Wheels: Classic Cars

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Shows/events • Weekly Cruise Nights

BY BRIAN BEAULIEU
Journal Staff Writer

Mention "Bugeye Sprite" and you'd be surprised how many people will respond, "Oh, I had one of those back then." Rick Ryan of Charlestown is one of those folks.

He bought his first one in 1967 when he was 16, and this is his fourth. He still has the others. "One is a yard planter in my back yard," he says. "It also serves as a very limited parts car for my current car. The other two were cut up for parts, many of which I still have."

The Bugeye was a popular entry-level sports car for many, sort of an Austin Healey "Lite." It takes its name from the headlights that pop out of the hood like twin beacons. The car had a host of other eccentricities, most of them mechanical. Parts of the car are really well put together, and others, well, not so.

Ryan bought this Sprite in July 2002 from the second owner in Medford, Mass. "The original owner, from Pennsylvania, had the car for 36 years, until he passed away," says Ryan. "His children sold it, after years of garage storage, in 1996."

The original bill of sale, which Ryan now has, lists the price as $1,795.

Basically unrestored, the Sprite has had one repaint. And Ryan upgraded the little engine to 1275 cc's when it had 75,000 miles on it. He uses a white fiberglass hardtop from one of his other Sprites on this one.

One oddity on this Sprite is that it carries two license plates, a vanity plate, SPRITE, and an antique plate. Ryan registered it twice -- the vanity plate allows him everyday use of the car.

Ryan, the director of senior services for South Kingstown, often drives the Sprite to work. But he doesn't do many car shows or cruise nights. He mostly just tools around South County when he can, using the Sprite for what it was intended. If he's on the road, you'll surely spot him and his wife, Mary, in the Sky Blue Bugeye.

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: 1275-cc four cylinder; four-speed manual

COLOR: Sky blue.

MILEAGE: 83,000.

PLATE: SPRITE, Antique 4566.

CAN BE SEEN: On the streets of South County.

CONDITION: Unrestored, one repaint

If you have a classic car you wish to be considered for this feature, please e-mail bbeaulie@projo.com with details.

Shows/events • Weekly Cruise Nights

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The big Autos of the World car and truck show will be held this weekend at Goddard State Park, Warwick, a three-day affair that includes a cruise, a car corral and a military vehicles show.

Entertainent will be provided Sunday by the legendary vocal group Little Anthony and the Imperials, a car name if there ever was one.

It all kicks off Friday night with a beachfront outing for classic car owners in front of the carousel. There will be a buffet catered by Wes's Rib House and music and dancing from 6-10. Reservations are required.

On Saturday, a classic car auction will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then, beginning at 6, classic cars will line up at Queen of Mercy Church for a cruise through Main Street, East Greenwich. This is limited to 150 cars, which must have stickers available at the starting point.

On Saturday and Sunday the truck, tractor and military show will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30. The car corral and swap meet will be held at the same time. The judged car show is Sunday, with registration between 8 a.m. and noon, and trophies awarded at 2:30. Little Anthony and the Imperials will perform Sunday between 10 and 1, but the exact time is undetermined.

For more information, go to www.autosoftheworldcarshow.com or call (401) 647-2731.

Cruise nights that are not held weekly are listed by date just below.

July 28 -- Inside Scoop, 1105 Scituate Ave., Cranston, 5:30-dusk.

July 29-31 -- Autos of the World, show, auction and swap meet, Goddard State Park, 345 Ives Road, Warwick.

July 31 -- Green Room, 145 Clifford St., Providence, 1964 and older cars only, 8-on.

July 31 -- Cars, trucks, motorcycles, Livesey Park, Fairhaven, Mass., 8-3.

July 31 -- Triumph day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

AUGUST

Aug. 3 -- American Legion post, Route 79, south of Route 140, Berkley, Mass., 5-dusk.

Aug. 4 -- Regional High School, Route 106, South Easton, Mass., 6-9.

Aug. 5 -- Mattapoisett wharf, Mattapoisett, Mass., 5-9.

Aug. 6 -- Ford show, Tasca Ford, Route 37 at Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, 9-3.

Aug. 6 -- Market Place Plaza, 1160 Stafford Rd., Tiverton, 4-dusk.

Aug. 6 -- Cruise night, Seekonk Wal-Mart, Route 6, Seekonk, 5-8.

Aug. 6 -- Ford Falcon show, Quality Inn, Route 83, Vernon, Conn., 8-3.

Aug. 7 -- Charlestown Seafood Festival, Ninigret Park, off Route 1, 11-3.

Aug. 7 -- Cumberland Festival, Diamond Hill State Park, Route 114, Cumberland, 9-3.

Aug. 7 -- Corvette show, Marina Park, Salt Pond Road, off Route 1, South Kingstown, 8:30-3.

Aug. 7 -- UMass. campus, Dartmouth, Mass., 8-3.

Aug. 7 -- Mazda Miata day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Aug. 9 -- Brooks Pharmacy plaza, Washington Street, Canton, Mass., 5-dusk.

Aug. 12 -- St. Mary's Church, Dartmouth Street, Dartmouth, Mass., 5-9.

Aug. 16 -- West Greenwich Plaza, 780 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, 6-dusk.

Aug. 19 -- Shawmut Diner, Hathaway Road, Exit 3 off Route 140, New Bedford, 5-9.

Aug. 20 -- R.I. Air National Guard show, Schoolhouse Road, Coventry, 10-3.

Aug. 21 -- Medway VFW, 126 Holliston Rd., Medway, Mass. 8-3.

Aug. 21 -- MG/Rover day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Aug. 27, 28 -- Military vehicle show, Quonset Air Museum, North Kingstown, 10-4.

Aug. 28 -- Show and flea market, Somerset Middle School, 1141 Brayton Ave., Somerset, 10-5.

Aug. 28 -- Plainfield School, Route 14A, Plainfield, Conn., 8-4.

Aug. 28 -- Vintage Ford day, includes Lincolns and Mercurys, pre-1970, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sam's Club, Route 6, Seekonk, 5-dusk.

Big River Inn, 809 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Route 3, West Greenwich, 5-8.

Burger King-Krispy Kreme lot, Sockanosset Road and Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, 6-9.

Seekonk Speedway, Route 6, Seekonk, 6-dusk.

Middle of Nowhere diner, 223 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Route 3, Exeter, cars and motorcycles, 5-8:30.

Appetites Restaurant, 473 Tiogue Ave., Coventry, 5-8.

Towne Pizza, Plum Corner, off Route 105, Rochester, Mass., 5-9.

Motorcycles, Chan's Restaurant, 267 Main St., Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30.

A&W, Route 44, Smithfield, 6-9.

Oakland Beach, Warwick, 5-9.

Jukebox Diner, Route 6, Somerset, 5-9.

Slater Park, Pawtucket, 5-9.

Patriot's Bar and Grille, Routes 140 and 126, Bellingham, Mass., 6-9.

Motorcycles, Suzy Q's Place, 208 Plainfield Pike, Scituate, 5-9.

Warwick Mall, food court entrance, Route 2, Warwick, 6-9.

Denny's, Exit 7 off Route 95, Coventry, 6-9.

Main Street, Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30.

Downtown Attleboro, 5-8:30.

Florentina restaurant, Route 140, Franklin, Mass., 6-9.

Mohegan Sun, roof of Riverview garage, Uncasville, Conn., 6-9. Begins tonight.

Scrambler's diner, off Route 122, Woonsocket, 5-9.

Star Drive-In, exit 10 off Route 140, Taunton, 5-9.

TGI Fridays, Routes 117 and 2, Warwick, 5-dusk. .

Paddy's Bayside, 159 Atlantic Ave. Misquamicut Beach, Westerly, 5:30-dusk.

McDonald's, Stop & Shop plaza, Route 122, Cumberland, 6-9.

Firestone tire store, Post Road, Route 1, Warwick, 6-9.

Gazebo at the Village Green, Route 116, North Scituate, 5-dusk. British cars and others.

Milk Bottle restaurant, Route 138, Raynham, 5:30-7:30.

Carousel at Crescent Park Drive, Riverside, 5-8.

Cliquot cruise, Route 109, Millis, Mass. 6-9.

To list an event, e-mail information to Bbeaulie [at] projo.com, phone (401) 277-7179, fax (401) 277-8175 or write to Brian Beaulieu, Journal Features Department, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.