DHMC Hardtops
The original Donald Healey Motor Co
Sebring Sprite fibreglass hardtop.
Donald Healey's company used, on its Sebring Sprites, a fibreglass hardtop produced for them by the Jensen Motor Co at West Bromwich. One of the first of the Sprite hardtops, it utilised a pair of taller-than-standard sidescreens providing e
nhanced visibility. The cars which raced at Sebring in 1959 (left) used this hardtop, Q.3137. Apparently the top was only available to those purchasing a car converted to 'Sebring spec' at The Cape. Each top was marked with a serial number but the total number built is not known. [BMC produced their own hardtop, almost identical in appearance, which became available as an optional extra, and used the Mk 1 Sprite's original production sidescreens.]
The original DHMC hardtop is now very rare and as far as I am aware there is no mould available to re-produce them. Pete Farmer is producing some replica tall sidescreens and can be contacted by email on: pete@petefarmer.com If anyone knows of the availability of an original or replica DHMC hardtop please contact me via Feedback as I am touch with one or two owners who would like one.
The DHMC Mark 2 Sprite (Warwick) hardtop
During 1962, DHMC offered a second hardtop, designed by Les Ireland, specifically for the Mk 2 Sprite, this time produced 'in-house' at The Cape, Warwick*. This hardtop was first seen and used on the 'Works' cars at Sebring in 1962 (see right and link). Occasionally, the Mk 2 Sprite hardtop (or "Warwick" hardtop as it became known) was retrospectively fitted by the DHMC to some Mk 1 Sprites, such as Ian Grainger's 2341 UE.
*Julian Yell has one of these hardtops, still in immaculate condition and tells me that one of the DHMC brochures indicated they were made by Messr. Glass Fibre (Birmingham) Ltd.,
19-31, Albion Rd, Birmingham (though might this perhaps be a name Geoff Healey gave to his hardtop division ?)
Many thanks to Jim Dougherty, David Matthews and Julian Yell for information and help in assembling this web page.
