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A Brief History of John Sprinzel's Sebring Sprite

with Williams & Pritchard aluminium Coupé bodywork

The Sprinzel Sebring Sprite Coupé first saw the light of day at the London Racing Car Show, held in the Royal Horticultural Society's halls in Chelsea, in January 1961.  John Sprinzel had been associated with Sprites since they went into production in 1958, having raced and rallied Austin A35s during the 1957 season.  He had been involved in the creation of another special bodied Sprite, the Speedwell GT, but after a difference of opinion with fellow directors as to that firm's future direction, he sold his shares to Graham Hill, and departed. Healey Sprites had been successful in two of the long distance races at Sebring, in Florida, and in the pursuit of improved aero-dynamics the flowing body-shape and curved windscreen were crafted, at Sprinzel's instigation, by London coachbuilders, Williams & Pritchard.  Being built for racing, the coupé top, rear shroud and wings on all the cars were of aluminium though only one had an alloy bonnet, all the others being in fibreglass.  Some cars had doors with aluminium panelling and fibreglass frames.                                                                                          A Speedwell GT is shown right.

It is thought that 5, or maybe 6, cars were built to this specification, see below:                                            

THE CARS

(click on reg' number for full details and history of each car)

Registration No:	Photo	Brief Description
		John Sprinzel's own race car, also driven by Stirling Moss at Sebring in 1961. Recently rebuilt by Paul Woolmer
		The ex-Andrew Hedges Coupé which is now the subject of a major restoration by Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird
		David Seigle-Morris's car which was later raced in Germany after which it disappeared. Where is it now?
		Driven by Pat Moss at Sebring in 1961 - the one of the Coupés to have survived intact, now raced regularly by Chris Clegg
		Originally raced by Ian Walker, later sold to Stephen Bowen who has owned it over 30 years. Now being restored by Brian Wheeler of Wheeler & Davies
		Another Coupé comes to light?

Why not take a look at Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird's Photo Archive

or Paul Woomer's: PMO 200 website