it stuffed behind the seats in the cavernous cavity behind the seats. Given that the Bugeye was built as cheaply as possible, one way that costs were cut was to not offer a trunk at all. The storage area had to be accessed by pushing your cargo behind the seats. In subsequent restyles that was remedied.
A look at the passenger front of this Bugeye reveals some damage to the front-end bodywork. The hood doesn’t seem to meet up with the core of the body very well either. Another curious item to notice is the damage at the bottom of the passenger side door. The gaps are very tight on this door, and that might simply be a piece of damaged upholstery sticking out. Or it might be a bent-up section for whatever reason.
Peering into the cockpit of this diminutive sports car we can see the spare tire, the top framework, and that at least one seat is still there. We can also see that the dash has been subject to some butchery, mainly the horrid radio installation job. What would help prospective buyers the most would be a look at the floors. Austin-Healeys of this vintage were not immune to rust, and the unibody construction of the Sprite relies on structural rigidity. Having no floor puts a slight damper on the rigidity of the car. As always with a vintage car, inspecting it in person and, hopefully, with someone with more knowledge about the vehicle in question is always a good idea.
Overall, this may be a diamond in the rough. Even in parts car condition, Bugeye Sprites usually sell for more than this. Once you remove the bunny and his friends, clean the car out, and pressure wash everything, you might find a far more solid car than it appears to be in the ad. Even if the bottom of the car is gone, you could likely part it out and get your money back. Maybe the seller will even throw in the bunny at no charge for your kids if you ask nicely.
If you are looking for a small, yet possibly promising project car, this 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite is for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Golden, Colorado. The asking price is $2,500, and that does not include the bunny in the first picture. Thanks to T.J. for the interesting find!
Man, that is one massive infestation. Going to take the Binford 9000 hemi powered vac for this one. Snow tires? On a Bugeye? That’s right, as a Colorado car, it was driven in snow more than once. I bet it was even filled with snow, and someone froze their tuchas off. With a couple cinder blocks in the back, they actually did okay in light snow. It was just cheap wheels for a while. Got to give sellers a shred of credit, like, yeah,,1,900 miles. That speedo quit working the 3rd time around. Bugeyes are one of those novelty cars, like the Amphicar, or the King Midget, a definite following, and almost always worth fixing. This one I fear is pretty shot underneath. Great parts car for some lucky owner of another.
Best put a hepa filter in the vacumn and wear your N95 and gloves.
Could be Hanta virus in there.
Then power wash with hydrogen peroxide.
Stand upwind.
I inherited a Marquis that was stored in a barn for one winter in New Hamshire and the engine compartment was packed with acorns and litter.
Dry and dirty and flammable.
“Binford 9000 hemi’…..HAHAHAHA! Good one.
This could be better that it looks. We’ve owned 5 Bugeyes and had to fix rust on all 5. The A pillar rust at the bottom almost came from the factory as it has no way to drain, same for the rear quarters as they are boxed in and were spot welded in with no caulking. Outside rockers had two holes in the bottom to let the water out and nothing but bare metal inside like everything else. Moss Motors has every piece of this car you would need to put it back together. Front bumpers were standard on all cars but this one looks like the supports are not factory. It’s worth buying and restoring.
Example of the worst it can get. Did replace the front half of the inside rocker piece.
Great info bobhess from someone who really knows the product. And goodness Mr. Howard, I can’t say I ever thought of these remotely in the same category as a Midget or Amphicar, but an interesting take I guess.
I had an urge to find one of these to restore and play with long ago, I was attracted to their absolute simplicity and cartoonish look. At the time (early 80’s), likely due to supply/demand in my region, decent candidates were relatively rare or overpriced, and my car fever was all over the map anyway. Not ever even driven one to this day, but maybe that urge to pursue one might return.
Oh, by the way I’m referring to the King Midget in my other post, certainly not the MG Midget, which would actually be closer to the same category as the bugeye.
And here I thought VW was the first to offer Rabbit as a model.
AH Bugeye (or Frogeye as our friends across the pond call it) is a fun little car and a hoot at an Autocross. Add that they’re easy to work on and you’ve got a great project here-if it’s not a total mess underneath rust-wise.
The seller may be a little optimistic with the price given that the interest in cars of this era is beginning to wane but GLWTS.
Strip it for whatever parts and and the rest to the crusher
Send the rest to me…
Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat !!!!!
‘Again?’🤣
Restoration costs don’t factor in the end value. Metalwork and paint is the same regardless of whether it’s a VW, Austin-Healy or a Porsche. This needs more in just the metalwork than the restored value of the car. Parts car at this point.
I’m sorry, but I’m not very hop-timistic about this Bugeye. ..
Honestly that is the first time I have seen where a bunny built a nest in a car, I say put the car back and let the bunny have it.
That’s because it didn’t build a nest there. Rabbits don’t do that. They live in holes. That was a staged photo. Looks like a pet rabbit, not a wild one. That’s pure rodent(rat, mouse) debris. I can’t even imagine how many rodents were living under that hood. It is a health hazard to even open that hood. You’d need a hazmat suit to pressure wash that mess. Personally, I’d send this whole thing to the crusher.
to much money , should be a free one , see how much work needs doing.
Saw one of these in traffic the other day. So tiny compared to everything else. Scary, and I ride a motorcycle.
I have done many Spridgets in my day and even if this car is too far gone underneath, the nose and tail (especially the tail) look to be in decent shape. You can unbolt the front fenders and hood on most Mark III and IV Spridgets and install the hood (bonnet). The rear end sheetmetal can be cut off and with a bit of fitting, the bugeye tail can be installed. All Spridget tubs are the same specs and the rubber bumpered Midgets have additional steel reinforcement for a stronger project. I know this because I did one and it came out great. If someone knows how to post a photograph in this comment section, let me know I will post a picture and show you a Mark IV Bugeye with a later model folding top! It is not that hard to do either!!
The difference is that Spridgets have semi-elliptic springs, whereas Frogeyes have quarter-elliptic ones.
When you click on to make a comment, just above the little “Browse” box it says Attach Image. click on that and it will send you to a pictures section, assuming you have pictures in your lap top. Find your picture, double click to pull it out of the group, double click again and it will show up after you submit your comment.
Also, the nest infestation probably protected the engine compartment from corroding. That may be a good thing. A good shop vac and pressure washer will reveal all. I would definitely look at this car if I weren’t on the east coast but it’s not worth $2500 to me. I would take it for $11-1200, remove the hood and tail section and part the rest out for Bugeye owners.
Rodent urine is almost corrosive as acid. This bad boy is played out.
Better off throwing in the rabbit
That is really nasty.
Take a hose and spray off engine. One does no favors showing mouse poop and nests. Put on a mask snd spray it off please!
Ok Colorado huh? I was stationed at Ft. Carson, CO, from Oct 73-April 76. My first car ever was a very cheep 59 Karman Ghia, all 30 hp and 4 speeds worth, not Syncro in first! Talk about freezing your tuchas off! Yea little to no heat, with NO defroster! But with the 4 oversized Firestone Town&Country snow tires I put on all around,with the rears studded with cinderblock and tool bag in the frunk? It was almost unstoppable in any amount of snow and ice! There was a couple Bugeyes around the Post, that has modifications that I could never catch, until the snow hit. Or till I added a more modern 1,900 VW engine I found in a dune buggy, that also came with a modern 4 speed highway flyer, plus front end with disk brakes! Then it was SEEYA! Lots of fond memories!