HNX 455D ~ Le Mans Sprite

Now owned and raced by Jim Prentice

HAN8/R/143 was registered by the Donald Healey Motor Co in March 1966, but the number HNX 455D was on the car for only a few months, apparently being returned to the DVLA at the end of June that same year. The car raced first at Le Mans in 1966 where it was driven by Paddy Hopkirk and Andrew Hedges, with race number 49, and (according to Geoff Healey's book "More Healeys") was classified 18th after going out with connecting rod failure after 19½ hours. Jim was however given to understand that the failure was in the cylinder head. John Rhodes drove the sister car, No.48 that year, which suffered a similar failure at about the same distance. The following Spring this car went to Sebring where, in the hands of Clive Baker and Rauno Aaltonen, it finished 13th.

It later raced at Daytona, and at a number of other circuits in the States, where it remained until Jim purchased it in 2010. While over there he took the car back to Sebring and raced it with the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association, in the company of two other 'Streamliners', both owned by Steve Coleman of Texas. They are the car known as the Ring Free Special and the last Targa Florio Car. Jim then brought his new acquisition back to UK.

Jim has managed to recover the original registration number from the DVLA, obtained new HTP papers and re-fitted the headlights and other parts stripped out for racing in the USA. All the original components came with the car, and it has since competed in Jim's hands at the Le Mans Classic and at the Goodwood Revival in 2010 (where John Rhodes signed his name on its roof) and in the HRDC series in 2011.

Jim has refined the suspension and dampers and is currently running a 1293cc CMES (Classis and Modern Engine Services) engine with a single 45DCOE Weber, producing 140 bhp on the dyno. The original dry-sump motor is being kept safe so as not to destroy it while racing. The car weighs in, Jim thinks, at about 650 kg.

Jim says: "It goes well and I think we can make it a bit quicker (if the driver is up to it)".

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