The specialist for BSVs in the US is Miller flying service in Plainview TX. There are other shops of course, but these people have the experts on staff to make every piece of every wing Bellanca ever made. Any BSV purchase should include a PPI by Miller.
The BSV before 1974 will never, ever meet it's book speed, or fuel burn numbers. I don't know what they did to the test planes to make those numbers but they are complete fabrications. The late 1974 redesign of the baffles, cowl, and gear/gear door bring the speeds up better, but making book value is still iffy. For 300HP, and a clean wing the plane should be going +200MPH. The hottest BSVs made of course are the turbo ships. They seem to benefit a lot from getting up high and cruising in the low flight levels.
They are cramped inside, no matter how you slice it, even tighter to me than most Mooneys, but it may be due to the glare shield which seems massive and intrudes into the cabin quite a bit. Makes the windscreen seem small. Visibility is marginal, and rear seats are pretty much for kids, or to torture normal size adults.
People who own BSVs love them. They fly like fighter jets, and require good pilot discipline. The glide on the BSV is like a set of keys with the engine turned off, so don't lose an engine. There are two basic engine choices, a Conti or a Lyc, of 295 or 300HP. The Conti is a lot more prevalent.
They usually came with wild, bright color interiors in velour, checkers or even paisley. many have been repl with something a bit tamer. It's a good flying ship, requiring somewhat more detailed mx than your run of the mill Bo, or Comanche, or 210. The OP living in TX would be spending plenty of quality time in Plainview every few years for the loving touch that BSVs require. The plane should always be hangered when not in use due to the effects of mother nature on the wood, although if it has been taken care of well, it will last a long time.
