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Supercharged 350–Powered, 30-Years-Owned 1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite

This 1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite was acquired by the seller in 1995, when it had already been set up for a V8 engine and had a steel-tube chassis. Around 2013, the seller installed a Chevrolet 350ci V8 that is outfitted with a B&M supercharger, .030″-over forged pistons, a Crane camshaft, dual Demon 625cfm carburetors, Mallory ignition, and Sanderson headers. Other equipment includes a TCI StreetFighter TH350 three-speed automatic transmission, a B&M torque converter, a narrowed Ford 8” rear end, a Mustang II–style steering rack, a Flaming River steering column, Wilwood 11” front disc brakes, stainless-steel front control arms, a four-link rear suspension, front and rear coilovers, chrome and body-color 15″ steel wheels, and bright hubcaps. The yellow body features a fiberglass clamshell hood and fiberglass rear-fender flares accented by 3″ side exhaust pipes, and the custom interior is trimmed in tan leather upholstery and houses AutoMeter instrumentation. This modified Bugeye is now offered with a clean California title in the seller’s name.

The steel body is mounted on a fabricated steel-tube frame, and it implements a fiberglass clamshell hood and fiberglass rear-fender flares. The seller states that the body seams have been smoothed and the windshield chopped, noting that the car is wider, longer, and lower than a Bugeye in stock trim. Polished 3″ exhaust pipes span the wheelbase. The yellow paint was applied around 2013, and the seller points out hairline cracks in the fender flares. The vehicle lacks bumpers, windshield wipers, and a convertible top.

The front suspension incorporates stainless-steel upper and lower control arms, 2” drop spindles, a narrowed Mustang II–style steering rack, and Aldan American stainless coilover front shocks. The rear suspension has been updated with a Jegs four-link setup and Koni coilover shocks.

Body-color 15″ steel wheels contrasted by chrome lips and bright hubcaps are mounted with Hankook Ventus R-S3 tires measuring 195/50 at the front and 225/45 out back. Stopping is handled by Wilwood 11” front disc brakes, Ford-sourced rear drums, and twin master cylinders with a cockpit-accessible Wilwood proportioning valve. The seller notes that the parking-brake cable is not connected and the brake-light pressure switch should be replaced.

The custom interior is upholstered in tan leather with contrast stitching. Appointments include beige carpeting, a B&M QuickSilver shifter,
lap belts, and door-panel storage pockets. The leather-wrapped four-spoke steering wheel is secured to a Flaming River stainless-steel tilting column.

AutoMeter Pro-Comp Ultra-Lite instrumentation positioned at the center of the dash consists of a 120-mph speedometer, a 10k-rpm tachometer, and gauges for water temperature, voltage, oil pressure, and fuel level. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows approximately 2,250 miles, which is said to reflect the distance accumulated since the 2013 refurbishment. The seller states that the odometer reading is not accurate, and true mileage is unknown.

Installed in 2013, the Chevrolet 350ci V8 has been bored .030″ over, according to the seller, and is augmented by the following components:

  • Forged pistons
  • Crane Cams camshaft (287° duration, 114° separation)
  • B&M supercharger
  • Dual Demon 625cfm carburetors
  • Mesh-encased air cleaners
  • Polished rocker covers
  • Mallory Unilite ignition
  • Spal electric cooling fan
  • Sanderson QP1000 exhaust headers
  • Custom 3” stainless-steel exhaust system

The seller notes an oil leak, possibly from the driver-side valve-cover gasket.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a TCI StreetFighter TH350 three-speed automatic transmission, a B&M torque converter, and a narrowed Ford 8” rear end.

A reproduction chassis-number plate has been installed.

350-Powered Fiat 500 Topolino-Style Hot Rod

This custom hot rod was built around 2019 using a fabricated steel chassis and a power-operated, funny car-style fiberglass body modeled after a Fiat 500A Topolino. Completed c.2019, the car is powered by a 350ci Chevrolet V8 with a COMP Cams camshaft, a bug-catcher air scoop, an Edelbrock carburetor, a Weiand intake manifold, and Sanderson exhaust headers, and it is linked to a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission and a 9” rear end. It rides on a Lucky 7 axle with radius rods up front and a four-link setup with adjustable coilovers out back, and other details include a Ford Model T-style grille, a front-mounted fuel tank, American Racing 15” wheels with staggered tires, and four-wheel disc brakes. Inside, black leather and ostrich-skin upholstery is joined by a column-mounted tachometer, and AutoMeter gauges.This Fiat hot rod was acquired by the seller out of South Carolina in 2022 and is now offered with a clean Florida title in the seller’s name listing it as a 1937 Fiat.

The rear-hinged fiberglass body opens and closes using electric linear actuators, and it has been fitted with a removable black vinyl roof covering and an acrylic windshield with a manually operated wiper. A Ford Model T-style grille shell was installed along with perforated panels on either side of the engine compartment, and the bodywork was finished in red with black stripes along the sides. A gasser-style fuel tank is mounted ahead of a mesh grille insert.

A rear-mounted Shroud parachute and Model A-style taillights on polished stands are mounted out back.

American Racing 15” wheels are mounted with 165/80 Classic Radial LL800 tires up front and 255/70 Cooper Cobra Radial G/T units out back. The “suicide” front setup incorporates a front drop axle, hairpin radius rods, and transverse leaf springs sourced from Lucky 7, and they are finished in black. A triangulated four-link assembly and adjustable coilovers support the narrowed rear axle. The steering is chain-driven, and braking is handled by four-wheel discs.

The cabin features reclining bucket seats trimmed in black leather with ostrich-skin inserts, and color-coordinated carpets line the floors. Additional appointments include diamond-plate floorboards, a chrome shifter, push-button ignition, and toggle-switch controls.

The RASTP steering wheel is mounted to a tilt column and sits ahead of an 8k-rpm tachometer with an integrated shift light, while a brushed aluminum bezel houses AutoMeter instrumentation consisting of a 120-mph speedometer flanked by auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 3,600 miles, approximately 1k of which have been added under current ownership.

The auxiliary fuel tank is mounted behind the seats. The battery is mounted ahead of it, and there is a kill switch and external connectors for the battery under the near bodywork.

The 350ci Chevrolet V8 is equipped with a COMP Cams camshaft, a bug-catcher air scoop, an Edelbrock carburetor, a Weiand intake manifold, Sanderson short-tube exhaust headers, and finned aluminum valve covers secured with T-bar fasteners. The radiator is cooled by an electric puller fan, and a beer can is used as the expansion tank. The diamond-plate firewall is finished in black. A tune-up and oil change were recently performed according to the seller.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission and a 9” rear end.

The car is titled as a 1937 Fiat using the VIN 37FI145.

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