Description
It’s been over 20 years since we last offered a Bond Bug onto the market and there’s no doubt over recent years these rare 3-wheeler Bugs have developed a very strong following. Reliant took over Bond Cars Ltd in 1969 but a couple of years later commissioned their design consultants Ogle to produce a sports three wheeler for the ‘young’ generation under the Bond name. The early Bond Bugs were built at the Bond factory in Preston but on the closure of the factory production moved over to Reliant at Tamworth. They used all the mechanicals from the Reliant Regal including the 700cc water cooled engine on a new chassis. The Bug featured a very futuristic wedge shaped fibre glass body with lift up front to allow access into the vehicle. All were said to be painted bright Orange with Black seats (with exception to promotional vehicles) and the models on offer came under three specifications 700, 700E and 700ES.
EYX 44J is a Bond Bug 700ES, the top of the range model. The 700 was the standard model, the 700E was the deluxe version that included telescopic canopy damper, side screens and heater, and the ES offered the deluxe spec but was powered by a higher compression engine and also featured wing mirrors, spare wheel, mud flaps and a racing steering wheel. This example was purchased by its most recent owner back in 2015 as a complete barn find. Since then, the Bond Bug has been completely restored and put into regular use. Having thoroughly enjoyed the Bond for several years, its recent owner has decided to part with the vehicle and had a faultless final drive from Hornsea, East Yorkshire to our premises here in North Yorkshire.
A huge level of expense has gone into restoring the Bond to a high standard. The body has been re-painted from the gel coat up and its had new side screens, new decals, seals and the upholstery has been replaced. The engine has had new gaskets, new oil seals, new timing chain, tensioners and new sump. The cooling system has been re-conditioned with a new radiator and cap, new water pump and gasket and the fuel system renewed with a re-conditioned fuel tank, new facet fuel pump, fuel hose and Zenith carburettor. The electrics have been renewed with a new wiring loom and lighting (LED) and the transmission renewed with gearbox oil seals, full new clutch, slave and master cylinders, rear axle oil seals and propshaft universal joints. Brakes have been overhauled with new copper brake lines, wheel cylinders, skimmed rear drums, new brake shoes, handbrake cable and levers, and the suspension and steering rebuilt with new front and rear ‘Hagon' springs and shocks, new trailing arm bushes, new king pins and bushes, new drag link and overhauled steering box.
The Bond Bug is totally on the button and in excellent mechanical order. It drives superbly and offers a unique, fun driving experience. There are never too many of these cars on the market, and certainly not many available that have been subject of such a major restoration. A true collectors piece and priced very reasonably.
