Please educate me about Bond Bugs
Discussion
Chassis rot is very common and extensive, proper repairs mean body off. Running gear is Reliant so cheap to recon and upgrade, rear axle is unique to car. Body suffers around roof hinges. Front skirt under nose suffers from damage but not that much bodywork in total so comparatively cheap to restore whole shell. Full interior trim kits are available and cheap to buy. A word of advice...before you invest time/money have a drive of a bug on the road as it is an acquired taste. With the price of restored cars having not gone silly yet consider buying one done and save yourself the grief unless it's your "thing".
Look for the 750 rather than the 700. Yes they are an acquired taste but they are fun. Gel coat cracks will be obvious but less obvious will be damage where the body is fixed to the chassis. Pull up the seat padding, often there is little more than fresh air below. No idea on values, it's been a long time since I owned one.
You say that you have been offered a part dismantled Bug, are you only interested because it seems cheap, or, is it something that you fancy buying anyway? Are you good at welding, electrics, mechanicals and fibreglass and fancy a project, or would you be farming the work out? They are quite simple and straightforward, but, if you're paying someone it could cost more than a going concern.
There is a very good forum for the Bond Bug and I think they still do a list of what parts are common to other vehicles and have a spares section so I suggest you join that and have a browse.
I bought one a few years ago (it was a going concern, but the chassis was on its way out)and I very quickly found that a car I had fancied for many years was not for me. I think I'm too old for them now, as I had a terrible job getting in and out, but I'm glad that I finally tried one.
There is a very good forum for the Bond Bug and I think they still do a list of what parts are common to other vehicles and have a spares section so I suggest you join that and have a browse.
I bought one a few years ago (it was a going concern, but the chassis was on its way out)and I very quickly found that a car I had fancied for many years was not for me. I think I'm too old for them now, as I had a terrible job getting in and out, but I'm glad that I finally tried one.
I'd absolutely agree with Failhere's comments.
There was an ornage one local to me as a kid and I always wanted one. About 10 years ago an acquaintance who is a real die hard Reliant fan offered me a really sound 750 example at a decent price. I drove it once, and I'd driven plenty other Reliants before that, and I just did not enjoy it. I suppose it really is an acquired taste and those that get it seem to get really into it, but it's definetly not for evryone.
There was an ornage one local to me as a kid and I always wanted one. About 10 years ago an acquaintance who is a real die hard Reliant fan offered me a really sound 750 example at a decent price. I drove it once, and I'd driven plenty other Reliants before that, and I just did not enjoy it. I suppose it really is an acquired taste and those that get it seem to get really into it, but it's definetly not for evryone.
I nearly had a new one in 1970,my father was dead against me having a Lambretta and offered to put the extra £500 towards a Bond Bug,but all my mates had bikes or scooters and I persuaded him that I'd be OK on a powered two wheeler.
The four wheel conversion was a properly engineered job using a mini front subframe and was a seriously good handling device apparently.
The four wheel conversion was a properly engineered job using a mini front subframe and was a seriously good handling device apparently.
FailHere said:
You say that you have been offered a part dismantled Bug, are you only interested because it seems cheap, or, is it something that you fancy buying anyway? Are you good at welding, electrics, mechanicals and fibreglass and fancy a project, or would you be farming the work out? They are quite simple and straightforward, but, if you're paying someone it could cost more than a going concern.
There is a very good forum for the Bond Bug and I think they still do a list of what parts are common to other vehicles and have a spares section so I suggest you join that and have a browse.
I bought one a few years ago (it was a going concern, but the chassis was on its way out)and I very quickly found that a car I had fancied for many years was not for me. I think I'm too old for them now, as I had a terrible job getting in and out, but I'm glad that I finally tried one.
Ah, the original Villiers 250cc two-stroke engine! Now how many of those have I owned in Greeves, Cotton, Francis Barnett, etc. bikes?There is a very good forum for the Bond Bug and I think they still do a list of what parts are common to other vehicles and have a spares section so I suggest you join that and have a browse.
I bought one a few years ago (it was a going concern, but the chassis was on its way out)and I very quickly found that a car I had fancied for many years was not for me. I think I'm too old for them now, as I had a terrible job getting in and out, but I'm glad that I finally tried one.
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