This is one of those moments where I am glad that there are a lot of miles between me and the location of a classic car. If I lived closer to Saint Paul, Minnesota, I would find it extremely hard to justify not bidding on this 1959 Bugeye Sprite. It has been listed for sale here on eBay, and bidding has only reached $519 in a No Reserve auction. For anyone on the search for a classic British sports car, this has to be a tempting proposition.

Beneath that rather drab green paint, which looks like it was applied with a paint-brush, it appears that the Sprite started life finished in a shade called Primrose. Whoever was responsible for the color change has done the car absolutely no favors. Apart from the awful color, there is plenty of rust for us to see in the Sprite. The floors are history (the owner makes references to Fred Flintstone!), while the front clip looks to also be pretty bad. We don’t get much of a look at the back half of the car, but so far, it really doesn’t look that promising. However, the frame itself looks like it might be solid, and if it is, there might be some hope for this old girl yet.

If you were hoping to look inside the Bugeye and get a glimpse of an interior that was just in need of a bit of TLC, I’m sorry to disappoint you. What you see is what you get with the Sprite, and what you get isn’t a lot. I was initially full of optimism about the dash until I spotted the dirty great hole that has been cut into it on the passenger side. It looks like this might have been the home for an aftermarket stereo, and that’s a crying shame when you consider that the rest of the dash and gauges appear to be in good condition. However, all is not lost with the little Sprite. A quick search of the internet reveals that it is possible to find a good dash, minus gauges, for around $250. In addition, a complete interior trim set, including a nice new set of covers for the seats, can be had for under $900. This is one of those classics where an interior restoration can be performed for surprisingly little money.

Now that we’ve had our good news, it’s time to resume our regular service. The engine for the Sprite is currently sitting on a stand, and it is locked. The owner has placed some Mystery Oil into the cylinders, so hopefully, it will do the trick of getting that engine turning again. Included with the car is two complete transmissions, so that’s a bit of a bonus. The rest of the mechanical components appear to be present, and the owner says that the little Sprite does roll and steer. He also says that there are some additional parts included, but doesn’t elaborate on what these are. However, he does emphasize the fact that he would like someone to rescue the car.

It has been said that the Bugeye Sprite has a face that only a mother could love, but this isn’t necessarily the case. It is possible today to buy a really nice example for around $16,000, but a pristine car will achieve figures above $20,000. That suggests that these are loved by plenty of people. It is pretty easy to buy project cars in better condition than this one, but you won’t find ones that are potentially cheaper. If someone does eventually take on the restoration of this car, then they will need to be dedicated, because it looks like it is going to be a big job. Still, there are four people who have been willing to bid on the car, so maybe there’s some hope for it yet.