Have you ever wanted to be popular, and I mean REALLY popular? So popular in fact that strangers are literally queuing up to speak to you wherever you stop? The kind of popular that minor celebrities and X-Factor wannabes can only dream about? If your answer is yes then I’ve got just two words for you. Bond Bug.
This remarkable and absolutely mad orange wedge belongs to Alan, who looked perfectly at home sitting in his fabulous 1973 Bond Bug as I rolled in to the car park for our photoshoot. Little did I know that I was about to experience a surreal few hours, and get just a taster of what Alan calls normal life.
Not Your Average Alan
Before we get too involved with the Bug, let’s briefly shine a light on Alan so you know exactly who you’ll be staring at disbelievingly if he ever drives past you. He is, after all, not your average Alan.
Over the years, our particular Alan has had not one Bond Bug, nor two, or even three – but in fact six Bugs! He admits that these unique three-wheelers have been his primary focus in the classic car world. Our Alan really is a Bug man, through and through.
You should be getting the picture by now about Alan but, in case you aren’t, I’ll also add that he owns two full-sized Daleks and a bright orange Raleigh Chopper bought to complement his Bug at shows. He also setup and runs the Bond Bug Facebook group; offering an active online social hub for these rare orange wedges right across the world.
First Impressions
I’m almost ashamed to admit that this was my first proper look around a Bond Bug. That’s not particularly surprising when you consider that there are only 170 roadworthy examples in the UK according to How Many Left. Happily that number appears to be climbing slowly as people dig them out of garages and restore them. No doubt due to the impression they make when you see one in the flesh (actually, fibreglass).
Firstly, there’s the colour which needs no introduction and was seemingly the only colour they were available in. Then, of course, is the fact that the Bug is tiny and rolls on just three wheels. Next, there’s the wonderful clamshell design which hinges just after the headlights, tipping the whole windscreen and roof forwards to allow entry.
Getting in to the Bug requires some initial thought. The technique is to lift the roof, plonk your bum in to the seat (sidesaddle) and then swing your legs in. Once in, lower the roof and remember to mind your head! With the roof safely closed, fire up the engine, and away you go.
The 700cc engine and gearbox in Alan’s Bug are original to the car. Many Bugs have had theirs swapped out for the more powerful Reliant Robin engine. This one however, is the real deal. Nestled neatly between driver and passenger, the little unit is a riot of classic charm. Sitting just millimetres from the engine obviously brings noise and heat, but it also brings character. Everything inside the car is so close that you might as well be wearing it. There are no two ways about it, it’s snug!
Shaken, Not Stirred
It’s not just the engine in this Bug that’s original. Almost everything is factory fit, right down to the dynamo in place of a more modern alternator. There’s an electronic ignition upgrade for reliability, but this car is otherwise more or less exactly as it left the factory almost 50 years ago. That includes the original suspension, which is incredibly firm to say the least. The car bobs, weaves, and shakes as we bounce along a fast A road, but it’s all astonishingly good fun.
And Then It Got Weird
Motoring around in a Bond Bug on a sunny day is a really fantastic experience. People stare in open-mouthed amazement as you fly by, but it’s when you stop that things start getting a bit weird.
Over the course of our photoshoot, Alan and I stopped at a few different places that looked interesting. No matter where we stopped, someone would invariably wander over and start chatting to us. It seemed that everyone within five miles of the car had either had one, known someone who had had one, or wanted one for themselves. Some people just wanted to know what the heck the Bug was and to take a photograph. On our last stop of the day, Alan even had a queue of three separate groups of people waiting to talk to him within five minutes of parking up. This is not a car to drive if you’re socially awkward or having a bad day. Actually… maybe it’s exactly the car you need.
Hearts and Minds
So it seems that the Bug is a tremendously popular car in the hearts and minds of the general public. Its very existence is a source of amazement for most people, and if you drive a Bug you’re instantly marked out as someone worth talking to. Rightly so too, in my opinion. It takes a special kind of person to drive something like this Bug, and I can’t thank Alan enough for having me along for the ride. It was an experience I won’t forget in a hurry!
Join the Club
Thanks for reading this blog post. We really hope that you enjoyed it. If you’ve got something weird and wonderful on wheels, why not get in touch and arrange a photoshoot of your own? There’ll be memories made and a special place right here on the Supercharged blog to celebrate your machine.
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