Working on the Car, v.1

February – May, 2006

Dad called me shortly after Christmas, sounding like a kid ON Christmas morning: “IT CAME!  It came!  The box from Moss Motors is here!!”  
What’s in it, Dad?
“I don’t know – and I’m not going to open it up until you get back up here.  This is OUR project and I’m not going it alone.”

Okay, that was going to pose a problem.  St. Louis and Milwaukee aren’t exactly suburbs and 6 hour trips take some planning.  I was busy as a Development Director at a school and preaching at least once a month amongst other responsibilities at Vineyard.  We finally found a weekend in February (the middle of winter in Wisconsin?!?) and I drove up.

We cleaned out the inside, throwing out a bunch of stuff – rusted out seats and soaked seat cushions, molding that was rotten, other pieces of insulation and mud that we didn’t need and didn’t belong in “Bugs”.  We had fun going over each piece and deciding to keep it or tossing it.  Dad journaled our activity and we catalogued what parts we needed to order.

It was way too cold to get very much done in the garage in February.  We accomplished two major things – got “Bugs” on the jacks, off the floor and removed the tires Brake drums.

“Necessity is the mother of invention”, right?  Well, sometimes pain has a lot to do with it too!  Under the bonnet, Dad and I found that we could spend about 10 minutes bent over looking at things there before one of us either A) found our backs spasming or B) hitting our heads ON the bonnet trying to straighten up! 

So I got to make my first deductive suggestion: Uh, Dad?  I see that the bonnet is only held on by four bolts.  We need to adjust them eventually anyway so what do you think about just taking it off completely?  {Pause as engineer ponders weight, strength of self and son, veritability of hoisting said bonnet to joists, wind speed, position of moon, curve and rotation of the earth, etc.}

“EUREKA!  Let’s try it!”

I held the bonnet at the front while Dad loosened the bolts.  I slid to one side, Dad on the other and Voila!  It was LOTS lighter than either of expected and it now stands on its back behind “Bugs”.  I think we took turns watching each other bend and straighten, repeat – no pain!  Bend, straighten – no pain!!  HOORAY!!

Eureka – no bonnet!

Tune in again soon to find out what was in the box from Moss Motors and what we did with it!

Happy motoring,
Andy

New Page Added

Check out the new page “The Project Begins” for the latest addition to the restoration!  AFTER you are done reading the introdcution below, of course! 😉

Last updated: June 3, 2007

Here’s the story of two men named Bundesen…

Ok, so it isn’t exactly as melodic as the Brady Bunch theme, but it is true!

First, the introductions: 

Dad – Dick Bundesen, an original Austin Healey Sprite owner, way back in 1960.  Met Mom, chose her over the car (completely understand!) and the car went into the realm of dreams and “one day”.

Andy – Andy Bundesen, son of the above.  Since age 12, has heard and seen Dad react whenever the sight or sound of a Bugeye would be near.  Goosebumps and stories accompanied many, MANY brats, sunburns and trips to Road America to see these “cute” little cars race around the greatest road race course in North America (see www.roadamerica.com)

Fast forward:  I (Andy) scour the internet and eBay looking for a “project car”, a Bugeye for Dad and me to restore.  The financing and the car decide to meet, hold hands and court and TA DA!!  Dad purchases “our” car in Spring of 2005.  We have it shipped from California and it shows up in Milwaukee in a downpour with Dad at work and me in St. Louis (home).

Mom helps the truck driver by chasing the car down the street after it comes off the car carrier in the rain!!  THANKS, MOM!!

Thus begins the saga.  Dad names the car “Bugs” and he (the car, not Dad!) is comfortably parked in the garage.  See the pics of the beginning of the project below and check back often for updates and other thoughts on various car, race and life-related issues.

Happy motoring!

Andy

Pics:

Here’s what an Austin Healey “Bugeye” Sprite looks like:

Two Bugeyes in Corner 5 at RA in the Mid-70s 

From May 2005

Dad checks out Bugs – under the bonnet

First cockpit view -yup, needs some work!