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Dedicated to the memory of the late Brian Archer who fulfilled his dream to re-create John Sprinzel's Sebring Sprite Coupé

 

News 2016

News ~ December 2016

WISHING ALL SEBRING ENTHUSIASTS AND REGULAR VISITORS TO MY WEBSITE A VERY HAPPY 2017

EX-FORMULA JUNIOR ENGINE FOR SALE
Spotted in the current issue of "Rev Counter"
-correct 1071 block, crankshaft and Cooper 'S' rods. Good condition. Loosely assembled for rebuild. Rare opportunity.
Tel: Les on 078 6035 7413 for more details. Around £2,000.
SPEEDWELL GAUGES
on ebay at
"Buy it Now"
price of £1000
Spedwell Gauges
RF
RF
Rf
RF

Front discs and splined hubs 1000 miles only £100

Pair Midget brake callipers 1000 miles only £50
Sprite rear bumpers and fixing irons excellent condition £40
Pair spotlights rear fixing as new £75
FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE PLEASE CONTACT ROGER FRIEND VIA EMAIL ALL SOLD IN 12 HOURS!

FROM BRETT PRUITT IN HAWAII:
"Aloha Martin, I hope you, and your family, are enjoying a wonderful holiday season.  Attached is a feature that you hopefully can add to your “Articles” section. It's the cover story from Healey Marque magazine, which is the monthly publication of the Austin Healey Club of America. Reid Trummel and his team did a fantastic job. The story is about the restoration of John Sprinzel’s Sprite.  Of all his cars, this is the one he held on to the longest and yesterday afternoon he and his lovely wife Caryl were reunited with their Sprite of over twenty years.  Though John participated throughout the restoration with details and advice, it was great to be there to see their reaction to the finished car.  It was a day of reminiscing as they were staying in the very cottage on the beach they lived in and married at decades earlier.  So naturally we had lunch at the beach side restaurant that was their regular haunt all those years ago.   John is sharp as ever and over lunch everything from racing in the 50’s to predictions of what will happen in F-1 in 2017 was discussed. Attached is a photo of John and the car. It should be noted that John was having fun with being back at Kailua Beach and celebrated by wearing the same shirt he was married in!  Thank you again for all the work you do on the website and creating a place that celebrates these wonderful cars. Brett Pruitt, Kaaawa, Hawaii." 

HistoricHealey

A NEW ARTICLE ON TREVOR McILROY'S SEBRING
was published in the Jan-Mar issue of Retro Classics.
Now included in our archive of interesting articles these are 5 pages to savour over the Christmas period. Read it here.
Retro Classics

TZA AT CHATEAU IMPNEY ~ A MESSAGE FROM ALEC POOLE'S FORMER NAVIGATOR JOHN BILTON TO JAMES THACKER:
TZA"James...... You have done a super job on the restoration, AND  it clearly goes well, also .......not just cosmetics! The way it is picking up an inside front, I  would say it is set up ok! Going back in time to Ingliston, say 1965 and 66, TZA  was the main influence on Tom Walkinshaw starting out his career with a Spridget.  He then of course moved to Fords and  Mazdas. I assume you have the ''cold air box'' joined up to the headlight....?      Happy Christmas.............yrs  John B". 
James explains: "I enclose a copy of a very recent message from John Bilton who was Alec’s navigator in TZA in all the club rallies and few internationals, the Welsh and Circuit of Ireland. John continued to go to race meetings after the car was completely rebuilt for circuit events in 1965 onwards and he has an amazing memory for detail information about the various specifications of the car during that period and invaluable anecdotes as well.  For instance, I did not know the Tom Walkinshaw connection that he mentions. That era clearly was very important in his life to remember so much and to want to chat on the phone to me about it from time to time.
You did very kindly  include one of the Chateau photos on the “latest news”  website  in the summer but the one with this message I feel is probably the best. This was taken by ex Midget racer Peter Richings who I have known since 1972;  he has won the Clubmans racing championship this year in a Mallock. Peter and Mike Donovan , both Longbridge employees at the time, shared the Midget in the mid 1970’s [Heatherborne Midget with rear radiator, see John Baggott’s book]  and then went on to race Clubmans in the late1970’s and then F3 for a couple of years in the mid 1980’s. Mike Donovan this year has won his class in the FIA Historic Sports racing championship in his Lola T70.
It would be very much appreciated if you could possibly find a space for the attached photo on the TZA web page  as it complements the famous Car and Car Conversion front cover photo taken at Dunboyne, Ireland  in 1965 or 66 with the car on two wheels, some 50 years earlier. There may  be just enough space in the bottom right hand corner of the TZA web page. I will leave it with you.  James. PS: I have had various comments/advice from  qualified engineers/ex Sprite racers about the three wheeling photo including  “you need stiffer front springs”, or some say  “stiffer back springs” and also “fit a rear anti roll bar" and lastly  “Sprites always cornered like this, leave it exactly as it is!".             

Mathe
ANOTHER SHOT OF 7140 RO
sent in by Alistair Ross and showing the Speedwell with Jack Mathe of Waypass Garage at the wheel.
NEW OWNER REVEALED!
I'm delighted to report that Bill McDonnough of Hardy Engineering has become the new owner of 7140 RO.
Bill

THE FLOW OF INCOMING 'STUFF' FOR THE WEBSITE SEEMS TO HAVE SLOWED TO A TRICKLE
WHICH GIVES ME TIME TO WISH ALL OF YOU IN THE "SEBRING SPRITE FAMILY"
A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND MORE THRILLING SPRITELY DRIVING IN 2017

7140 RO CHANGES HANDS
The Speedwell GT owned by the late Brian Kenyon has now been sold by his widow Pat and went to its new owner just last week. The car is believed to have one of the 6 alloy bonnets made as well as the usual alloy hardtop. It was featured on the news page in July last year (2015) and in this photo when it was purple and gold, the driver is Bill Graham. Who bought it I wonder?
7140RO

Miglia

ALAN ANSTEAD EXPLAINS:
"Oliver Wilkinson who lives in Switzerland has bought the Sprite with the bonnet that Gary Lazarus identified as by Swiss coach builder Frey. The car will need restoration. Oliver (together with Georges Guggenheim of Spridget.CH) is planning the Swiss part of next years Alpine Miglia Tour (1st to 11th Sept 2017). Oliver & Georges did this year's tour with me (see www.masckent.org)."

Emil Frey
Emil Frey
EmilFrey

EmilFrey
WHAT BONNET IS THIS ?
Alan Anstead was asking what this bonnet was (above left)? I couldn't remember but Gary Lazarus had the answer, sending in the photo of the light blue car above. It's from Emil Frey AG of Switzerland.
Ray English suggested it was an Aussie "Jewitt" which is quite similar. See lower left and right. He Says:
"It looks like an Aussie "Jewitt" to me --- do you know where the photo was taken? You might remember I did a few articles on one of these bonnets, that I refitted to GWS-211. It turned ouJewittt that it was the same one that was fitted to it when I bought it from Frank Cook in 1977. I have a feeling that Jim Jewitt was the first person to make a fibreglass front to suit a Sprite,  ~ I am working on this theory at the moment.  Jim's first Sprite  bonnet (he was making complete shells for racing cars at the time) was made for Peter Manton, who fitted it to the SpJewittrite GWS-692, in late October / Early November 1958 - this was one of the three first shipment cars to arrive [in Australia] on the 9th of September, 1958. This car, now Coventry Climax powered, was driven by Peter Manton; he was able to keep up with the Healey 100S's during the 1958 Victorian Tourist Trophy at Albert Park. I am working on an article "How to Identify Sprite Bonnets" for the next issue of Marque One ".
model
AN AMAZING MODEL OF AN ASHLEY GT
to a scale of 1/43
by Yashuji Morizumi
(See Facebook)
Ashley GT model
Lazarus
Lazarus
Lazarus
Lazarus
MASCOT EDITOR, GARY LAZARUS, HAS FINALLY RETIRED HIS FROGEYE KNOWN AS 'GAPS'
and bought another to be called ELVIS. He also has this rare, if not unique, hardtop from Watford Sports Cars - anyone know of another? Gary's new Frog has a fibreglass bonnet which he is suspending on one of Tifosi's hinge arrangements.

MEG TO RACE AT GOODWOOD
Gordon Elwell has been invited to race 'MEG' at the 75th Members' Meeting and has "put a note on the workshop blackboard to remind me to prep. her in plenty of time!
Should be an interesting race since the Regs. call for a minimum weight of 650Kg and this should even things out a bit for those of us with heavier cars".

LE MANS 1966
Le Mans 67
Karsten Stelk shared Fred Kalkhuis' photo of the start line-up at Le mans in '66. The Baker/Rhodes and Hopkirk/Hedges Sprites with a long line of Alpine Renaults and a lone Mini-Marcos.

"Great website Martin. I have enjoyed cruising around inside and looking at all the Sprites prepared for Sebring-style racing and the historical articles. I recall reading about the drive from Sebring, FL to Los Angeles CA in a Sprite and an MGA fixed-head coupe as detailed by Ocee Ritch and published in my Floyd Clymer service manual. Always loved that story and must have read it a dozen times or more. Years ago (1968 to 1979) I had Sprite AN5L/7106 that I restored starting from a bare-metal-body and finishing up looking close to this one below. It ended up with a 1098 cc engine, front disk brakes, wire wheels and a factory hardtop. It was in the days prior to digital photos, so I don’t have anything other than this close match that was on sale not too long back with a classic car dealer in the US. That one had a red interior, but mine was done over in the green that was originally matched to the dark green exterior. I was curious about this car that is partly shown in your site. I was wondering what the complete car looks like if you have that photo available to share. Interesting paintwork as, perhaps, one might find on a big Healey (below right) Alas, I barely can contort an entry to a Sprite at this juncture and have this 2000 Z3 2.3 Roadster at my summer place in Boothbay Harbor, and a Green coupe which is on route to my place in Florida shortly. Not Sprites for sure, but they have some of the fun aspects that I recall so well with the Sprite. I plan to take the coupe across a similar route to the Sebring run to CA (Rte 10 all the way from Jacksonville to LA) and then up the West Coast in a year or so when I hope to retire. Best regards, Daniel Boucher, Amman, Jordan."
[I was, of course, able to enlighten Daniel that the blue and white car is 2080 PO of Pierre Lequeux]

Tifosi
Tifosi

Daniel Boucher
2080 PO
WANTED
Femi Odutolu is looking for an Ashley hardtop for a Frogeye. If you can assist him please contact him via email.

NOW FOUND ONE THANK YOU (28.12.16)
GOODWOOD MEMBERS MEETING ~ 18/19 MARCH 2017
Bob Hinchliffe pointed out that the Weslake Cup will be a race for “A Series engined sports and GT cars that raced between 1958 and 1966”. Ian Burford has already entered the Lumbertubs. More to come I expect. Get your tickets now.

LATEST UPDATE FROM PHIL ZAMLYNSKI
"November 24, 2016 ~ It’s been too long that I have not written. I do hope you and yours are well and in good spirits; ready Zam-nov16-1to celebrate the upcoming Holidays. Its Thanks Giving week and the beginning of the Christmas Season. We have had our first SNOW tooooo!!!!  Zam-nov16-2 I thought that you might have time to up-date my pics on the web; no rush. The pic (left) is of my window with door handle, white tape on handle is so it can be seen. As you can see there is no metal trim on the Plexiglas. Although the front has been mounted several times, I have left it off so any engine issues can more easily dealt with. The grill is my design and there are side vents for the brakes and intake fresh air.  All lighting mountings are new too. Phil Z."

2824MV
AND NEWS OF ANOTHER SPEEDWELL GT, 2824 MV, FROM COLIN CRAMPHORN

Hi Martin, I am at an age where you tend to think about the past and 2 or 3 weeks ago I thought I would research a car I once owned. It has always had a place in my memories as it was a fantastic car to drive and I sold it to buy an engagement ring. So I typed the registration number 2824 MV and to my surprise pages of information appeared. I always knew the car as a Speedwell Sebring Sprite but I never realised what a rare car it was. At the time I was studying engineering at High Wycombe College and was part of a group with high performance cars such as a Turner Climax and several Morgans. I bought the car in the summer of 1969 and sold it late in 1971 or early 1972. It was dark blue with two silver stripes when I bought it but I sprayed it red in 1970. The engine was a highly tuned 948cc red lined at 9500 and as a road car had a startling performance. Difficult in traffic and would backfire if kept stationary for too long. I had very few problems with the car other than the very tight ground clearance and some rust in the chassis. I cannot remember who I purchased the car from or sold it to but I have found two photographs which include the car. They were taken by my wife to be so the car was not the center of her attention! I will send them to you but they are not really suitable for your site. I would be interested to know how this fits in with your current history and I will be checking to see if I have any further information. Kind regards, Colin.   

Cramphorn

ORIGINAL SPEEDWELL ALLOY BODY PARTS
I recently received an enquiry as to the value of a Speedwell alloy coupe top, alloy bonnet and fibreglass rear end for a Frogeye. Understood to be an early example, the owner had recently died. It would be interesting to learn more. Speedwell guru, Alistair Ross is on the case.

Barwell

BARWELL ALLOY HEAD FOR SALE

Richard Hart is offering this rare item on ebay (expires next Sunday 11th Dec) Auction starts at £350 or 'Buy-it-now' for £1200. Suits 848 to 1098cc and weighs a 3rd of the original. There are also some details about the head on the Mk1 Performance (Mini) website. SOLD at £560.50
Barwell
NICK BARNES' SEBRING KIT
(originally Paul Webb's) has been sold on to Sean Sandoe.
(See No.69 on the list)
FROM ANDREW NODWELL IN NZ
" Hi Martin, Just a quick note to offer my thanks for helping those shock absorbers find a new home, which they have, in Wales...a fair way from New Zealand! All the best and compliments of the season". [Nice to hear]
458 STJ
Ben Tyer's Sebring Sprite restoration projectr has been acquired by Bugatti specialist, Ivan Dutton.
2284 WD
2284 WD IN THE 80'S
John Moon sent in this photo (left) of 2284 WD which has been owned and campaigned more recently by Jonathan Peck. Apparently John restored the car in the 1980's.
2284 WD
STOLEN FROGEYE PARTS
Our old friend Bob Beaumont recently had the misfortune to have his lock-up broken into and a great many parts meticulously stripped from his Frogeye. These included the seats, all the weather equipment and side-screens, all the dashboard items except the speedo(!) and the exterior brightwork i.e. lamps, etc. So, if you are offered any rare parts like an original fuel gauge FG2530/31 or a Southern Counties Sprite Club badge please contact Bob by email.

"AIDS FOR SPRITELY TRAVELS"

Juergen
Juergen
Juergen
Juergen

Attached find some pics about the tailgate as requested. The idea was initiated by seeing the New Zealand car of .... on your website. I only had thought, the frame he used for the stiffening of the thin 4mm polyacryl was a bit cumbersome and and not really required if we got a bit thicker material , believing the shape of itself and giving it four proper anchoring points on its circumference should make it very stiff, which indeed it does. I had discussed this with Andrew, who agreed with me and ordered two samples of 8 mm thickness. He mentioned somebody else being interested in the second one, I do not know who.  Obviously the new material was not in the perfect shape to fit into the aperture of Archers fastback body, but Dominic Mooney, who at that time took over on my request after I realized Andrews overload, put a lot of skill and sweat into shaping and fitting it, very much to my satisfaction. Two chromeplated bootlid hinges , provided for £11.50 each by Minispares provide the fixing on the roof, a Healey boot handle the lower fixing , with or without locks. The leverage from there to the two locking plates on the lower end of the window is mostly hidden inside the body and was designed and provided by Dominic, again based on materials available (period correct ! ) from other Brit cars. Sealing is by a simple rubber foam stripe, app. 3 x 20 mms, selfadhesive. For better ventilation we have just now fitted two bulging outlets on the upper end, outside of my viewing field and quite effective, as used by racers and obtainable from Demon Tweaks or the likes. It wonderfully eases access to the depths of the vast loading bay of the car. You have to either hold open or sort of lay it down overturned onto the roof carefully, as I do, but I can imagine self supporting gas filled levers as commonly used for boots of other cars can be fitted as well. Whoever is interested, feel free to inquire from Andrew and Dominic how they can advise. Juergen Schafer.

KAI ERIKSEN
has now sold his Sebring panels ~ to Michael in Denmark
Morizumi
Morizumi
YASUJI MORIZUMI
shows these pictures of an Ashley topped Sprite hill-climbing in Japan - on Facebook

 

News ~ November 2016

ANOTHER AUSSIE LENHAM GTO
'
I purchased the Lenham GTO that Colin Dodds co-owned in the article "AN AUSSIE GTO with round wheel arches". So says David Laing who has since written an article for 'Sprite Torque', magazine of of the Sprite Car Club of Australia of which he is Promotions Officer. Since buying the car earlier this year he has fitted a set of 14" x 41/2" crome wire wheels. He has also ' been doing some "maintenance" work to bring it up to my standards viz. fitted new rear wheel brake cylinders, shoes, handbrake boots and rear axle seals etc. new front rotors, disc pads and tie rod ends. The steering has quite a bit of free-play so adjustments will be made and hopefully I don't have to strip it down and rebuild it. I'm intending to fit a roll bar too, that will incorporate seat belt anchor plates. I have also had the extractors "cerakoted" and a new exhaust fitted that ends with a twin pipe outlet in stainless steel. I have also fitted chrome ring surrounds around the "Ferrari" type Hella tail/stop/indicator lights, as well as a GTO badge fitted lower right rear panel'.
JUERGEN'S ADVENTURE - INCLUDING RUNNING HIS SEBRING ON DIESEL FUEL & BEING TOWED AT SPEED BY AN ALFA!!

 Hi Martin, We have returned safely this afternoon from our little adventure and would like to thank you and your team of local advisors wholeheartedly for rescuing us. As you want to mention the heroics of that little episode on your website news, I'd rather give you the full facts, in order not to apportion blame and praise to the wrong people ! It all started about a month ago when I had decided, a cure for our Spridgets maladies was now necessary in the motherland, as my own fumblings were not successful. My German local friends'  limited knowledge of the cars specifics and his expertise on Porsches and Mercs were not leading us to results in reasonable times and economics.  Having spoken to Dominic (- Mooney of Midlands Classic Restorations) at the Spa 6 hrs, the plan was, for me to trailer the car over and him rectifying the open issues in about four weeks time. So we could collect it after the Birmingham show and then drive it back home to our home in Erlangen, northern Bavaria, a journey of about 1200 kms one way. Main issues had been:
(1) Overheating, water and oil. Dom fitted an oil cooler with thermostat, replaced the head gasket, blown on cyl 4 between combustion and water passage and intended to put forward the ignition, which I had only roughly set, experiencing lots of pinking on regular German lead-free of app. 95 octane. It ran beautifully on 100 octane of limited availability.
(2) Clutch problems: With ambient temperatures of almost 30 °C and the overheating engine, the clutch started slipping after drives of a quarter of an hour when shifting up to third. Obviously the hydraulics of the otherwise perfect Peter May -converted release mechanism expanded and opened the clutch. I had myself replaced before the 1460 cc Peter May engine  by an "original"  1100 unit for reasons of legalizing the whole car to the German TUEV, using the same clutch cover, but most likely not having measured and adapted properly the different thickness of flywheel and crankshaft flange. Dominic had to take the engine out, shortened the slave cylinder casing/flange and it works perfectly well, albeit at presently about 10°C. ambient.  I'm looking forward to my next trip to Italy !
(3) Steering and roadholding was compromised, not having any selfcentering / selfstraightening of the steering and the car weaving and floating at higher speeds. Having first used a non-OEM new steering rack from a German supplier for conversion to lhd, nothing at all had worked, I had to pull like an ox to get into a curve and  push equally hard, to get it back on the straight.  From Sven Eckardt I then obtained an old original rack, which was light and sensitive, but still no real self-centering. We tried find a bit of castor in the suspension, no success. I replaced the low-section Yokohamas by old-fashioned 165/70 tyres, no improvement felt. Dominic took everything apart and refitted the whole front in the proper sequence, with camber and toe-in. Now we have some feedback, the steering is a joy.
(4) Further he massively improved the fitting of the sidescreens but had to give up finally, they are much better than my previous attempts, but still neither tight nor quiet nor stable in the wind, despite low speeds. I keep waiting for my set of raw frames from Brian and will aim for a better fit plus a functioning support structure.
True to his words, the car was ready for collection by Monday morning at Dominic's and Peter May's place. We did some minor adjustments to the driver's seat fixings, which are now Mazda MX5 leather seats, as recommended by someone on your website. They fit well with some homespun supports using Corbeau runners and look great. Access and getting out of the seats is, even for people of our advanced age, quite reasonable and my wife feels comfortable. Nevertheless, I'm not satisfied yet. They give no lateral support for the legs and bum and on my long return journey I got pain in my right upper thigh and tend to slip forward in the seat, creating back aches as well. Further, they weigh about twice what my Corbeau Classic Alpine/GT4 does.
The following day I had a very pleasant first longer test drive with my friend Terry from Martley to Shelsley Walsh, where we got a very friendly welcome by the local team in charge of recultivating the old watermill there. Juergen A picture was taken, me in the Spridget at the start, but no racing up the private road. The guys there mentioned, the owner of the farm at the top also owns a Sebring Sprite, mentioning a name I do not remember having been on your website !! [Who is that?]
The  real adventure then began on Wednesday morning, we left Willow Road in Wichenford about 10 a.m., via M5,  A417 past Cirencester on to Swindon and M4, then via Bracknell to M3 towards M25. All went very well, temperatures, oil pressure fine. Fuel level had been constant at "over full" after Dominic had to refill the day before, running out of good German high octane stuff. He stated only regular 95 being available at nearby stations and had to retard ignition by 5° to avoid pinking. I still had pinking under load at revs below 3000 per min and did not run faster than the official speed limit, which then again is just above 3000 in fifth of my Ford box.
The fuel read[ing] started to move downwards only after about 200 kms !
When hitting the Ring road, my TomTom and the road signs cooperated in seducing me into an involuntary trip  via M3 into London and back again onto M25, thus reducing my available fuel enough to cause an early stop at Clackett Lane Service Station. To my great joy I there spotted signs of  Excellium 97 octane fuel being available and we stopped at the respective tapping point. I then decided somehow unconsciously for a cooperation with BP about researching the capabilities of the A-series engine concerning alternative fuels of high cetane/low octane. [DIESEL!] With enough 95 octane stuff left in the lines, I managed a smooth take off and out onto the motor way; however then any attempt to put on a bit of load going uphill or faster resulted in extremely massive pinking and I soon had to give in to reality and rolled into the bay by the roadside, where I was picked up by a certain gentlemen, well known in Spridget circles for his helpfulness. The tow I got behind his red Alfa was one of the more hair-raising events of my late life,[SORRY JUERGEN] as the line was rather short and my sight was very little above the exhaust!  Nevertheless, I'm extremely grateful being rescued from despair.
The next stage of developments is well known to you Martin, so I need not expand on this, except to mention that I hope you can make some use of the fuel mix I left behind by adding occasionally a litre to your full tank, diluting it as per your friends advice. In case this does not work, just let me  know the cost, I will find a way to refund you.
After having left you, in the dark I found the fuel station again and filled up 97 octane excellium, trying back onto the M20 for Ashford. It was not very pleasant with my headlights being taped off partially for driving on the wrong side and impatient locals dazzling me from behind, even the dimmed lights glare fully into the very low mirrors of the Spridget. Road signs, the TomTom anouncements and my own thinking were quite a bit out of sync, so I repeatedly lost my way, but nevertheless made it to the Conningbrook in Ashford for a reasonable dinner, a pint of bitter and a good sleep.
Next morning, Thursday,  the engine was a bit hesitant in starting, but we were away in time for the 8:00 ferry to Dunkirk, unfortunately with the same problems in the dark. Definitely not a recommendable time of driving with the Spridget. No grounding when entering the ferry, very punctual, quiet traverse, even blue skies. To avoid the hassles around Brussels with mad Belgians weaving in and out all over you, we took the route past Lille and then Tournai towards Liege/Luyk. The weather went very wet again and it got a bit cool and wet on various spots in the cabin, but traffic wise it went very smooth, except the first portion in France, where the road is rather bumpy.
Having passed Liege we realized that it would be dark again too early and opted for the route past Spa and down to the Eifel region where we were able to secure bed and first class dinner at Darscheid, which is about 20 mins off Nurburgring. Kuchers Landhotel is a spot which we can recommend to all lovers of good [food?], we go frequently there for the Oldtimer Grand Prix. The wine list of about a thousand different issues tells a bit and our dish of goose leg, goose breast and terrine plus dumplings, red cabbage, apple sauce, chestnut and an apple from the oven was delicious.
Finally, today, Friday, we could afford to start in broad daylight and with rarely a bit of  rain we took the autobahn towards Koblenz, onwards to Montabaur and on to Frankfurt, all smooth, reasonable traffic and increasing speeds on average about 120 with short "bursts" even beyond 140, temps, press and noises normal. Fuel consumption on average about 7 litres per hundred km. From Frankfurt onwards traffic increased substantially and lots of extremely long roadworks caused delays, one should avoid this stretch by all means (except Sat afternoon, Sun morning, when trucks are not permitted and holidayers not too many).
To sum it up, the car goes well now, noise expectedly high, but driving at night a nightmare !
This is now very long, but feel free to make use of any part you really consider interesting.
Regards and thanks again, Juergen & Silvia.

[Just to elaborate a little on the mixed fuel problem: we decided to use the car's fuel pump to scavenge the full tank (7 gallons - about 5 of petrol and 2 of diesel) into a Jerry can plus a couple of others. Then despite sucking out the float chambers and putting a gallon of fresh 97 octane BP Ultimate in the tank we found the engine just would not fire. The evening drew on and it got dark making life pretty difficult. My neighbour Dick was about to head off to Halfords to obtain some Sure Start when I decided to use the battery testing syringe to squirt neat fuel into each of the carbs. Hey presto, she fired and ran, roughly at first but eventually picking up and smoothing out. I'm not sure I understand why the fuel should have begun to run from the tank once we got the engine running but why question it? Fortunately we were then able to send our visitors on their short journey to their hotel in Ashford. (How stupid can you get calling their 97 petrol BP Ultimate but also using the same name for diesel - almost like they want to catch out the unwary!! MEI]

THE SEBRING SPRITE MEMORIAL SHIELD
goes this year to Emryn and Pauline Jones with their beautiful Aston green Sebring Coupe which was displayed on the Austin-Healey Club stand at the NEC for the Classic Motor Show and was very much admired by many. I know that the late Ian Ashfield, who donated the shield would be delighted that the shield continues to be awarded, and to such worthy Sebring owners.
577dnx
DNX REPAINTED
Alan Anstead reports "A picture of my respray fresh Sebring with its black joint trim. It now needs those new sidescreens.
1098
FOR SALE - EARLY 1098CC CRANK & RODS - std size does not need grinding just a polish £50. And set of 1098 con rods excellent £50.
Roger Friend email
AND ANOTHER LENHAM GTO HERE IN THE UK - FOR SALE
Following on from the news of Damon Don's Lenham GTO below, I heard (via Alan Anstead) of another GTO owned by James Pitt.

Another coincidence is that this one has also been converted to wind-up windows. James bought the car in the spring of this year, intending to restore it with the help of his 16 year old son. However, he now realises that this is not now going to happen and due to lack of time and his limited facilities at home he now wishes to sell it on. According to the DVLA the car is a 948cc Austin Healey first registered on the 17th July 1961. He has the V5 and all the numbers match up. "What makes this car unusual is that it is fitted with a Lenham GTO Kamm Tail, which was produced in very small numbers back in the 1960's (only 12 ever made I believe?)". James has had the engine running and this together with the smooth case gearbox appear to be original to the car. A previous owner has also welded in new floors, which he says look good. He goes on to say: "The not so good news is that I am fairly sure that the car has been re-tubbed into a later Austin Healey body. If you look at the attached pictures (copies awaited) you will notice that the car has wind-up windows, which were not offered on the Mk1. It also has later suspension. Further investigation shows that the rear spring hangers are in a poor state of repair and need replacing".

oym
oym
oym

If restoring this project car appeals to you please contact James via email.

LENHAM GTO DOWN UNDER
GTO
GTO
GTO
GTO

REMEMBER THAT LENHAM GTO ADVERTISED FOR SALE IN AUSTRALIA A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO?
It was said to be based on a 1958 Sprite yet had much later wind-up windows, etc. Well, I have now heard from its new owner, Damon Don in Melbourne: " Hi Martin, I recently purchased a 1958 Healey Bugeye and it has been updated in the 1960's with one of the original Lenham GTO bodies and Mk3 wind-up window doors etc. My plan is to refit the correct early doors and windscreen etc. The car's chassis number is AN5 / 6006. The car is an ex racer and has been in Europe and America and now in Australia". I asked him whether the bodyshell is in fact van early one with quarter elliptic rear suspension and pointed out he will need to modify the scuttle anbd change the B posts to convert it back, to which I received: "The body is genuine 1958. The scuttle has been modified by cutting a little section out for the wind up window doors. It does have quarter elliptic rear springs. It has an early Bugeye dash that's been wrapped in vinyl and slightly modified. I have found two Australian CAMS Historic racing plaques on the car from 1991 and 1992. The guy Ii bought it from didn't know much about it but a guy I spoke to last night has confirmed it is an ex-racer and it has been converted from RHD to LHD and then back to its current RHD configuration, so it has definitely been in the USA. There is also a sticker from the East coast of America to confirm this. The gentleman I spoke with last night here in Australia said its period correct and was done around 1966. Does that sound right to you? Apparently there were only 12 cars bodies built?" I believe there were about a dozen GTO bodies produced but as to the exact year I am not sure - I will ask Dave Matthews who knows a lot on this subject.

ARCHERS SEBRING COUPE KIT FOR SALE
I had an email yesterday (17th) from Nick Barnes who bought an Archers kit back in 2010 but having acquired both a Lenham Le Mans and a Lenham GT he has now come to the conclusion that he is not going to get around to building a Sebring and has decided to sell on his kit. I have asked for more details but if anyone is interested please contact Nick by email. SOLD

Coupe top

FROM PETER JACKSON
I passed on Bryan Allart's snippet to Peter Jackson and received the following back from him: "It is amazing how old connections keep coming out of the woodwork!! Give my regards to Bryan when you next contact him. I had a lot to do with dear old Danny Margulies over the years. We did the Tour of Corsica together in his Sprite (rather briefly as he put it into a wall fairly early on !!). I did buy a lot of cars from him over the years - innumerable Lancia Aurelias, 3 Allards and a 550 Spyder Porsche, it would be nice to own some of them again. The Sprite goes well, it spent 100 hours in the hands of Paul Woolmer being tidied up !! I have not used it a lot as I have had the TR8 back in action and it is rather more comfortable for my old age. How is your supercharger working out? I find that the extra torque is nice for road use". [Agreed, MEI]

FROM BRYAN ALLART - NEW INFORMATION ABOUT 2824 MV
- the ex-Dan Margulies Speedwell Sprite.
He says: "In the thumbnail of the Sprite, on the right side of the page after it was rolled at Nurburgring, it shows images of Jay Chamberlain in the foreground, myself attempting to get the car into some sort of race worthy condition, while Dan Margulies casts a a watchful eye in the background. The editorial states that Richard Melville was probably driving the car at the time. That is not so. Jay Chamberlain was at the wheel and claimed the roll was due to a blown front tyre. That also is incorrect" . [It's amazing what new info comes out of the woodwork half a century later, isn't it? I have amended the web page accordingly]

msa
msa

MOTORSPORT ASSOC NEWS
David Scothorn spotted this Sebring Rep on pages 22 and 23 of the Nov 2016 MSA News. Anyone know whose it is? Reg No. seems to end 217E.
Feedback please.

PROGRESS ON SEBRING SIDE-SCREENS
I am pleased to report that our engineer is making good progress on the 13 sets of side-screens he has in the pipeline. He is waiting for some more of the laser-cut polycarbonate and more of the window handles which Andrew has ordered. Hopefully it should not be long now before a few sets of side-screens are delivered. Andrew also told me that he is currently laying-up a Sebring bonnet for Marcus Fellowes' alloy fastback so maybe we have the beginnings of an Archers resurgence ?
2080 PO
2080 PO

PIERRE ON 2080 PO: "
Last September when my car was shown at the annual vehicle display at Goodwood house  a gentleman approached me and told me that he used to know the owner of 2080  PO  and had....

2080 PO
 ... some photos of it which I attach. One is at a trial in Ovingdean , another  an autotest on the Brighton sea-side and the last one some kind of autotest in  a farmyard at Staplefield… Not very good quality but the car is recognisable and I thought they were fun…the story of 2080 PO is till resurfacing… Pierre"
FEMI'S BRAKES:

"I seem to have completed my front brake modification. I have been at it for some time. If anyone is interested I have attached the pictures. I used the standard Midget brake disc with a Wilwood Powerlite caliper and made some brackets out of 8mm laser-cut mild steel. I had to take the 'Ears' off the dust cover but I will fold new ones to replace it. Hope it is of use to the members of page".

Femi brakes
Femi brakes
Femi brakes
Femi brakes
STEPHEN BOWEN ON 6666 NK:
"6666NK was my first Sprite which I got in April 1964 and ran untill October 1966 when someone drove into it with an A35. I sold the body and the number plate keeping the engine and gearbox and with the insurance money bought WJB707 in November 1966 - exactly 50 years ago". [After Ian Hall the car was raced by Bob Beaumont, and then Nigel Bance]

NEW/OLD PHOTOS FOUND AT THE SHOW BY GRAHAM BISH
Graham has kindly sent me these 3 photos pointing out: "The picture of RAM35 did not have any information on the back and the marks are from the original negative or enlarger. GOO1 has no information bar the photographer is B.F.E. Clark, Hampton Middlesex. Looks to be a MK11 with a Sebring bonnet and the rear arches rounded. The sideways Frogeye looks to be 6666NK with it's one headlight.  It's taken by the same photographer but it does have some writing on the back. I think reads:  F. Preston 4/5/1969. "I am flatt loosing it!" Was it Mallory Park? There was a sports car race there on that day.You have a picture of this car leading TZA238 at Crystal Palace the same year on TZA's page. I hope you find them interesting". [Graham has since sent me a copy of the writing on the back of the Ian Hall photo and I believe it reads: Thruxton 4/7/1969 Ian Hall losing it!]

GOO 1
RAM 35
6666RK
I note that on the door it reads 'Ian Hall'. Ian raced that car for several seasons both in the UK and in Europe. Who raced GOO1?

381 SYB ~ SEBRING SUPERCHARGED AT THE CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW

381 SYB
381 SYB
381 SYB
Emryn & Pauline Jones' supercharged Sebring looked fabulous on the AHC stand at the NEC [photos Graham Bish & John Egan]
Ashley
AN ASHLEY HARDTOP
for a later Spridget
on ebay at £595
Expires 17 Nov
A PRIDE & CLARK HARDTOP
for a Frogeye needing new seals
on ebay at £50
Expires 20 Nov
Pride and Clark

ALUMINIUM MIDGET PROJECT
After Douglas Anderson asked me to advertise the alloy Midget for sale (see a few rows down, below) I was unsure what was happening to his interesting project and after I made an enquiry about this he explains: " You will be pleased to know that the Project is very much alive.  There are two reasons why I am selling the aluminium prototype.  Firstly I need to raise finance to complete the project and secondly, the next version of ADO 34/50 is a refinement of the aluminium car which can be more readily productionised.  We are now at the stage where the 1/5 scale clay model has been completed and some of the unresolved issues with the aluminium car have been resolved, for example we now have a production windscreen which can be bought ‘off the shelf’ at a reasonable price.  The next stage is to scan the model and make a full size buck to produce production quality moulds.  We are aiming to launch the car towards the end of next year. We are also doing some testing of alternative power units and looking at a simple and affordable IRS which can be bolted onto the existing pick up points of a Midget.  I will keep you updated as we progress with the development of the project. Thanks again for your continued interest. Regards Douglas".

DHMC
FROGEYE WITH DHMC HARDTOP ON EBAY
Currently being offered on ebay at Buy-Now price of £2700 this Frogeye appears to have a DHMC/Jensen hardtop. Probably not worth paying that just for the hardtop but might be a worthwhile project. Expires 20th Nov [Seems to have ended early, - on 11th]
ARMSTRONG ADJUSTABLE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS
Andrew Nodwell in New Zealand has "a pair of Armstrong "22" lever arm adjustable shocks, with a big rotating knob on each one and in good used condition...I only removed them from my Morris Minor convertible a couple of days ago as I am putting it back to 'as factory'." If anyone is interested in these please contact Andrew via email.
LANCASTER INSURANCE CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW OPENS TODAY (FRIDAY 11th NOV)
I will not be going this year and would therefore be grateful if someone who does would note any Sebring Sprites on display and recommend to whom the Ian Ashfield/Brian Archer shield might be presented this year. Photos would be helpful. Thank you.

UNIQUE ALUMINIUM BODIED MIDGET ON ROLLING CHASSIS.

  Offers over £10,000.
 Further details from Douglas Anderson email: dglanderson1@yahoo.co.uktelephone: 01382 731755.

Alum Midget
Alum Midget
Alum Midget
Bryn

NOW SOLD
Bryn Rossiter has a smooth-case gearbox which "might be of interest to early Sprite/Midget fans for a resto or to go on the spares shelf. It came from a 948 Midget so would provide closer ratios for a Frogeye. I had it totally re-manufactured by a transmission specialist at the end of the summer and it has been stored, unused, since. I am looking for  £565 ono  outright sale which represents a saving of more than £300 over the going rate. The remote is a Goldseal BMC and could be thrown in, if the offer is a good one! Collection/arrange courier from Wilts or, possibly, Lincs. It is on Ebay but,  if you think it merits a mention as a service to your followers, please, do so. A pic is attached -- with more on request... Bryn's email
M Curtis
M Curtis
MIKE CURTIS couldn't resist dashing round to the paint shop to see his newly painted Sebring 1367 VU in Aston Martin Silver Birch, after 8 years hard graft. Now the fun begins.
M Curtis
Tifosi
TIFOSI PRICE LIST
Jason Elliott of Halls Garage has supplied me with a list of prices for their Sebring Replica. I will be asking him exactly what is included in each item for clarification.

TIFOSI SS at
HALLS GARAGE
Folkingham Road, Morton, Bourne, Lincolnshire,
PE10 0NS
Tel. 01778 570286
Fax 01778 570540
Email: steve@hallsgarage.co.uk


Tifosi
ANYONE INTERESTED IN TRADING A FASTBACK REPLICA KIT FOR AN ORIGINAL W & P HARDTOP?
Bill Prout in the States is interested in selling his W & P Sebring hardtop which stands him in at over US$ 5000. He has been in hospital recently and is experiencing difficulty getting in and out of the car with the hardtop on. He thinks an option might be to fit an Archers Fastback body which would increase the door/window opening.  The W & P top is in excellent condition. Bill's car ran recently at the Lime Rock Park Fall Festival, "to much success driven by my friend and great driver (OK so he is a Brit) to four race finishes and second in FIA 1300cc cars to 1964,  to a lovely Alfa Romeo Zagato". Contact Bill by email
WG
WG
WG
WG
MORE PHOTOS OF THE WG-BRITISH RACING FASTBACK
This time from Flavien, who has sent in some taken by his friend, JM Cattenot, at the show. Anyone know who owns this car? Is it an Archers Replica - I presume so. Feedback please.
CAR COVERS FROM MIKE CURTIS

"As my car will soon be back from paint, I am looking at a car cover for it. Ages ago I made a mock up, which is heavily tailored to suit the standard curves of a Sebring front with a Frogeye rear end and coupe top. I have arranged to meet a pal who is in the design team of a manufacturer, local to me. I was wondering if there might be an appetite amongst fellow Sebring owners for a larger order? I could no doubt adapt this to fit fastbacks, but I’ll have to ‘borrow’ / visit someone with one of these cars, so I can tailor it to fit! Not sure of final cost but possibly c £350? These could be coloured/embroidered to suit an individual car. I believe lead in times are likely to be 4 – 6 weeks from order. I wondered if you might like to circulate a note enquiring if anyone else is interested? I could send you a photo of the one I get done in due course, in which case it might be better to wait – realistically it’ll be in the new year, allowing for manufacture".
ANY ONE FANCY A TAILORED COVER FOR THEIR SEBRING please send Mike an email.

577 DNX TO HAVE A WINTER REFRESH
Owner ALAN ANSTEAD tells me:
"The Sebring is at the bodyshop for several weeks. The bonnet slammed down when a gust of wind caught it and a large star crack appeared. Also I have never been happy with the hardtop/body joint. Archers filled over the joint and it continually cracks due to body flex. Possibly would not occur if I had a roll cage. The top is coming off and the joint will have an exposed black seal. Then a full respray to freshen it. All I then need is the correct sidescreens!!!
A Canadian journalist wants to do an article on my car for M.G.Enthusiast when next he comes to U.K. He saw the car at Angouleme this year and contacted me to ask who owned it.
Hopefully it will look good for next year's Alpine Miglia - a joint effort between me and Spridget.CH. You can read of this years run at www.masckent.org ".
WG Brit Racing
LAURENT DERANCOURT
spotted the WG-BRITISH RACING Sebring Fastback Replica

at the exhebition EpoqAuto in Lyon (France), yesterday.

WG-Brit Racing
458 STJ
458 STJ - BEN TYER'S BARN FIND IS UP FOR SALE
at least it was but I now see its sale has ended - must have found a buyer very quickly. Asking price was £24,995 on ebay
458 STJ



DTA
FROM WILL GARRETT:

"I purchased DTA 949C on the 20th of June 2016 as my first car! Being heavily involved with classic cars from a young age I started up a YouTube and Instagram page called ‘Theclassiccarlife' and the little Sprite fits right in! A collection video and first drive is already live online! I have huge plans for the car and my end goal is to turn it into a full race/hillclimb car that’s FIA approved but still road legal. For the meantime however the Speedwell will be my daily driver and all my adventures and the crazy experience of running a classic car not only every day but as my first car will be documented on my YouTube channel! Since purchasing the car I’ve had no major problems and have been enjoying it thoroughly. However shortly after purchasing the car a rather large fuel leak meant I had to remove the fuel tank and reseal the opening where the float penetrates the tank. This however was all in a days work and since then the car has run sweet and appeared at various shows including the Warren Concours d’Elegance! I hope you find the time to follow my adventures in the car on YouTube, I’m still considering the idea of mounting two spotlight on the Speedwell!"

Goodwood
GOODWOOD 26th September 1959 - 5 Lap Scratch Race
10 little Frogeyes with drivers including Paddy Gaston, John Venner-Pack (VP 7) and Lord Strathcarron sat on the grid. Only 1 of the 5 Lotus Sevens managed to get up in the top 5 finishers. Result: 1. John Venner-Pack; 2. Ken Mackenzie; 3. Paddy Gaston; 4. John Derisley (Lotus 7) and 5. D.Watts. Photo: Peter Higgins.
Goodwood

FROM DAVID MORYS:HealeySpeedboat
"Only got a little time to run [expires Sunday 18.41] but very rare Healey speedboat [on ebay] might interest somebody in the Healey world who either has pots of cash, a boat building background/business or a talented DIY expert! [Pictured right].
Last weekend (Saturday) I went with a good few people and mainly big Healeys to Prescott for the tree planting ceremony outside the Bugatti Club's office in memory of Alan Cameron. His wife, children and grand children were all in attendance and the large turnout was testimony to just how popular and well liked Alan was. Alan took on the completion of a Leaf Green Frogeye project he had taken in (it had rot and a bad respray and was a non original red) and finished it for me. To give you an example of his kindness and professionalism when he test drove the car the back axle was noisy (not his work) and he replaced the differential with one he had in stock free of charge! Regards David."

DAVE WOOD OF ORSON EQUIPMENT ON SEBRING REAR HUBS
"I do not know what Moss offer  - but looking at the image on their website I can see several differences: thread; chamfer; material and finish; origin of manufacture. Not sure if the drilling is the same. We have manufactured from the drawings and the initial batch was offered by Archers Garage. The previous owner (of the company) to myself would not have made a “special” if he could have supplied a standard. We have had no issues with the product we offer. I’ll look at the internal for the lip".

Kai Eriksen
KAI ERIKSEN HAS SEBRING PANELS FOR SALE

"As you may remember I had my car rear end and roof rebuilt in aluminum. These fibreglass panels may be of interest to our Sebring Sprite friends. I will sell them for a reasonable price as the freight cost from Norway could be expensive".
NOW SOLD

Kai Eriksen
REAR SPLINED HUBS
Stephen bowen points out: Similar rear hubs to those of a Sebring are available ex stock from Moss Europe, part no RCK103R or L but at a cost of £42.50 retail ex, a small price difference from the £360 of those on ebay! Steve's trade price is 31.88 ex." The Moss hubs lack the lip on the inside for location on the Girling brake drum often not used and the inside is flat". [I'm not sure whether this hub has the correct fine thread for the spinner? MEI]
Femi Rep
Femi Rep
FEMI ODUTOLU's FASTBACK REP IS PAINTED
and rather a nice shade of red too.
68 FAK
68 FAK
ON A TARMAC RALLY IN JAPAN
this Ashley/WandP bodied Sprite still bears its UK registration 68 FAK
[Yasuji Morizumi - Facebook]
68 FAK
Moss Sebring
STIRLING MOSS at speed in the 3 Hour race at Sebring 1962 driving 9254 WD
[JWB - Facebook]

Sebring 1962 and Steve McQueen hot on the heels of a Porsche 356 during the 12 Hour race, in the Healey 'works' alloy coupe 1411 WD.

McQueen
[Healeysport]
MIKE CURTIS'S LONG AWAITED SEBRING REP is in the spray booth and he should have her back at home for assembly during November!!
Colin McCabe's 1380cc Frogeye receives an Ashley Fastback hardtop. Nice J A Pearce wheels [Facebook]
McCabe
JASON ELLIOTT of HALLS GARAGE will be displaying their TIFOSI SS at the forthcoming Classic Car Show at the NEC
nmy
David Harris in his Sebring Sprite H 221 during 1960. One third of "Team 221" along with the Sebring Sprites of Cyril Simson - S 221 and John Sprinzel's X 221.
h221
Nik Aveyard

NIK AVEYARD'S W & P SEBRING GT2
A couple of new photos shown recently on Facebook.
Nik Aveyard

KARSTEN STELK recently published these documents from Downton Engineering back in the 60s from which he says: "if you are thinking what to do with your Sprite. Here is the way to go!!!"
Downton
Downton
Downton
Steve Nash

STEVE NASH & KERMIT, HIS SEBRING REBUILD:
"Having lost enthusiasm for my 'Sebring' build in recent months, I have regained momentum! Been chopping up the CCK bonnet in an attempt to get it to fit roughly right". See his photos on https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1382565592057948&type=3
Nice picture of the CCK Lenham Le Mans at a recent race meeting in the hands of Rainford Jnr.
CCK Lenham
Healeysport published this photo on Facebook Sebring 61 - taken at Sebring in 1961. "Pat Moss, John Sprinzel, Stirling Moss and Bruce McLaren confer, and swap notes following practice, while the press hover".
189 GYZ
Wm Severin Thompson recently purchased this "replica/tribute of the McQueen’s ’62 Sebring Sprite". He has a number of Sprites including this project with Ashley top and Kellison bonnet (right).
Wm Severin T
Modified Motoring
Library photo
DAVID SCOTHORN HAS SEVERAL BOOKS HE IS INTERESTED IN SELLING
The first is a copy of the 2nd edition of John Sprinzel's "Modified Motoring" in

good condition with good dust jacket, signed by the author in 2013. £45.
Next is a folded, otherwise good, original BMC copy of Sprite Mks 1 &2 AKD 1627A  Drivers Handbook also signed by John Sprinzel, and last is a fair condition Olyslager Manual. 1969 reprint. He is looking for £60 for the three, or £45 for Modified Motoring and £25 for the other two, UK post free. Contact David by email.

Armstrong
A PAIR OF ARMSTRONG ADJUSTABLE REAR SHOCKERS are being offered on ebay for the 2nd time. Asking £450
EXPIRES TODAY (2 Nov) UNSOLD
Phil Gardner
PHIL GARDNER finally gave up waiting for his side-screens and made his own. That will help distribute the 13 being made at present.

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS - TO WHOM I SEND MY GRATEFUL THANKS: Mike Wood; Phil Gardner; David Scothorn; Wm Severin Thompson; CCK Historic; Healeysport; Steve Nash; Karsten Stelk; Nik Aveyard; Jason Elliott; Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird; Mike Curtis; Colin McCabe; Yasuji Morizumi; Stephen Bowen; Femi Odutolu; Kai Eriksen; Dave Wood; David Morys; Peter Higgins; Will Garrett; David Scothorn; Dave Marriott; Sean Sandoe; Laurent Derancourt; Alan Anstead; Flavien ...; Bill Prout; Jason Elliott; Bryn Rossiter; Mike Curtis; Douglas Anderson; Andrew Nodwell.

 

News ~ October 2016

"I have had a pair of Bob Ridgard's seats in my Sebring since 1993 and my wife says they are the most comfortable seats she has sat in, in a car. Very expensive in leather now, but not too dear in vinyl. Always best to contact Bob by phone - he's not great on email. His website is at Ridgard Seats Martin Ingall"

SEATS - FROM BOB HINCHLIFFE
" Hi Martin, I have a question for you or your web audience. I would like to replace the standard Sprite seats in the Austin Healey SSR as I find that they are not supportive enough, especially as I have three point full harnesses for driver and passenger.
The replacements would be for normal road use but also suitable for track days and events. The other requirement is that they should be available in red with white piping to match the rest of the interior trim and be in keeping with the car. This may be a tall order but the only ones that I’ve found on the internet cost the best part of £1000 for a pair and I’m sure there are cheaper alternatives somewhere. I hope that you or your readers will be able to help, thanks in advance. Best wishes, Bob" Bob can be reached via email.

FROM DAVE WOOD OF ORDSON EQUIPMENT:
" Hi Martin, Couple of things: Front hubs will be started shortly. We are offering spinners for these as well. We are also able to offer the spinners with the following on the face. "Sebring" [Sorry cannot reproduce exact font here]
Or any other font – unless there is a logo for the car. These we would offer at £35 each – price includes artwork for the script. We will need to have 3 sets to be able to do this. We also have hub pullers available for the Sebring. A tool which allows the user to remove the stub axle from the front hubs with little effort – will also fit any type 42  12tpi threaded hub. These retail at £80 each. Dave Wood, Orson Equipment Tel : 01902 906290


Orson hubs
SEBRING REAR HUBS
Buy them now
on ebay £360 per pair
THE FROGEYE ROLL-HOOP DIALOGUE CONTINUES BELOW:

"Daniel, You are right in that if you cut through the front lip of the shroud it will immediately lose its profile / rigidity. When you fit a Sebring coupe top that actually helps get a snug fit.  For you I'd say cut 2 oversized holes in the shroud behind the lip in about the right spot. Once you have your cage in situ, minus rear legs, mock up a straight bar with elongated u shaped section in the middle and that will enable you to locate the holes (above). Hope this is clear! Mike".

"Thanks Mike, I agree. I looked at Frogeye Spares design and felt the leverage on the back stays was too much. How did you go about supporting the rear shroud when you chopped it?  Or do you have a bonded coupe top? Current plan is to have Caged make a custom rear hoop with perforating rear struts and diagonal that complies to msa  regs (they thought they could sleeve the rear struts but were double checking the regs).  I'll either later cut the shroud back and bond support ribs into it and fabricate a new lip  for the flashing or keep it and put some rubber grommets around the roll bar sections that perforate the shroud. Any thoughts gladly appreciated. Biggest concerns are vibrations trashing the rear shroud if cut it back and don't have a bonded couple top (have a lightweight hardtop I'd like to keep) Best wishes Dan" 

MIKE CURTIS ON DANIEL'S ROLL CAGE QUERY
"I looked into this before I cut back the fibreglass rear deck completely in my Sebring replica. Safety Devices do an option - see following link: http://www.safetydevices.com/motorsport/products/roll-cage/Austin+Healey+Frogeye+Sprite-1958-1961-2-door/377/1205/ I am not that keen on this arrangement and had I kept the rear deck I was going to make up my own rear legs for the main hoop, in one piece and jointed closer to the top, in line with MSA Blue Book guidance (sleeve & bolts). It will be tricky to get the holes in the deck in the right place exactly, but you should be able to get them 90% right. Then you can just make up a fillet / trim to cover any slight gap. Personally I don’t like the other option pictured [Mike Heath's option below] – the angle of the rear hoop looks like it would just give way in a serious roll over…just my personal view! Also, is it Blue Book compliant – assuming you want to race? Hope this helps, Mike Curtis"

SEBRING SPRITES ON DISPLAY AT THE SHOWS?
Is anyone displaying their car at the NEC Classic Car Show or the show at Alexander Palace, London? The Brian Archer Shield provided by the late Ian Ashfield will be presented to the owner whose car is considered to be the best turned out on the day.
NEC
Roll cage

"Re: roll-hoop in Daniel Paul's car. I got the attached from Gordon Elwell (I haven't fitted mine yet but it looks good) - the picture is of one of Gordon's. Doesn't perforate the rear deck at all. May do the trick. Cheers Mike Heath".

Roll Cage
HELP/ADVICE REQUIRED IN FITTING ROLL CAGE TO A FROGEYE WITH FIBREGLASS REAR END
Daniel Paul: "Am in the process of trying to get a roll-hoop put into my 'Sebring' which is much like 132 XUU in terms of Sebring bonnet and hardtop design. Do you have any further photos of Jim's car or contact details for him? [Unfortunately I don't] Trying to work out how best to perforate the rear shroud to avoid cutting it back if can, or if cut it back how best to reinforce it as I have a fibreglass rear for weight saving". Please contact Daniel if you can help - email.
132xuu
SEBRING SPRITE SPLINED FRONT HUBS
Dave Wood of Orson Equipment is gearing up to produce a further batch of front hubs.

There are no plans for more rears at the moment. They can also supply (the fine thread) spinners for these if anyone wants them - at £20 each (£80 per set) + VAT.
I have a list of 5 people requiring front hubs. If anyone is interested before machining starts please contact me via Feedback in the next few days, or contact Dave Wood direct at Orson Equipment, Camco House, Dale Street' Bilston, WV14 7JY. Tel : 01902 906290 www.orsonequipment.co.uk


hubs
Boness
At BO'NESS SPEED HILL CLIMB
(Scotland) 9th Revival Meeting on 3rd/4th September
[Facebook]
Boness
CONSULTATIONS ON ROADWORTHINESS TESTING OF CLASSIC CARS.
Have your say.

AUSTIN A70 HEREFORD AIR INTAKES
From Pierre Lequeux: "Yes, I have seen this on your website, unfortunately I have no source for them as they came with the car and I had them re-chromed. I would think the best would be to get in touch with the Austin Counties Car Club and keep an eye on ebay. I have seen a few going through. We had great fun with Camelia at Firle Hill  (you can see a few great pictures of the event there - LINK ) Camelia now wants to do the Brighton Speed Trials next year…and here enter the next generation of Sprite custodians and addicts! " [The Austin Counties Car Club has a spares dept at: Austin Counties Spares, Tudor Cottage, Ilkley Road, Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 3DW]

SELECTARIDE ADJUSTABLE SHOCK ABSORBER SYSTEM
Jeffrey Daigle says: "Found this information, which appears to be the same system: LINK " but using telescopics on the Bristol 409.

 

THIS (OUR) WEBSITE
is currently receiving on average 90 hits per day
(in excess of 30,000 a year).
THANK YOU FOR VISITING AND FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
SNIPPETS FROM FACEBOOK: David Nutland refers to the photo (left): "Number 72, on the slow road to completion". Dave Marriott responds: "I'm kit 97 and still not as far on as you! It's looking nice so far though". and Peter Fletcher: "Looking good, I own number 85 Speedwell Sprite. I also have number 103 one of the last (Archers) Sebring Sprites - looks similar to yours but no paint yet. Good luck".
CCK
FROM CCK Historic: "We’ve made another custom 6-point bolt-in roll cage for a Sebring Sprite. We’ve slotted the front dash/scuttle to allow the front legs to pass through giving better clearance for the steering wheel".
Selectaride
Selectaride
Selectaride

"An extract from the August 1965 edition of 'Safety Fast' featured information on Armstrong shock absorbers - [click the image, right] There has been information written about the manually adjustable Adjustaride variety, over the last few years, and I wonder if anyone has any experience of the electrically operated Armstrong Selectaride shock absorbers fitted to Sprites?  Obviously, fewer numbers of adjustments are possible but they can be done from inside the car. The (above) images show a pair, complete with wiring and switch, I have ‘unearthed’." Tim Spencer Feedback?

BRETT PRUITT (Hawaii): "I wanted to add to John Sprinzel's answers to Ken Grasing"s questions.  I had to make the rubber mats myself, as I could not find anyone with a set that would part with them.  Attached are a couple of photos that were shot for an upcoming article in Healey Marque magazine. 

PMO
PMO
Midget top
Midget top

Someone was looking for a Mk1 Midget hardtop and Angelo, in Holland, has this one for sale. It has no sidewindows (a bit hard to find) or front brackets, but the rest is complete and in good condition, just needs to be painted. 250 Euros
Email him if interested.

HALLS GARAGE & SEBRING SIDE-SCREENS
Jason Elliott of Halls Garage (Tifosi) comments: "[To make side-screens] we would need a template off an Archer's car or better still one of the Archers cars at our Open Day so then we could try on of our side screens. We can also supply side-screens in kit form as well".
"However, for those currently on my list for side-screens, we do have an engineer working on these. He has had some difficulties with the machine which swages the aluminium to give it the correct external shape but work is going ahead and we hope to have the outstanding orders completed soon" MEI - webmaster..
"IN SUPPORT OF ANDREW (Forster)"

"Just a short reaction to some of the comments about Andrew. Maybe people could remember that Andrew has had to close Archers Garage due to various problems including the non-payment of his invoices. He now has a fulltime job with a lot of responsibility and shall still have to sort out a lot of left over problems from Archers. I, as many people, have always asked him for all type of advice at all times and always got helpful reactions. But he does not work full time for Archers anymore and I would expect now and again gets sick of the constant comments and still expected fast reactions. I should add that this is my opinion and I hope not out of place.
Reference the side-screens. While you are waiting for your side- screens you can always make Perspex ones as fitted originally to some of the Sebrings and as I had on both my Sebrings and Michael (Meerlo's) replica. You can make a simple cardboard mould and use this to cut the Perspex or Lexan. You can make your own brackets or use the standard ones part no for the set AHA5894SET. We can always send photos from Michael's showing fitting etc. With these you can at least use the car and stay dry until the new ones are ready.
Reference Inlet Manifolds for Twin H4 SUs. I have just got 2 sets machined for myself and friends. We hope by the end of November to have 2 more sets finished. And before the end of the year new castings that we can get machined and flowed etc. These will not be finished tomorrow! A friend of mine has just had the spacer made for in the Sebring pedal box and this is in the computer and more can be made if needed. Thinking about production and delivery of parts for our Sebrings it must not be forgotten that most of the work is done by semi-retired professional people who do this in their free time for low amounts or the machining is done after the day's work. If you look at the prices in the 20 odd years these have not changed much. Compare this to a Heritage bodyshell  which I bought from Moss 23 years ago for £1650 and now costs £6970. Kind regards, Stephen Bowen" [Feedback]

Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
PrescottPRESCOTT HILL CLIMB - PHOTOS BY DAVID MORYS
Above left with miniscule windscreen is Joseph and Claire Giles' Frogeye. I think Keep Healeys Racingthe others are all fairly familiar to us all. On right - Stephen Casson has commissioned some ‘Keeping Healeys Racing’ patches suitable for race overalls.

They work out at £8.50 for a small patch or £22 for a large one (incl p & p) and will come in red or black. If you want one let me know as they need to order in batches of 12. Feedback

STEPHEN BOWEN comments: "I have noticed several people have been looking for rear springs for the early Sprites I have somewhere here at least two sets if not three. [Let me know if you are interested and I will put you in touch with Steve - Feedback] Also, you had about bulges on the bonnet and as John (Sprinzel) said this was to clear the top of the carbs. Also in the 1960s there was a wide range of inlet manifolds for the Minis available and these were higher than the Sprite to clear the front bulkhead. For me in '66 for the Sebring I needed an inlet manifold but the correct one from BMC Competitions of which we at Nerus were dealers still cost one and a half week's wages. Our Mini manifold cost 3 beers, one for the foundry Cowshed Castings we called them, but I think they were really called Rother Ironworks, one beer for the machine dept and one for the flow man so I made a big bulge in my bonnet".

FROM SIMON HUTCHINSON
This was my note to Simon after I published his earlier message in 'Latest News' last month:
"Hi Simon, Many thanks for your message and photos which I posted on the website. The bonnet was originally designed and built by Williams & Pritchard and called Sebring GT2 to go with their fastback hardtop - not unlike the Ashey one. The Davis brothers decided to use this bonnet when marketing their comeback Ashley GT in recent years calling it the Silverstone. In Australia there has never been a Lenham bonnet imported so all their Lenhams use the W & P bonnet - hence perhaps the confusion with the Lenham name as well. Your contribution is much appreciated. Cheers Martin"
- prompting this further note from him:
"Hi Martin, Thanks for posting (my earlier message) and the history lesson. I lived a few miles from the old MotoBuild shop in Hounslow back in the day so knew Rea and Darryl to speak to but can’t remember the third brother's name although I think they’ve gone their separate business ways. Was at the MGCC meeting at Snetterton this weekend and saw some nice streamliners there. The Midget Challenge had two wet races but a lovely white Lenham GT was second overall in both, very well driven. Pic of Ian Hulett's Midget (W & P Sebring GT2) wearing the same front end and roof (although it’s got a weird boot and doesn’t sculpt around the rear scuttle so guess it could be the W&P item you mentioned).  I’ve just managed to get an original late model Ashley hard top with rear glass that needs some restoring, plus a lowered rear roll hoop and only paid £130 for both (hurray for the Ashley Facebook page). With regards to BGJ 840B I found the Williams and Prichard receipt for the fibreglass wings and bonnet in amongst  the heaps of results and write ups, if only it was £37 pounds today! Other photo is of my 18 yr old son's Blaze Midget parked next to an equally lowered powder blue example. Keep up the good work, regards Simon Hutchinson, TSG Engineer Propulsion, Military Aerospace (Mil-A).".

Hutch
Hutch
Hutch
Hutch


888 HPA

I have started assembling information about this Lenham GT now owned by Tom Coulthard. Can you add anything - see the new page. Feedback?

Paul Slangen: "Reading all about Halls Garage. ( I contacted them before by email regarding whether their side-screens fit on our cars, but never got a message back). I wonder if they fit on our Archers Sebrings due to the Tifosi having no roof gutters. They look alike but I assume they won't fit. I asked Andrew before, but also no reply. Perhaps you can contact Halls/Tifosi and ask them, before some owners are spending a lot of money on the wrong side screens ?!
P.S. In the attachment Sebring against Marcos !!"



Paul Slangen

Combe

"Fabulous day with 9253 WD at Castle Combe's 'Autumn Classic'. On track with Nick Mason's Ferrari 250 GTO and Stirling Moss' 1960 Monaco Grand Prix winning (Rob Walker) Lotus 18, to name but a couple. John Willetts who raced 9253 WD between 1965 - 1968 was my passenger. He was last at Castle Combe 50 years ago in 1966. Photos courtesy of Neil Thomas" JWB


9253 wd
Wm Severin Thompson asks "Can anyone identify this hardtop?"WST hardtop

Feedback
SPRINZEL'S AIR BRAKES!!!

"In reply to Ken's questions. Yes, the vents were from the Austin.  I imagine Moss or someone now supplies the mats. Yes we had the bulge to prevent the larger SU's from being damaged.  Stock disc wheels as this was an event just a short time after the car's introduction so no time to mess about with other wheels or indeed other than stock brakes.  Incidentally we did get brake fade on some of the longer Alpine descents. so Willy and I held open the doors as air brakes after Mercedes idea. And Yes that worked quite well. Take care... JS"

DEREK STEWART CONTINUES HIS CONVERSION OF HIS SEBRING REPLICA TO COVENTRY CLIMAX ENGINE WITH TOYOTA T50 GEARBOX
DS
DS
DS
DS

His latest news is: " The chassis modifications are at last completed.  After removing a chunk of cross member and cutting away some of the steering rack support bar, the altered support bar could be fabricated but this is a route that many have trod in the past. The engine sits lower than in the Brabham installation, probably because of the Toyota gearbox fit but this was a plus point as the Sebring bonnet profile appears to have a lower line and I wished to  avoid any carb clearance issues.  I also wanted sufficient clearance at the crankshaft pulley to access an easy change of the generator/waterpump belt. The altered rack support was welded onto the cross member and hopefully restored some of the original rigidity. Thanks must go to Paul Webb for his suggested pattern for the engine mount. The dummy fit goes back into the car during the next few days and its off to the exhaust fabricator for the next phase.  Its certainly a project that requires time! I've also attached a couple of photos of the radiator that show the main alterations for the Climax installation. More to follow as progress creeps forward! Cheers Derek
PS.  I believe Brabham Conversions completed seven Heralds (2 coupes, 4 saloons and 1 estate) and five Sprites/Midgets - David Bruzas's 751 VPF and 4736 PL still exist)".

DS
DS
DS
DS
 
DAVID BRUZAS' RESTORATION OF THE ORIGINAL BRABHAM MIDGET DEMONSTRATOR
751 VPF
751 VPF
Brabham
Brabham

"Good morning Martin, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Four days at Goowood after a marathon before to get the car ready for display. It was  great result. Most of the time the car was surrounded by people. I was kept busy answering questions . One elderly gentleman was interested in the car, he had worked at Jack Brabham’s in the early ‘60’s. He was very interested in the rebuild and confirmed the various mods they carried out to install the Climax engine in my car. Both of Sir Jack's sons were there; they were fascinated with the car and asked for some pictures, which I will forward on. They also posed for some pictures, in similar poses to the original photos of their father. I have just got back from a well-earned holiday and now can get back into completing the build. I have a small issue with the clutch release. It means engine out!! Classic and Sports Car mag have asked if I would give them permission for them to write an article. Regards, David".

team
751 VPF
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751
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JOE ARMOUR: "Re: Lew McAllen's enquiry on the source of rear splined hubs - these are used on wire wheeled TRs and the rear of 'big' Healeys".

FROM
LEW
McALLAN:
Front hub
Rear hub
Stwheel
HEALEYS large and small being prepped for shipping to the Sebring races in Florida, 1962.
[Facebook]
Sebring Prep
"Just read Alistair Ross's comments regarding the above. I also had an early version of these hubs on a Bugeye "Greeny" which I sold 15 months ago. This car also had early bolt-on wire wheel adapters on the rear and an early wood rim wheel which I kept for another project.  Can anyone ID these parts? best regards, Lew McAllan"
Sylvain
FOR SALE - SEBRING SPRITE REPLICA (1960), LHD. Comes with a recently FIA HTP papers, 2016. Ready to race. Based in France (near Paris). [I await a price guide] For more information and photos, etc please contact Sylvain Proyart by Email
Sylvain

SEBRING FASTBACK REPLICAS RE-EMERGE IN AUSTRALIA
" Hi Martin, I hope you all enjoyed your summer motoring activities and we on this side of the world are just exiting winter and heading into spring, so lots of good motoring weather just around the corner for us. You recently mentioned "will there be any more Sebring Sprites". I have an Archers fastback body and Sebring front which I purchased from Archers garage in 2014 - it arrived here in Australia in August that year. This I feel is possibly one of the last few made prior to Andrew closing Archers Garage and putting the moulds into storage. I would appreciate it if you could add it to the list of Sebring Replicas. [I have allotted the car No.106 - Ed]
I was contacted by a local  chap Peter De-Vene here in Brisbane, Queensland who was trying to obtain a fastback body so he could build a Sebring Fastback Sprite. He had no luck with Archers Garage and as we now know Andrew had more pressing issues to deal with than making body mouldings at that time. He also contacted CCK regarding a body but they did not answer any emails so he assumed they are only interested in supplying completed cars. When Peter was reading your site he discovered that I had imported a fastback body and Sebring front. So Peter contacted me some time back and asked if I had fitted the body to a chassis yet? I had not at that time as I was still deciding which of the cars that I had acquired that I was going to use. Peter asked 'could he come to Victoria and make a moulding of the body so he could produce a body for himself'. I agreed to allow him to take a moulding from Archers body which he did last week and he also has a mould for the Sebring front made by a boat builder in Melbourne from an Archers  front that Tony Bennetto brought back from the UK when he and his car travelled there. Peter purchased the mould of Ebay and shipped it to Queensland. Peter made another front for me as part of the arrangement and is also supplying me with another fastback so I will be able to construct two cars now instead of just one. It just goes to show Sebring builders will go to great lengths to build a car as Peter and his wife travelled from Brisbane to Kyneton and return, a total of 3700 kilometres plus a weeks work making the mould. Attached are some photos of the front that Peter made which does not have grille opening cut out yet and is beside the Archers front with the opening and grille installed. Also there are some photos of the mould being made and being separated from the original Archers body when it was completed. Regards Alan Mead, Kyneton, Victoria, Australia.

Mould
Mould
Mould
Mould

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS - TO WHOM I SEND MY GRATEFUL THANKS: Alan Mead; Sylvain Proyart; Alistair Ross; Paul Slangen; Wm Severin Thompson; Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird; John Sprinzel; Derek Stewart; David Bruzas; Joe Armour; Lew McAllan; Simon Hutchinson; Stephen Casson; Jason Elliott; Stephen Bowen; Angelo van der Rijt; Dave Marriott; Pete Fletcher; David Nutland; Brett Pruitt; Tim Spencer; Dave Wood; Pierre Lequeux; Jeffrey Daigle; Daniel Paul; Mike Heath, and Mike Curtis.

 

News ~ September 2016

LETTER FROM KEN GRASING
" Hello Martin, Once again your “Latest News” segment brings up more questions!  I noted, with more than passing interest, the pictures from John Sprinzel of the latest rendition PMO 200.  After scrambling to the bookshelf I’m left with a few questions:
1. I think the vents on the sides of the bonnet are from the Austin A70 Hereford.  I believe the same are used on Pierre’s 2080 PO?  Any chance of finding a set of these?
2. It appears the interior is fitted with the original style rubber mats rather than carpet.  Is there now a source for these?
3. I’ve always wondered about the blister in the bonnet, it’s quite prominent in the pictures of PMO 200 in the ’58 Alpine, as well as these new pictures. Any particular reason for the blister?
4. Also noted the car is running the disc wheels, I presume it’s fitted with the A40 drum brakes up front rather than the Girling discs?
I also noted the various comments regarding Halls Garage/Tifosi:
5. I see they are said to be able to produce the side screens.  Do we have any idea when Brian will be able to deliver any of the ones started by Andrew?
6. I’d be interested to know whether they, Tifosi, are producing any other bits.  I’m still after Andrew for a set of the Healey inlets.
I did go ahead and purchase the car out of California that appears to have the Girling brakes.  I’ve not had a chance to get into it yet, other to exam the underside while it was on the trailer.  No Armstrong adjustable shocks, which is disappointing as I was hoping to recover a bit of my investment by selling of a set of these.  Looks like a couple of leaves have been removed from the rear springs, as was done in period.  ARB ends are parallel to the road surface, as was done with the early ARB’s.  Engine has nine-spring style clutch, not the twin disc.  It is the Girling style pedal box with the spacer to stagger the individual master cylinders.  They appear to be the Girling style hubs, without too much wear, although the wire wheel rims are probably not salvageable. 
The pictures of Sven’s car look good, nice bodywork.  My 1959 Sprite, the one that will be the supercharged Bonneville Sprite, is just about ready to be primed. Pictures below. Best Regards, Ken Grasing"

Bonneville
Grasing
Grasing
Grasing
usu 607

Ken Grasing continues re: photos above: (Left is the car as it arrived from Iowa). "This is the 1959 car, which will be fitted with the Shorrock supercharger and done up as a Bonneville Sprite; modeled after 7080 AC as run in the 1960 Alpine rally by Tommy Wisdom and Jack Hay.  Car will be painted in Healey Ice Metallic Blue and run with the soft top rather that the more typical Jensen (DHMC) hard top.  Holding off on painting until we have the engine sited, as I want to get inlet for the blower positioned correctly in the bonnet.  Engine is coming along and I think most of the Sebring Sprite gear is in hand.  I’m still sorting the FIA Article V (safety) equipment as John Hopwood advised me the Bonneville is a Period F car, rather than a Period E car, which makes things a bit more difficult".

"USU cresting the brow at the top of Firle Hill at the recent Revival meeting. 250 miles round trip and three blasts up the hill made for a busy and exciting day!" Bob Hinchliffe

Speedwell
SPEEDWELL DRUM BRAKE/WIRE WHEEL CONVERSION
Alistair Ross: "I had the pleasure of meeting Sven Eckhart in the summer and was pleased
that he had bought TRV 202.  I did go and view this car when it was for sale and noticed the Speedwell goodies that had been fitted, and we had good blather about the car (with a pint in hand). Its interesting that his car has been fitted with 8" brake drums. My car (5447 HX) was also fitted with 8" brake drums (Morris Minor) but Rubery Owen supplied splined hubs and wire wheels (I don't know when the wire wheel option was available for the Sprite) and these were fitted by Speedwells, attached is a picture of the conversion, thought this may be of interest.
INFORMATION SOUGHT ON SPRITE MK1 - 8965 AC
Dennis Wharf is trying to assist the new owner of this car which was originally registered in 1959 to the Donald Healey Motor Company. "It has some unusual instruments, but otherwise is a completely standard, although in appalling condition.  He wondered if it may have been raced. Does the reg number ring any bells, or is it most likely just one of many demonstrators with a few extra instruments fitted at some point in its past? " Feedback

OUR AUTHORITY ON SPEEDWELL GTs, ALISTAIR ROSS, COMMENTS ON TOM McCORMACK's ALLOY MONZA BONNET
" I'll throw my hat into the ring and speculate that the bonnet that Tom McCormack has is that from Frank Mabrys car, its well known that Frank did not have much luck with his Speedwell GT or indeed with his Formula Junior Lotus where he forgot to fasten the bonnet before setting of. Frank's last jaunt in his GT resulted in him crashing it on the way to the circuit. I did make contact (of sorts) with Frank some years ago and there was no mention of him or his family still having the car. Frank Mabry's first contact with Speedwells was when he was returning from US national service in Germany and as a customer he was very demanding and was happy to pay cash for a car as soon as possible. Speedwells had built a very 'posh' Speedwell GT (UGU 874) this car had all the bells and whistles but it was not what the customers wanted and Speedwell's could not sell it, one comment was that you could buy a new Aston Martin for the same price. Peter Eva (Speedwells) sent me a dossier of memories, catalogues etc and this was added to after his death as his daughter sent me more Speedwell papers. I now believe that UGU was stripped of its fineries and was rebuilt for Frank Mabry at short notice, Peter Eva said that they had a car 'in stock' that would do the job and the man was willing to pay cash. I have also seen photographs of the rear of Mabry's car and it was fitted with a spare wheel access panel the same as UGU, HX and MM and this certainly would not have been fitted to a newly built racer". ttfn....Alistair. (The bonnet below)

VP7

"John Venner Pack in pole position at Goodwood (left). The track is the same as in Tom Coulthard's (888 HPA) picture so at least we know its Goodwood about 1960, albeit not the same time of year" - Alistair Ross.

T McCormack
Poulter
Poulter
Poulter
Poulter

MG MIDGET FOR SALE £1250.
John Poulter is offering this Midget for sale, first registered April 1971, and last tax disc on the screen was 1999. "It's been in dry storage since then. It looks like a fair bit of work was done just prior to its last use - calipers and discs were replaced, o/s full floor, no doubt a few weak areas were filled - bottom of n/s A post and car resprayed. 4 new tyres and very good spare. Pancake air filters and oil cooler are non-standard but otherwise original. All complete including hood, tonneau, hood cover and tool kit. There is a hole now in the passenger footwell, and the rear of the boot floor to rear valence wants rebuilding. I have sympathetically woken it up - new front brake hoses, one new rear wheel cylinder, cleaned the drums and discs, fitted new master cylinder seals to brake and clutch, cleaned dynamo and control box, carbs etc, new points (already had new leads and cap), new bonnet pull. It now rolls easily, king pins seem fine and the engine starts and runs sweetly - mileage 79K. I can't get the clutch to clear as it looks like the clutch release bearing has worn the carbon totally away so I can't try the box. I have a slave battery fitted at present and the engine starts instantly with good oil pressure and no smoke.  Visitors welcome. I have attached a few more photos. Many thanks John". Click to email
The car is located near Dursley Glos, 15 mins from J 13 or J14 on the M5.
Contact numbers 01453 547577 and 07941 890062. NOW SOLD (8 Oct 2016)

Pierre
Pierre
Pierre
Pierre
Pierre
FIRLE HILL REVIVAL 2016

"The Lequeux’s had a great day at the Firle Hill Revival…wih a few other Sprites…Hopefully a few more next year !"

Pieter Bakker
A couple of photos from this year's Circuit des Remparts d'Angoulême held on 16-18 Sep 2016 - Clive Cocks in his 1962 WSM Sprite (right) and Pieter Bakker in the paddock (left).
Clive Cocks
Aussie
This car for sale in Australia looks to have a Lenham GTO rear end - the bonnet identity I'm not sure about, but it claims to be a 1958 Sprite which doesn't quite tie up with its later screen and door configuration. Link
Aussie
Due to change of plan Bryn Rossiter has for disposal an expertly re-manufactered pair of H4 carbs, mounted on a modified MG1100 manifold and set up for a hot 1000cc Sprite. They have not been fitted since overhaul and come with a pr of new Swiftune bellmouths. He needs £795 (firm) plus carriage at cost or collection from Wilts or Lincs (by arrangement). NOW SOLD
Fel Knockagh
Fel Knockagh
Fel Knockagh
Fel Knockagh

"Martin, a few images of our cars at Knockagh Hill Climb. This hill ran from the early fifty's until mid sixty's. It was also used as a stage on the International Circuit of Ireland Rally until 1971 then like a lot of road circuits stopped.  The Ulster Automobile Club (UAC) revived the event on the 16th September, on one of the  sunniest days of the year.  My sister  Fel drove our recently purchased Frog eye. This car is the same age & colour  as the 1959 Monte-Carlo car . We dressed it in the Monte livery,which  went down very well at the event. Regards Trevor McIlroy, Belfast". 

I am told HALLS GARAGE also have an Open DAY on 15th October for those interested in Sebring reps, etc.
138 DJB
138 DJB
The Ex-John Milne Midget GT taking part in the Historic Endurance Racing Classic in Portugal [Trevor Hibdige/David Scothorn]
138 DJB
MORE ON 888 HPA FROM FORMER OWNER JOHN PITT

"I bought 888 HPA in 1965 from the son of the Chief Superintendent of Police for Wembley, who lived in Hatch End. (Got away with speeding fines and noise etc for nearly a year as the police thought he still owned it!). He told me it was built and raced by Naylor Brothers who I think are still in business and believed it had a Coventry Climax engine originally. Front brakes were from a Lotus Elite. Rear Brakes were Austin A40 front drums, converted to rear. Gearbox had Elva straight cut gears. Light weight flywheel. Competition clutch. Panhard & anti roll bars. Twin 1 1/2 SU carbs, also Dellorto 42 DCM carb tried, no quicker but heavy on fuel! 731 & 649 cams were tried. Tell tale Rev counter.I fitted the Lenham body in 1967. I have pictures of before and after. regards, John".

Simon Hutch

SIMON HUTCHINSON:

Hi Martin, I bought the cream front end from ebay that was up for £200 last week. Simon HutchI thought it was a Lenham ‘Silverstone’ (looking at plenty of pics on the web) but you've described it as a Williams and Pritchard Sebring Mk2. [I think Motobuild call their copy of it an Ashley Silverstone on their Ashley GT- not Lenham, Ed] Sadly it's been standing upright for many years and the extra weight of the nose ducting has caused some gel coat cracking mid-wheel arch and just behind the headlights. The latches are seized solid but externally very good, are they Triumph Spitfire/Herald items? [Yes, Ed] Also has a crack along the bottom of the air intake but nothing insurmountable for the £160 I paid in the end. I have these for a 74 RWA Midget that's about three projects away from starting and would love one of the Lenham GT rears. [Available from CCK Historic] If these are too expensive/rare then an Ashley GT would suffice. The chap who sold the front end has a complete skinny disc setup if you anyone who's interested, I could pass there details on (what is a fair price for these?). [Good question] I noted on one of the pictures within the site a scene from the Brighton Speed Trials (Jensen in the background) Simonand my then black Midget BGJ 840B sporting the Ashley hard top and possibly a Lenham front was leaving the line in the Ladies race with Pat Uren at the wheel. This car started out white through to the Black streamlined body and had a supercharged 1100 fitted, crashed and front returnedSimon Hutch to white standard body with a 1600 X Flow then re-shelled in 72 and fitted with a 1600 Lotus Twin Cam, 2 years later retired to back of garage and I bought it in about 2007 without the engine and box sadly. It has 8” wide revolutions, big discs and drums & telescopic dampers all round. The bubbled rear arches aren’t to my taste but I’ll leave Simon Hutchthem as long as the wheels don’t rub. The fronts will have to be more pedestrian friendly than the trailer mudguards fitted. Eric Green (Pat's husband) was in the process of supercharging the Twin Cam and had cut a huge chunk of the drivers foot well out and converted to LHD. I have a 165 BHP Zetec (twin cam) and 5 speed box to slot in.  Great web site by the way. Regards, Simon.

Simon Hutch
Pat Uren
Simon Hutch

Simon Hutch
Supercharged
318 UMD
SPOTTED AT THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL BY BOB HINCHLIFFE:
The nice little Ashley-bodied Frogeye of John Foard (Hants) and David Bruzas' newly completed Brabham Midget with Coventry Climax engine which formed part of the tribute to the late Sir Jack.
751 VPF
FROM JOHN SPRINZEL: "Brett Pruitt has finished rebuilding my Hawaiian Sprite of 21 years, into a copy of the original Alpine rally Class winning car of 1958. An unbelievable restoration. [Below, and right:]
Pruitt
Pruitt
Pruitt
Brett
Brett
KEITH EGAR REPORTS: "Halls Garage at Morton near Bourne make all the panels and can also build a Sebring replica. They can also manufacture side screens. They did a lovely conversion on my competition car"
AND JASON ELLIOTT OF HALLS GARAGE: "We do Sebring Sprite panels but they take 4 to 6 week to deliver. We have front screens in stock. Side screens made to order. We can also supply separately or as complete kit. TIFOSI-HALLS GARAGE    
REMEMBER TRV 202 - THAT RUST BUCKET SVEN ECKHARDT BOUGHT ON EBAY?
Well, he is gradually transforming it back to its former glory complete with its period 8" drum brakes.
TRV
TRV
TRV
TRV
TRV
TRV
TRV

Great progress
- well done Sven!
WILL THERE BE ANY MORE SEBRING REPLICAS ?
A question received this week: "Hi Martin, I own a 1961 Frogeye and am enquiring as to the availability, and price of the Sebring bonnet, and Sebring coupe top. If you could get back to me with some information I would be very grateful", and my response:

"Unfortunately Andrew Forster closed Archers Garage in February this year following a fire a year earlier. He has now taken fulltime employment elsewhere and his moulds are in storage. However, you can obtain both a bonnet and coupe top from CCK Historic in Sussex. Laminated windscreens are available from a number of glass suppliers. I am not sure about the Perspex rear screen but that is not a complicated item. The side-screens are more difficult and I have been co-ordinating a list, currently of 14 people wanting these. An engineer has agreed to make them but it is taking time.There may be other sources of panels too and I hope to have details shortly. Let me know if I can assist further". If anyone can nsupply information as to alternative suppliers would you kindly let me know on Feedback.

Sorry, I'm away again for a week, back on 23rd. Enjoy the summer weather.

Photo from Tom Coulthard revealed on Facebook. I'm hoping he'll tell us more about it but notice the Sprite in the foreground is 888HPA which later evolved into his Lenham GT.
Squadron-leader Paddy Gaston in his Sprite RAM 35 during 1961.
[Courtesy of Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird on Facebook]

RAM 35
ANOTHER WENDY GIBBS INTERVIEW - THIS TIME WITH JOE ARMOUR - EXCELLENT!
Joe Armour

WATCH THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL LIVE
RIGHT NOW - JUST CLICK BELOW https://youtu.be/jresu2xAKKk

1411 WD
Revs Library have this nice photo of Geoff Healey with 1411 WD prior to its entry in the Le Mans 24hrs 1961
ONE OF LENHAM'S OTHER PROJECTS WAS THE P70 built around 1970
[Facebook]
P70

Tony Griffiths confirms that "the Sebring replica that belonged to the late Mike Cockayne is now in the hands of a gentleman called Will Dick who is an Alfa Romeo specialist in Wolverhampton and well known racer of Alfa Romeo cars. His company name is WAD Developments. I believe Will may have been a friend of Mike's".

BMC/PATHE NEWS FILM ABOUT THE "NEW" FROGEYE, WITH ROY SALVADORI AND JOHN BOLSTER IS ON YOUTUBE

BRABHAM MIDGET
David Bruzas confirms his newly restored example will form part of the Jack Brabham Memorial at the Goodwood Revival later this month.
Test rig
A COUPLE OF ITEMS I AM OFFERING ON EBAY
to make some space in my workshop. Left is my engine test rig also useable for dummy building up suspension, steering, brakes, etc. Right is an early 1098cc engine. Test rig is now £4.20, engine 99p . BOTH NOW SOLD.
1098

NOS BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES
Steve Nash on Facebook: " With all the trouble people have had with the reproduction hydraulic brake light switches, I'm pleased to say I've found a small batch of new old stock Lucas switches. Due in shortly. If anyone wants one, I can offer them at £9.50 each delivered to a UK address. Overseas buyers, please PM me and I'll work out a postage cost. Strictly on a first come, first served basis.... and I'm keeping a couple for myself!"
Send him an email if you're interested. [I gather they are all spoken for - SORRY]

Chris Pass
CHRIS PASS'S LENHAM GT
with Triumph TR3 windscreen
[seen on Facebook]
WENDY GIBBS
is putting together a number of video interviews highlighting Sprite Car Club of Australia members cars. The first, now available on YouTube is of Colin Dodds with The Frite (Jag E-Type engined Sprite. Definitely worth a look. What Colin doesn't know about Sprites ain't worth knowing! Next interviewee will be Joe Armour I believe.
ANDY CHAFFEY
has now sold his Sebring Rep
A Chaffey
Ashley
Rare item on ebay - Ashley top for a Frogeye - £360 Exp 12th
John Pitt tells me that it was he who was the original owner who carried out the conversion of 888 HPA, the Lenham GT now owned by Tom Coulthard.
888 HPA

NEWS FROM TIFOSI (HALLS GARAGE)
Jason Elliott tells me they have a stand at the Manchester Classic Car Show on 17/18 September and that they are having a Tifosi, Midget and Sprite Open Day on the 15th October at Hall’s Garage, Folkingham Road, Bourne, Lincs, PE10 0NS.

381 SYB
381 SYB
381 SYB
381 SYB

Regular contributor Graham Bish has kindly sent these photos taken by his friend Peter Green at the Tatton Park Classic car show, over the weekend 20th/21st August. The car is Emrys and Pauline Jones' supercharged Sebring replica.

Sylvain
Sylvain
FOR SALE
Sebring Sprite Replica
1960 (LHD) complete with FIA HTP 2016 and ready to race.
Spa
The car is based in France (near Paris). For more information, photos, etc, please contact Sylvain Proyart by email.
Underdogs

FROM SPORTING CARS
Sept 1984 this fascinating article about our cars in competition entitled "The Wild Underdogs"
[Kindly sent in by John Poulter]

Trevor McIlroy took part in the Shelsley Walsh Classic on 17th July and his run can now be seen on Youtube

[James Thacker]

B-Series Water Pump
Pump

John Poulter: "In reference to Ian Watts and the water pump I believe that was a pressed steel impeller like the photo of the B-series pump (above right). There seems to be several attempts at replacing the iron impeller over the years - I have one new pump with a plastic moulded version - I wonder how much overheating that will take?"

IS ANYONE IN TOUCH WITH M. VON SCHAUROTH WHO OWNED, OR OWNS, 812 AGO?
Nicolas Billion-Rey would like to contact him. Feedback please
2080 PO
PIERRE LEQUEUX
sent in these lovely photos of PO at Goodwood (left) and Brighton Speed Trials (right)
BST
2080 PO
Mikansue
MIKANSUE MODEL
OF SPRINZEL SPRITE COUPE
ON EBAY
expires today 5 Sept
Currently no bids at asking price of £49.99
Nicolas Billion-Rey spotted 410 EAO in the background of this photo from 1961.
Coupe de Salon
1962 1000kms at NURBURGRING
Colour slides available on ebay - of which this attractive one of
2214 UE is one.
2214UE
Archers Cat
AN ARCHERS BROCHURE
on ebay at (how much?) £39.99!!!
Expires today (5 Sept)
TFR 5
PAUL TAYLOR sent in this article about the TFR5 (unfortunately written in Japanese but great photos)
JS patch
These patches are available on ebay at £14.99
RICHARD ROOKS (SPEEDWELL GT) is looking for a new or used shift lever for a Mk1 Sprite. Any help will be appreciated. Email him please

GREETINGS one and all. No, I haven't been on holiday but working hard on renovations to our cottage in tranquil Teesdale. Can't wait to get the Sebring up there to enjoy the blissful roads.

Innocenti
GHIA-DESIGNED INNOCENTI 1100S SPIDER (1963)
FOR SALE ON EBAY
AT £14,995
Innocenti
Ian Watts

Ian Watts
A WATER PUMP TALE FROM IAN WATTS OF COVENTRY:
"About 2 years ago the heater on my Frogeye stopped working. I tried all the usual things to find out what was wrong but to no avail. The only thing I didn't check was the water pump as the engine temperature was fine. The other day I had to take out the radiator to repair it, so while it was out I decided to check the water pump. This is what I found. Yes, the cast iron impeller has almost completely disappeared leaving just 6 fingers remaining, and yet the engine was not over-heating, despite hard driving and being stuck in traffic in Stratford on a hot day - amazing! Anyway, new pump fitted, heater now works and the engine runs 10deg F cooler and I've got nice warm feet".
W and P
WILLIAMS & PRITCHARD SEBRING MK2 BONNET
FOR SALE ON EBAY
BUY NOW £200
Expires 6 Sept
W and P
T McCormackALUMINIUM BONNETTMccormack
T McCormackA message from Tom McCormack reads: "I was hoping you or a reader would be able to identify an aluminum Sprite nose that I have owned for years.  I purchased it in the late 1980's or early 90's in the Philadelphia suburbs.  the seller had no history for it.  I intended to put it on a vintage race Bugeye but that never came to pass.  Any ideas?  Thanks in advance". 
The bonnet above would seem to be one of the very few (maybe 6) Speedwell Monza bonnets made by Williams & Pritchard and often destroyed early in their lives. Someone has clearly formed an opening in the top, probably to aid cooling. Any observations gratefully received. Feedback

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS - TO WHOM I SEND MY GRATEFUL THANKS: Ian Watts; Tom McCormack; Rob Lad Clubbe; Mike Wood; Sylvain Proyart; Andy Chaffey; John Poulter; Graham Bish; Peter Green; John Pitt; Jason Elliott; Pete and Paul Taylor; James Thacker; Richard Rooks; Pierre Lequeux; Nicolas Billion-Rey; Wendy Gibbs; Tom McCormack; David Scothorn; Wendy Gibbs

 

News ~ August 2016

IDENTIFYING A SPRITE ~ HAN6L 122 * * (last 2 numbers omitted for security/privacy)
US-based Kendall Cortese wanted confirmation that his VIN number was correct so I replied as follows:

"HAN6 tells us the car was  a Healey with A series engine, N tells us it was a 2-seater and HAN6 cars were built from May 1961 to November 1962. The "L" tells us it was a Left-hand-drive export model. Engine capacity for that period would have been 948cc. So this was a Sprite Mark 2. Chassis numbers for Mark 2 to Mark 4 were 101 to 87824. In January 1962 chassis numbers had reached HAN6 -12247 so it looks like yours was built around that time. So, as to authenticity, yes, if you have a 1962 948c Austin-Healey Sprite Mark 2 the chassis number appears to be authentic. Engine number would be 9CG-DA-H followed by a long number and it would be fitted with 1¼" SU carburettors".
I was greatly aided by Anders Clausager's book 'Sprites & Midgets' in answering this question.

WESTON SPEEDWELL REV COUNTERS FROM MARK WILSON
See his website
Speedwell Rev Ctr
......and news that XOH is currently in Robert Visser's paint shop. lThe car sometimes ran as XOH 276 and at others XOH 277]
XOH
9254 WD
MORE OF JONATHAN'S PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK:
Left, Stirling Moss, in 9254 WD, kicks up the spray as he blasts down the rain soaked main straight, at the end of the first lap, during the 3 Hour race at Sebring in 1962.
And right, thw works rally car XOH 277 slides through the corners on the 1959 Sestriere Rally.
XOH
Zam 42
Zam 41
Zam 40
PHIL ZAMLYNSKI
has been cleaning up and documenting some of the things done to his Sebring in terms of mods and new items. He is now working on the hood (bonnet), having completed his side windows with natty little door handles and has seen me these pictures, left.
Roger Friend
ROGER FRIEND'S
Frogeye has been out

testing at Brands with his son Oliver driving., "Towards the end of the day he got down to some reasonable lap times, not bad first time out, Lotus Elites watch out!"

Spot Bob Blayden's Sebring in this drone film from Hunter Valley in Australia, courtesy of Paul Vanderkooi
LWD
LWD 959E - TFR 5
photos kindly suppled by Paul Taylor (don't ask me to translate the captions!)
LWD

I have not fitted (Wolseley) 1500 brakes, but this is essentially what is fitted to the Falcon Sprite - see no problems at all, since the complete assembly must be fitted. The backing plate, shoes, wheel cylinder and drums must all be included in the installation. [ROGER SIELING]

Purposeful little Sprite
seen at the Zandvoort Oldtimer Festival last month.

Zandvoort
7080 AC
Jack Wheeler's, Peel bodied, alloy coupe Sprite - 7080 AC - displaying a few battle scars following the 1967 Targa Florio.
[JW-B]
A Chaffey
ANDY CHAFFEY'S SEBRING REP IS FOR SALE
Beautufully finished in Jaguar Gun Metal Grey with a 1380cc engine, straight cut gears, and fitted with all the right bits.
Offered on car and classic at £27,995.
A Chaffey

FROM ROGER FRIEND:
"Interesting piece on Facebook, readers be aware criminals are targeting cars at local Classic car shows, they are placing tracking transmitters under selected Classics, once they have tracked the car to your home or garage they will wait until the opportune moment comes to steal it, they only go for the best, be aware and check under your car".

9253wd

John Harris in his ex-works Healey Mk.II Sprite on the front row of the grid at Mallory Park during 1964. Mike Garton in the Healey ex-works 1961 Le Mans Sprite - 1411 WD - sits behind John on the second row. [JW-B]

9253
YNX
Left: "The original Healey "Frogeye" prototype Q1 - now registered YNX 684, racing at Mallory Park during 1964. The eagle-eyed will also spot the well known registration (401 COA) from the Wisdom/Hay 1961 Monte Carlo Rally (Mk.I) Sprite, now attached to a Mk.II". [JW-B]
XFD
"BLEEDIN' CLUTCH" ~ Alan Anstead

Four weeks ‘till I am on a Tour and inspection shows that the Clutch Master cylinder is leaking. Not a lot as the fluid in the reservoir has noAAt dropped at any appreciable rate, the purple silicon has changed to a somewhat muddy colour, but if left unattended it will only get worse and probably fail on some high peak abroad.

A new cylinder was obtained and the nearside front web trimmed so that it could be fitted alongside the brake master cylinder in the twin cylinder Sebring pedal box. The lower nut and bolt that hold the cylinder in the pedal box is difficult to access so I turned a custom bolt (picture 1) from some stainless steel. The bolt has a plain head that will pull on the rear of the cylinder web when the thread is tightened, a plain shank that is a push fit (reinforced with Loctite) then a 3/16 UNF thread to accept a suitable lock-washer and nut. No more struggling blind with hard to reach fixings.

My car is already fitted with a remote bleed under the bonnet made up of a ‘Goodridge’ type hose from the slave cylinder fitted to a three way junction with one port blanked off and a bleed valve in the other. Last time I attended to this I had sealing problems as the three way was old and tired when I fitted it so I turned a new two way on the lathe.

Everything was ready for bleeding. I have an Eezi-bleed, which is a good bit of kit, but get a poor seal and fluid goes everywhere. I might be retired but everyone else was at work so the old ‘pump the pedal’ way of bleeding was ‘out’.as I could not find an assistant. Or was it?

The Sebring pedals have two holes vertically in line at its very tip. One hole is for the actuating arm clevisAA pin and the other for attaching the return spring. I used a piece of steel to make an under-bonnetpedal extension. I drilled two holes to correspond with the two holes in the pedal. The lower hole was sized to fit over the projecting clevis pin and the upper hole drilled to clear a 2BA bolt that was projected into the upper pedal hole. (picture 2). I highlighted the extension with some masking tape.

Everything was now within my reach for bleeding. With spanner on the bleed valve, fluid catch tank connected to the bleed valve nipple I could slacken the bleed valve; pump pedal; watch the fluid pass through the clear hose from the valve nipple to the catch tank; lock the bleed valve; release pedal; top up the master cylinder and start all over again like some automaton.

Bleedin’ simple!

WOLSELEY 1500 REAR BRAKES
Can some kind person who has fitted a set of these to a Sprite give some advice to Stuart Lane as to what is involved and how to go about it, please. Contact him via email (with copy to me please).
458 STJ

ANOTHER SPECIAL SPRITE COMES OUT OF THE WOODWORK!
READ HOW BEN TYER BOUGHT THIS 'BARN FIND' STANDARD-BODIED SEBRING SPRITE ON EBAY AND DISCOVERED IT HAD QUITE A HISTORY.

458 STJ
Due to change of plan Bryn Rossiter has for disposal an expertly re-manufactered pair of H4 carbs, mounted on a modified MG1100 manifold and set up for a hot 1000cc Sprite. They have not been fitted since overhaul and come with a pr of new Swiftune bellmouths. He needs £795 (firm) plus carriage at cost or collection from Wilts or Lincs (by arrangement). Contact him by email if interested.
S Casson
D Abram
JMackrell
R Hayward
The Healeysport guys have been out enjoying the hills again: Steve Casson, Dave Abram, Joe Mackrell and Rafe Hayward at Harewood last weekend (7 Aug).
3 peaks
Steve Schmidt put this shot on Facebook with the caption: "Not often you see a Sprite competing on a dirt speedway oval, but they actually handle the situation very well
Three Peaks Rally, Murtleford Speedway 1980s
"
VUY
Croft Nostalgia Festival -
Peter Chappell Mk1

888 CZ ~ JOHN WATSON'S FROGEYE
In John Baggott's book "Mighty Midgets & Special Sprites" the foreword was written by ex-Formula 1 driver John Watson who said "In 1963 I acquired a Frogeye which was to be my everyday transport until the end of 1963, 888CZwhen I decided that I wanted to go motor racing. As I already had the Sprite and enjoyed driving it, it was the natural choice as my competition car. After suitable modifications, I campaigned it in my maiden season of circuit racing in 1964". He won his first ever race at Kirkistown, see photo right. The car is believed to have been sold at the end of that year's season. But where is it now - if it still exists? In "Frogeye Sprite" John (Baggott) again mentions the car: "This was the car previously owned by Adrian Boyd's brother Derek, who ran it with the original aluminium Monza bonnet from 505 BZ. Apparently the registration is still 'live' and the car has an MOT.

Brab
Brab
Brab
BRABHAM PRESS CAR
nears completion. David Bruzas' rebuild is now coming to fruition and he is hoping the Brabham Midget will be on display at the Goodwood Revival as part of the Jack Brabham tribute.
Ashley

Steuart Crofts has this Ashley hardtop for sale on ebay, for a Sprite Mark 2 or Midget Mk 1. Unusually it comes with a metal parcel shelf which replaces the original bootlid. Currently at £600, ends on 19th August.

Ashley
VUY 635

A nicely turned out Frogeye [BARC- Facebook]
Drew Cameron's Speedwell Sprite
[Healeysport - Facebook]
Drew
IAN HULETT'S immaculate
W & P Sebring GT2 seen at the Old Timer Festival at Zandvoort on 30-31 July
Hulett
BARN-FIND SEBRING WITH STAR SPRITE BONNET
I am awaiting more info about this car, recently acquired on ebay by Ben Tyer. Apparently it was supplied new with disc brake conversion, larger rear drums, wire wheels and a (now rare) Star Sprite bonnet. Photos coming shortly.
Racing Midget
RACE MIDGET FOR SALE
in Suffolk with HTPapers for race or rally. Ian McDonald is looking for £6,500
See Car & Classic
THE EX-MIKE COCKAYNE SEBRING
is now owned by Mike's friend of 45 years or so, Will Dick. As Bob said he is rebuilding his Alfa Guilia "which was rolled at Classic Silverstone, so time is valuable" but intends to get on with the Sprite as soon as possible.
THE WARWICK HEALEY MOTOR COMPANY ARCHIVE PROJECTWarwick
The Warwickshire County Record Office has recently purchased the remaining part of the Healey archive from the Healey family, and has raised in the order of £95,000 towards its target £120,000 "to support the purchase, cataloguing and conservation of the material". The team is currently seeking oral history in order to create 60 hours of interview material so if you are, or know of someone, who worked for the DHMC or who has a knowledge of the history of the Healey, Austin-Healey and Jensen Healey cars they would be pleased to hear from you. I attended yesterday the 2nd of 3 meetings being held at the Record Office to help identify photos and other documents in the archive. They are holding an Open Day for members of the public on Sunday 4th September (10 am - 4 pm). See attached leaflet.
THE EX-MIKE COCKAYNE SPRINZEL SEBRING REPLICA (Archers No.101)

When Bob Hinchliffe was at the Le Mans Classic he camped next to two guys who took an interest in his Sebring. One of them owns no. 101, the late Mike Cockayne’s car. He was told that the build is not complete and it is a long term project as the owner has other cars to work on and his main interest is building and racing Alfa Romeos. Bob was shown photos of the car in its present state and he says it looks very nice indeed. He did not find out the gentleman’s name or his contact details but I’m sure we’d all be interested in progress towards the car’s completion.

Bryn Rossiter tells me "that Honeybourne Mouldings are now able to offer hardtops for Mk11 Sprite/Mk1 Midget in similar style to the BMC originals. I think they are using the Frogeye style front fixings and are claimed to fit Mk1 Sprite as well. These are not yet on their website or in their catalogue but I understand they will retail at under £400 inc. VAT". 

Mark Boldry: "Can anyone help me with a picture showing the location and size of the clutch hose bracket on the drivers footwell of the Sebring cars please..."
Bill Emerson says "Driving WSM 403 is always a pleasure. After winning the award for "Best British Sports Car" at a recent Concors de Elegance in Cincinnati Ohio, I had the fun of DRIVING just over 900 miles from Ohio to Florida with the trophy as my passenger".
Emerson
THE BRIDGEHAMPTON MARK 2 NOW REDUCED TO US$ 14000 (£10500) See the 'FOR SALE' PAGE
Giordano-1
Lequeux
THE PIERRE LEQUEUX
STABLE
[borrowed from Facebook]
9253 WD
9253 WD at Cultra hill climb 2016... Steve Nash said "I take it you aren't using the original tyres?" to which Jonathan replies "On the contrary Steve, it's still on the original 500 x 13 Dunlop's from when it was last raced in 1968".
9253 WD
John Tewson out racing his 1098cc Sprite in the Fiscar series. Fiscar like to keep things original and won't allow Sprites with 1380cc engines.
John Tewson
LENHAM LE MANS FOR SALE
[VCA 88]
part restored ex-race car in Weybridge, Surrrey, asking price £11,500
on car & classic
Lenham LM

Blayden
BOB BLAYDEN'S Little Green Car was spotted at a meet in Australia's Hunter Region recently. He is certainly making good use of his Sebring.
ANOTHER SCAM PERHAPS - DON'T GET CAUGHT!
Mark Wilson has spotted another Frogeye for sale on ebay about which he says: "this £7,500 Frogeye has all the hallmarks of that scammer trying it on again - in fact I'd take a wager on it - 'leave your mobile via ebay'and diverse multiple listings!!!!(Ferrari Dino yours for £8,000, 911SC for just £8,200, 1966 Mustang £8,200). Could you spread the word to be careful - of course it could be genuine but if it looks just a bit too good to be true then!!! "
Sven
Sven
Sven

Left: Sven with

Luiza, his "long suffering better half".

SVEN GOES TO THE BLACK FOREST

Sven Eckhardt "returned from Schluchsee, luckily in one piece, the engine firing on all four cylinders (most of the time). The rebuilt 948 was a pleasant surprise powerwise. It did not seem to run out of steam even beyond 6500 rpm which was the limit I put on it.  Probably half the teeth went missing on the tired straight cut box´s first gear. Occasionally the car will only make grinding noises with the engaged first gear but refuses to move. But as JS says in his book 'one got used to finishing a rallye without first and reverse'. It was not quite as bad as that. The runs were spectacular as well as demanding and we met up with a great crowd of people ours being one of four Sprites and obviously being the only Sebring". 

CHATEAU IMPNEY HIGHLIGHTS
Channel 4 at 7.05 a.m. on Sunday 7th August

FOR SALE PAGE UPDATED
today
Keith
SHORROCK enthusiasts may like to see Keith Luck's installation in his 1949 "lowlight Morris (Minor), which has an overhead valve conversion and Shorrock c75b kit., It goes rather well for a sidevalve".
WILLIAMS & PRITCHARD ~ TIM SAUNDERS
Can anyone help Dave Hughes who is trying to contact Tim Saunders former webmaster of the Williams & Pritchard Register website as he has a query about a Lotus? Feedback please. NOW SORTED - THANK YOU ALL
728H
Graham Hill driving what was, I believe, Richard Melville's Speedwell GT during the 4 Hr. race at Sebring in 1961. [JWB]

Keith Luck (Shorrock specialist) tells me: "VVB193 used to belong to the late Ian Bishop, and has a c75b kit fitted.

Bob Hinchliffe re: the shots below: "In Graham's photo taken from the rear of my car (USU 607) I am in standing in front of the car, wearing a blue shirt, so it’s a pity I didn’t meet him. I was talking to Brian Morland from whom I bought my MG Ashley Midget. He now has a lovely MGB Sebring Replica so we formed a 'Sebring Corner'.”
USU
USU
VVB
VVB

GRAHAM BISH went to "CLASSICS ON THE COMMON" at Harpenden on a recent Wednesday and spotted USU607 there. "Unfortunately there was nobody by the car despite me going back several times. I understand it is owned by Mike Pragnell according to your records. [No, it is now with Bob Hinchliffe] Also there was VVB193 a standard bodied car with a 'supercharged' bonnet badge. Again no driver present".

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS - TO WHOM I SEND MY GRATEFUL THANKS:
Graham Bish; Bob Hinchliffe; Keith Luck; Dave Hughes; Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird; James Thacker; Sven Eckhardt; Mark Wilson; Steve Nash; Pierre Lequeux; Mark Boldry; Bill Emerson; Bryn Rossiter; Will Dick; Ian McDonald; Ben Tyer; Steuart Crofts; David Bruzas; David Scothorn; Steve Schmidt; Stuart Lane; Alan Anstead; Mike Wood; Roger Friend; Roger Sieling; Paul Taylor;

 

News ~ July 2016

GEARBOX FOR SALE

John Austin has a spare genuine Sprite/Midget gearbox for sale. It is good except for noisy first and reverse gears. Email him if interested.

WANTED
Roger Friend is looking for a smoothcase gearbox - internals not important. FOUND

 
494 VYT
UP FOR AUCTION AT THE SILVERSTONE CLASSIC THIS WEEKEND
is Richard Sands' newly completed Sebring Fastback. Originally on the market for £29,500 its guide price is now only £18-20K. A bargain for someone perhaps? SOLD £19,690
494 VYT
XFD
XFD
XFD
XFD
XFD
XFD
XFD
XFD

Hello Martin, I've been following your website regularly for the several years now. It's a great site! As my own frogeye has a little competition history I thought you might be interested in seeing a few pictures. I restored XFD593 with my father when I was 15. It's an August '58 car. Following an article in Revcounter about my car, I got in touch with the previous owner, Mr Roger Folwer. He's a very nice chap and has given me lots of information relating to his racing career.
He formed Neale-Fowler Racing Partnership around 1964 with a friend. Both cars were painted green and yellow, with yellow wheels. I've attached some old pictures, and one as the car is now. If anybody has any more information about XFD593 or XWP 332, I'd love to hear from them. It would be nice to know if XWP 332 has survived too! Keep up the good work! Jonny Coxell [Feedback please]

Casson
9524 WD
TZA
XXC
PICS FROM SHELSLEY WALSH ~ JULY 17TH kindly submitted by DENNIS WHARF
"Great day at Shelsley yesterday, fantastic cars, lovely people, superb weather, in a fabulous setting, even an air display - what more could you ask.....?Pride of place went to the Auto-Union C type Grand Prix car, not seen since June 1936 when it won the day driven by Hans Stuck.  YesterdAuto Unionay Hans junior (!) was driving.  Audi, who now own the 4C, specially prepared and brought the car here from their museum in Germany just for this occasion, which evidentlyAuto Union has taken six years in the planning.  The V16 500+bhp machine was right on song however, the sound quite like nothing I've heard before - bloody quick too.In addition to this we were also treated to a selection of the old eighties Group B rally monsters, some with their original pilots behind their wheels.  The sound of the turbo wastegates in some cases drowning out the considerable exhaust notes.  Although supposedly a demonstration run, the speed trap's indicated otherwise....!   A good number of Spridgets were out playing too". Left to right: Stephen Casson, Maxwell Shand, James Thacvker, and Trevor McIlroy.
Thacker

Thacker

CHATEAU IMPNEY HILL-CLIMB
James Thacker has sent in these additional photos taken by his wife Matty. The first is of the 3 cars of David Wylie, James and Simon Durling. The other is of James changing the diff on the Sunday morning. He tells me: "Simon was, in the past, a top ten runner in a Pilbeam, then moved on to a Gould with a big V8 engine which he ran for ages before latterly racing a historic FJ car in circuit events alongside Gil Duffy and Chris Merrick. Previously builder from Kent, Simon got to like Shelsley from competing there so much that he bought the house at the top of the hillclimb course and it is now his front drive !

Ivo
HEALEY MANIFOLD
Ivo Cappon is offering this Healey inlet on ebay at £175 expires 21 July SOLD £475!!
BOB BLAYDEN'S SEBRING
now sports rear fog and reversing lights which look "pretty neat", don't they?
Blayden

FROM HANS VAN DER KERKHOF AT THE HEALEY MUSEUM:SR badge
Hi Martin, Famous sticker! When in 1968 Healey went back to Le Mans with the XR Bic Healey made these stickers to support the Healeys. There are also embroidered badges with the same text and when we went back to the Classic Le Mans in 2006 I made the same badge with the text I’m racing Healeys. In 1970 Healey went back and they cut of the roof of the car and it became the Healey SR. The other sticker is from the meetings between the Dutch and English clubs.

E H Moser
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS HARDTOP
recently acquired by Erick Moser,
and presumably for a Frogeye?
Feedback please
EH Moser
DS
Derek Stewart's dummy build of his Coventry Climax - Toyota T50 combo is ready for its trial fit (left)
SEBRING SIDE-SCREENS
I have come to aSide-screenn agreement with Andrew Forster by which he is to lend his jig and swaging tool to another engineer who I have appointed to assemble a number of sets of side screens. I have 12 people on a list but if others need side windows watch this space or: contact me if interested
ASHLEY HARDTOP
for a Mk2 Sprite or Mk1 Midget currently for sale on ebay at £250 expires 21 July.
Ashley top
WER 354
WER 354 ploughs through the snow, with its studded Dunlop "Weathermaster" tyres, on the 1962 Monte Carlo Rally.
Chateay Impney
James Thacker pulls out all the stops in TZA at the recent Chateau Impney hillclimb
DECALS
Pete Taylor has identified the "I'm backing Healeys" badge as part of the assault on the 1968 Le Mans race with the Healey SR. Badge available from "Worldwide Austin Healeys"
SR Badge
Bryn
Bryn Rossiter's new pedal box installed in his Sebring Sprite. Note: re-positioned heater blower to clear it.
Mike Heath

FROM MIKE HEATH: "I'm a member of both the Midget & Sprite Club and Austin Healey Club and have read with interest your pieces on the racing Sprite's of the 1960's. I have a couple of Frogeyes, one of which I acquired relatively recently and am in the process of restoring/conserving. I thought you might be interested in this sticker attached to the hardtop. It's not one I've seen before - have you? Which car does it relate to, and what year?" Feedback please.

Alan Anstead: "Hi,
Reading John Sprinzel's letter, my Frogeye has had the A40 8" brake conversion on the front since I bought it 47 years ago.
Alan"


WJB

The late Ian Walker, in WJB 707, one of John Sprinzel's W&P alloy coupes, at Silverstone in 1961. Andrew Hedges in a similar car (410 EAO), on the far right of the photo, trails behind. WJB 707, with Ian driving, was the most successful of the W&P coupes in 1961, but sadly never ventured abroad during this year. [Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird]

John Sprinzel: "Ian held the class lap record at almost every British Circuit, but not at Aintree, where Kenyan Vic Preston drove his car as Ian had a business appt he couldn't miss".


649 CAMSHAFT WANTED
by Roger Friend
Email
FOUND THANKS
Sprinzel
Sprinzel
"Wow-- did I really take this much effort to reply to sales inquiries? At least Peter is still a friend after all those years, so it was obviously worth it.... J.S."
[Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird]
SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT!
Dennis Wharf is reluctantly offering his MGB GT V8 for sale at £22,000 (see below)
DW- MGBGT
DW-MGB
DW-MGB
Supplied by University Motors in 1974, it has been looked after by Beers of Houghton throughout its entire life. Carefully maintained by each of its 3 owners and now with 156,000 miles on the clock. NOW SOLD
Femi cowls
Femi Glass
PARTS FOR SALE
Roger Friend has: a pair of Tall side screens for DHMC hard top brand new unused never fitted £400 maybe for someone who needs urgently. Also: a pair of Peter May splined hardened drive shafts 600 miles on them selling due to change of plans (fitting minilites) £200. Email him - BOTH NOW SOLD
Roger is also looking for a 649 camshaft. FOUND THANKS
FROM FEMI ODUTOLU: I hope you are doing well and enjoying the summer. I am plodding on here with the build. Its always a bit slower when you stray from the norm and have to make everything to fit. But progress is good. We installed the glass, and wiring is almost complete I have reverse engineered the steering cowl and successfully printed a copy.  I will be selling the expensive one I bought off now if anyone is interested. It is brand new and cost over £100 from Healey Spares I think . I would like £80 for it. Some progress pictures attached. Email.

STARTING PROBLEMS FOR MARK PETERSEN
Hi Martin, I've run into a problem with the Sprite and it has me stumped. A few weeks back I changed the starter motor, as the original failed, to do so I removed the distributor. Since then it's been starting on the button and running well.
Thursday she ran fine and strong then after brief stop the issues began. When trying to start she started backfiring through the carb, Weber 45, right side and immediately stalled. The HT leads seem okay, distributor hasn't moved, distributor cap is okay (although I have replaced them and the issue remains). Ignition wise, she has an Aldon Amethyst, with the Aldon Ignitor 2. The Amethyst led lights up fine, and connected to my laptop okay, and the ground points have been checked.
I'm at a complete loss. Any thoughts? Regards Mark.
[I have replied: "It would make sense to speak to Andrew Forster who now works at Aldons as they will be able to advise on the Amethyst and Ignitor. I know Ignitors can fail - always carry a set of points with you. Have you got a spark at the plugs? Check it with a plug out and attached to an HT lead lying on the head. Next - it could be rotor arm failure - many dodgy ones on the market from overseas. Distributor Doctor ones are best. Coil might have packed up - try another. I presume it is electrical and not lack of fuel - is pump working. Good luck. regards Martin]
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OUT THERE? Feedback please.

Sprite For Sale
[Maarten Krikken]
IS THAT AN ALEXANDER BONNET?
Sprite For Sale
Damian Jones says its an after-market steel bonnet of unknown manufacture.
Zandvoort
QUITE A GRID AT ZANDVOORT for the Oldtimer Festival on 30/31 July for the "Antonio Bertini Memorial Trophy"
ENX 415C
ENX 415C
Hawkins and Rhodes,
1965 Le Mans car

[Photo from Facebook]

WHAT BECAME OF RWV 661 ~ ALEXANDER GT?
Ben Cole is researching his wife's great uncle Geoff Williamson's racing career in the 1950's. We know of the other Alexander GT (777 EBH) but what happened to RWV 661? Anyone know. Feedback please.

Hi Martin, More on Cylinder Heads - I have attached a photo of the 12G 295 ( Mk-111 Sprite) Cylinder Head that the Australian Mini specialist, Peter Manton modified for Frank Cook during the late 1960's, and was still fitted to GWS211 in 1978 when
I bought it.  As the motor had been reconditioned, with virtually no miles on it, it was quite a few years later, after blowing a head gasket, that I found that not only was the head highly modified, but also that there were also 2 dowels (which can be clearly seen in the photo) fitted to locate it exactly in position onto the then fitted 1100cc (Mk-11A) Sprite Engine block. I then fitted this head to a 948ccc block, bored out to 1060cc, using Mahle "D" top pistons, and a 88G 229 camshaft.  A brand new "Red"
crankshaft was also installed at the same time. it is still running in this configuration today. Happy Spriteing, Ray (English).

Joe Armour says "I was interested to see the XSP engine listed on ebay. When you view the LH carb/exhaust side the block casting has the number 707/254. The number 707 seems to be the prefix for all XSP components. I would welcome others comment on this. I am looking for 707/??? fuel injection trumpets for a works XSP engine"


Ray English's "Peter Manton" modified cylinder head (see above).
HRDC
HRDC
HRDC
HRDC
Ian Burford in the Lumbertubs Sprite dices with Charles Rainford (Lenham Le Mans) at Snetterton last month.
[Photos courtesy of CCK Historic, taken by Jeff Bloxham]

Rob Maxtone-Graham adds: "Hi gang, I seem to remember seeing a pic of the Huffaker version of divided port, where the divider was part of the manifold..... Rob"

John Colegate sits in the Falcon Sprite with Skip Jackson. John c-drove it at Le Mans in 1960.

Colegate
TG
TG
TG
TG

MORE ON XSP ENGINES - FROM JOHN POULTER
"Hi, the Irish engine referred to earlier has the centre exhaust port divided into two horizontally and the manifold made with two pipes but there is an engine in the USA where the central port was widened and a dividing wall welded onto the manifold. There is a serial number by the port but from memory nobody could remember where the engine came from. Just a little more useless info for you! Even more- also added a pic of a 998 head with very funny chambers.

"I’ve been looking at the photos of XSP 1973-7 particularly around the thermostat area where the thermostat housing has been milled away for the extra head bolt. The head is not a 12G940 casting however more like a 12G295. Its a pity the central exhaust port can’t be seen. I referred to the photos I have of the 1098 ex works engine owned by the guy in Ireland who wouldn’t sell it to the Car SOS team for JWB’sMk 2 [Ronnie White] and there is the same shape at either end of the head – this one does have the divided central exhaust port and was referred to in the receipt as a “special head not homolgated”. See the photos [to follow] just for your interest. Regards John.

" Hi Martin, Very sad news about Butch Gilbert; as you know I bought my DHMC hard top from him. I had many a long chat with him. Amongst his collection he had the factory Triumph Vitesse which he was very proud of. Just before he shipped my hardtop he had started his chemo. We stayed in touch - he fought a brave fight to the end. Roger Friend"

"Martin, I was interested to see the XSP engine listed on ebay. When you view the LH carb/exhaust side the block casting has the number 707/254.   The number 707 seems to be the prefix for all XSP components. I would welcome others comment on this. I am looking for 707/??? fuel injection trumpets for a works XSP engine. Joe Armour"

"That XSP engine on ebay has been advertised before in Edinburgh.  I believe it was down as dry sump in the original records but it’s now been wet sumped. The banjo to banjo connection is identical to that used by Howard Steele when he built the wet sump XSP engine for 2214 UE in 1963 and the enlarged sump is identical to one I saw on the Don Moore 995 F/J engine which came out of the same car. Period correct in that it has the 9 spring clutch and non vacuum distributor.
Regards John (Poulter)."

XSP
XSP ENGINE FOR SALE ON EBAY
This would appear to be Jonathan Peck's engine which he offered previously. It is now at £3,500 (Buy-it-now), and expires 31st July.
[Pete Taylor & Mark Matthews brought it to my attention]
XSP
BUTCH GILBERT
I have only just learned that Butch died in October last year. He had made a wonderful job of restoring the 59 Sebring car.
Roger Friend
ROGER FRIEND'S SEBRING SPRITE is "nearly ready, testing at Brands later this month, my son will be racing it in the Equipe GTS series, fast road engine by Peter May for the time being, race engine for next year ,with a few trips abroad planned (Brexit permitting) including Spa. Regards Roger"
174 fly
ANYONE NEED A DONOR CAR? On ebay at a mere £46,200 expires 6 July. Consensus on facebook seems to be two 747 pilots want the plate!!
Will Corry
Will Corry giving it his best during the 2015 MGLive at Silverstone in his Corry Motorsport Sebring Sprite [Legendary Circuit Series]

"HAPPY MONTH", AS MY MUM USED TO SAY.

 

News ~ June 2016

Isle of Wight

2 'NEW' ARTICLES
kindly submitted by Tony Stevens
One is about the Isle of Wight Frogeye marketed
by Keith Brading and the other is
about the 'Dick Jacobs' Midget.
Thanks very much Tony.
Jacobs
MANY THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO SENT IN COLOUR CODES FOR SPEEDWELL BLUE (see below)

Alan Anstead's car was sprayed by Archers.
Tin is ZK brand
Product no P4/20-3131
Rover 3131 C/o PPG supplies 01449513161

Graham Bish came up with:
BMC Code: BU1
ICI Code: 3131
and 3 useful links:
Link 1 Link 2 Link 3

"Ray English says: "I have the original Formula for Speedwell Blue (BU.1): WTT.1 White - 59½%, BUT.3 Light Blue - 12½%, GRT.1 Light Grey - 26 %, RDT.6 Purple Oxide -2 % [ICI Information - Speedwell Blue-01 ICI - 3131]". [Neil Anderson]
David Puzey came up with the same mix
WER
WER 354 - MONTE 1962
(currently owned by Tom Coulthard) - following an altercation with a telegraph pole. [Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird]
Martin,
Many thanks to you and the Sebring enthusiasts.
I have now ordered the paint, and the car will be painted tomorrow. Best regards Keith (Egar)
LENHAM LE MANS
of Ian Burford
now available at £24,500 ONO as he has bought a TVR Grantura Mk1 Climax. Email
696 BMO
9254WD
9254 WD at the Nurburgring 1000 kms in 1963 in the hands of Clive Baker and Christabel Carlisle (17th & 2nd in class). [Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird, Facebook]
THURMASTON BODY WORKS seem to have a Sebring Fastback in their workshops. Whose is that I wonder? [Courtesy of Dave Marriott]
HEALEY ARCHIVES AT WARWICK
Gary Collins has recently been appointed as part-time archivist at Warwickshire County Record Office. Warwick recently purchased the remaining Healey records from the Healey family and Gary has invited a number of 'experts' to attend meetings to assist him in identifying photographs and other documents in advance of the archive being made generally available for research, etc.
PAINT CODE -
for SPEEDWELL BLUE ?
Keith Egar is looking for the code in order to get his new paint mixed. Can anyone help him with this?
Feedback please
THE FALCON SPRITE - LATEST FROM ROGER SIELING:
"When we brought the Sprite home last week, it had several problems that would affect continued progress. You'll note in the photo provided by Neil Anderson that the bonnet did not fit properly. The new reinforcements in the new bonnet hit the top duct work to the radiator and also hit the radiator itself. We modified some of the new reinforcements and got the bonnet to fit much better. We had planned to have a dummy engine in the car for Cinci, in actuality, the original XSP LeMans engine, but ran out of time to drop it in. We have now done that so we can check additional fits w/ the bonnet. Brent (not Brett) has been doing some exploration on the internet and perhaps a plasma spray operation may be able to save the bores and the block, so the original engine may get to run again. Regards, Roger". [Apologies Brent - MEI]
DTA 949C
DTA 949C SOLD
for £15,950
a bargain for someone
(but on a Midget base).
PETE TAYLOR'S NEW REP STREAMLINER has been re-fitted with its outer panels and now awaits painting.
P Taylor

JOCHEN SCHMITT's
DHMC HARDTOP
EXPERIENCE
Schmitt
Schmitt
Schmitt

Hello Martin, Finally, after long years, I managed to finish the restoration of my DHMC hardtop. Attached you will find a couple of pictures. Additionally I would like to share some experiences that might be of interest for other owners of DHMC hardtops:
1) The rear screen of the DHMC hardtop is definitively of the same shape as the BMC one: As my Perspex screen which was in the DHMC was badly ‘milky’ (but not broken), I took my glass one from the BMC top, compared them and finally fitted the glass on to the DHMC top.
2) I found the rear gasket from the MINI Mk1 (14A8744) as a very good replacement for the original rear window seal. Combined with the black (not silver) beading strip, it is very hard to spot the difference. And in addition the length is perfect; you don’t have to cut it!
3) For the side window seal I used the Sprite door draught excluder. One is enough to serve both sides and you have a choice of colors
4) Finally it was quite an effort to make the re-produced Side screens fit: As the screens where much too high, I had to cut all the brackets and weld them for a lover position. And it is still extremely tight.
Kind regards, Jochen.

Schmitt
Schmitt
Schmitt
Schmitt
Zam
Zam
FULLY GLAZED!
Phil Zamlynski's Sebring Sprite is home and all the glass is now installed. He says: "The glass looks great, pics attached. The rubber is flush to the roof's edge at the front and rear. My glass guy never heard of Claytonright rubber. No special work was required to install the rear window. The front glass was cut 1/2" at the top and from 1/4" to 3/8" on each side. The bar-code on the front screen is AO662 and 6651 from Triplex replacement service Ltd. Dated 06.07.96 , 07:47. The other label has the following info: Pick reference 010102, printed 17/07/96, A0662, Y9999 bin Loc from A00B15, Sebring Sprite (restricted) , Modified 1661 (S/0)**, Bed Bir 170796   010102. Regards Phil Z"
ClassicCars
An interesting page from Thoroughbred & Classic Cars in 1991 {David Morys]
Falcon
The Falcon Sprite appears at the Cincinatti Conclave with Roger Sieling and son, Brent. [Neil Anderson]
AND, FROM JAMES THACKER, MORE ON THE CULTRA HILL CLIMB
Cultra
Cultra
Cultra
Cultra
"Martin, I see you already have some Cultra photos on the web site  but here are a few more including Trevor Mcllroy, David Wylie and me on the podium and of our three cars in another. I got on very well with Trevor and David [good " craic " as Trevor said in an e-mail ] and it is great that David and I will both be at the Chateau Impney event on July  9th/10th and Trevor is coming to Classic Shelsley on 16th/17th July and I am driving at that event on the 17th too. We really had a wonderful time and the people of N. I . were so friendly both when we were going round as tourists and also by the Thoroughbred Sports Car Club of N.I. before,  during and after the hillclimb.  In all my very many years of competing  it is arguably about the best event  I have
taken part in as the club were so very  welcoming. I was spoilt for choice after the event as both the group of 14 Sprite /Midget drivers invited Matty and me to a barbecue at the local yacht club and we also had an invitation from some of the organisers and committee of TSCC to another  barbecue. Because it was a club committee member, Tony Gregory,  who had kindly invited us to come over for the event 11 months ago we naturally went to this and regrettably had to turn down the Sprite/Midget offer. We intended to go there just for a drink but ran out of time having to take the car back to our B&B before going to the second barbecue. An excellent week end which I would like to repeat some time again in the future. Kind regards, James (Thacker)"
Cultra
Cultra
Cultra
Cultra
[Photo: David Bunting Images]
[Photo:Stuart Woods]
P.S. Ulster motorsport is a bit different to ours as they are  able to close the public roads once a year for hillclimbs and in theNewtownards area East of Belfast there are about  three or four hillclimbs within a few miles of each other. At the TSCC there seem to be  a large number of  competitive Sprites/Midgets at speed events mostly driven there on the road and some
with a variety of  non A series engines.  They use the cars for auto tests as well which apparently are often  like short sprints around farm buildings etc. A great group of competitive Sprite/Midget drivers; one family, the Briens, Simon, plus his  brother Mark, son  Jack and daughter Tiffany [ Miss N.Ireland 2012] had four cars with Jack winning the top ten shoot out for Sprites/ Midgets just beating his Father. JT
A MIDGET CALLED NIGEL !
Raced by Randy Zimmerman, an engineer in Texas, he is looking for a supplier of Sebring bonnets to the States. Feedback?
Randy
Randy
Randy
COUPE OR FASTBACK - WHICH IS BEST?
JOHN SPRINZEL: "Just as a matter of interest, I did not ever build a fast back Sebring. Frank Costin and I discussed airflow and agreed you would need a long tail to make a fast back work - current thinking was that "our" shape was more efficient, if not quite as elegant. Peter Clark, who was an early owner, had his top "fast-backed" I believe by Peels, after some damage, and a year or so later, Doug Wilson Spratt, an early Peel Sebring driver, re-designed to his own version which became the fast back WSM in fairly late 1962. Even PMO had damage with a much later owner and became a fast back until Paul Woolmer took over the wreckage and restored it to the original specification".
HELP - SEBRING WINDSCREEN FITTING PROBLEM!

Phil Zamlynski (USA) is having difficulty fitting the screen to his Sebring Coupe. He says "The glass guy Paul just called and he says the front windshield is too big by about 1/4" to 3/8". The rubber fits in to top very well but the glass is just too big. Paul said it can be ground down but there is always a risk that the glass will crack!!!!! The rear window fits very well and is in. I'll be visiting him tomorrow, Wednesday to see for my self. Is this not fitting normal?  Or did I get the wrong glass? Can anyone tell me how to solve this probloem, please."
I imagine one has to trim some material from the fibreglass, not the glass, but perhaps someone else who has tackled this can help Phil. if so please email him asap. Thanks.

One of Ken Grasing's 3 Oklahoma-City based project Sprites is this 1959 example, just media-blasted.
Grasing
Twin-cam Alfa-engined Spridget for sale on ebay, currently at £6,100 expires 19 June
[Thanks to Mark Wilson]
Twin-Cam

Zam
PHIL ZAMLYNSKI'S SEBRING REP GAINS A ROOF

"Well the roof is finally on the car, pic attached. I have set it up so it can be removed. Note the small black strip at the front cowl; it covers the roof and body seam. It's a machined stepped part with two small screws. The glass guys are scheduled. The plan is to have the glass put in next week. Hopefully all will go well and as planned".

Zam
CULTRA HILL CLIMB, NORTHERN IRELAND ~ JUNE 2016
Cultra
Cultra
Cultra
Cultra
Trevor McIlroy's Sebring leads James Thacker's TZA
[Photos: thanks to Steve Nugent]
Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird's restored ex-works Sebring Mk2 and Will Corry's works-modified 510 DWD with XSP engine.

Christophe Beaudon competing on the streets of Pau last month.
A shot from Sebring in 1963, shows Stirling Moss between Christabel Carlisle and Denise McCluggage who shared an MGB; the Mk.II Sprite (9254 WD) was driven by Pedro Rodriguez. [Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird]
Carlisle
WG
WG
WG
WG

Sebring Sprite replica built by WG British Racing in France - pics taken by JM. Cattenot at Grand Prix de l’Age D’or – Dijon – 4 et 5 Juin 2016 [Kindly sent in by Flavien Lubineau]


RTL

ASKING PRICE REVEALED FOR HISTORIC SEBRING
SPRITE: £69,950 or near offer.

"Just back from rolling road, so it's in tip-top running order. Much sweeter and easier to drive, even with a lumpy scatter cam! 126 bhp @ 6,500 rpm - probably more to come at higher revs, but we held it there!" Email Chris Keeble if interested.


RTL

PMO

Photo taken by Arthur Senior after he and Bobby Parkes broke down in their Jaguar.

Steve Nash: "My colleague that I used to work with has unearthed a number of slides and some cine film following his father passing away. This is one he has sent me. I guess 1962 Monte as the car is in red". This is confirmed by John Sprinzel: "62 Monte with Christabel, during the race the crank let go, putting hole in the side of the block, and with just two cylinders working I finished the race. Louis Chiron - who was clerk of the course, tried to black flag me, but there was so much smoke in the cockpit I really couldn't see him at all. Next morning PMO started first time on the button, and BMC kindly took it back to the Uk for me. By the way, that looks like a great shot of the actual Tabac - the corner is still so named but of course there is so much Armco and barrier that it is no longer visible. cheers JS".

Ashley Clip
Robert Visser has kindly supplied photos of the clips used on the early Ashley hardtops for Steve Bell in the States who has lost his.
Ashley Clip
Ashley Clip
777EBH
The ALEXANDER GT, 777 EBH, IN THE PADDOCK
What a smashing period shot this is - showing the Alexander in the foreground - probably at Silverstone (?) in presumably the 60's. Thanks to Alistair Ross for this one.
5506AR
132 XUU
132 XUU
Tifosi
I wasn't able to be at MG Live at Silverstone but David Morys kindly sent in these pictures of Asher Robson's Sebring Rep, (?) Jim Mackie's Frogeye racer 132 XUU, and that Italian racing fanatic (Tifosi) !
JONATHAN WHITEHOUSE BIRD's REQUEST FOR HELP IN IDENTIFYING THE DRIVER AT OULTON (right)
led to Graham Bish suggesting it might be Harry Elwes who is listed as having driven a Sprite at Oulton Park in 1960, but Jonathan has since heard from Pablo Raybould (who he believes is Christabel Carlisle's brother-in-law) and who sent him the photo - that the driver may be Christopher McLaren.  He says: "This would make sense, as Pablo's just completed a biography on Christabel and was given access to all her old photos".   Many thanks.
6205AC
DTA 949C
COMING UP FOR AUCTION on 18 June. This Sebring Fastback Rep has a guide price of only £12/14,000.
CCA Classic Car Auctions
EARLY ASHLEY HARDTOP WINDSCREEN CLIPS
Steve Bell, a columnist in Healey Marque (AHC of America)
has an early Ashley hardtop but no fixing clips. Can anyone help with dimensions, photos, etc to enable him to make some? Feedback please

FROM ROGER FRIEND, RE: STOLEN CLASSICS "
A quick note to some of your readers. I have noticed on Facebook the amount of Classic cars being stolen and reported on Facebook, everything from Midgets to Alfa Romeo GTA, E Types, Lotus Cortinas even Vespa scooters. I know it's sometimes not practical to fit an alarm, but any form of security such as a hidden coil switch or electric pump switch, or as I use a bike lock chain through the steering wheel, at least it acts as a deterrent. Once these cars are stolen they are put in a container and shipped out of the country, so no chance of seeing them again, just like works of arts">

David Scothorn has "seen various cars advertised at bargain prices as classified with a mobile number to call. The Paypal transfer is made outside of Ebay". Here is some good advice: Link
WJB
The Ex-Ian Walker/Stephen Bowen Sprinzel Sebring Coupe is being offered for sale by CCK Historic.
01825 733060

BEWARE FRAUDSTERS ABOUT!!

An unfortunate would-be Sprite owner has paid £4,700 for a dark green Frogeye offered on e-bay and registered OCH 713, that turned out to be a complete scam. The e-bay page was fake and the associated Paypal arrangements. "This car may of course exist (!) and some poor unfortunate, but genuine owner, may have to be answering some difficult questions. I wonder whether it had been previously (and genuinely) for sale on e-bay and some 'low life' has copied the page?" He has contacted the police, e-bay and Paypal  but is concerned that no one else gets caught. So please take care.
[Reported to me by Gordon Elwell - many thanks]

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS - TO WHOM I SEND MY GRATEFUL THANKS:
Gordon Elwell; David Scothorn; Roger Friend; Steve Bell; Robert Visser; Graham Bish; David Morys; Alistair Ross; Steve Nash (the late Arthur Senior); John Sprinzel; Chris Keeble; Flavien Lubineau; Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird; Steve Nugent; Phil Zamlynski; Ken Grasing; James Thacker; Robert Visser; Mark Wilson; Jochen Schmitt; Roger Sieling; Pete Taylor; Ian Burford; Dave Marriott; Alan Anstead; Neil Anderson; Ray English; Keith Egar; Tony Stevens.

 

News ~ May 2016

Sebring61
VBM7
6205AC
JONATHAN
WHITEHOUSE-BIRD
recently displayed these 3 photos on the 'Austin Healey Historic Pictures' Facebook page. Can anyone identify the guy leaning against
6205 AC?
Feedback
please.
Stirling Moss in John Sprinzel's PMO 200 during the 4 Hour race at Sebring in 1961.
The late Doug Wilson Spratt in one of the first Mk.I Sprites - VBM 7 - competing in an unknown autotest. (Tony Wilson-Spratt may know which event?).
Oulton Park 1960. A Warwick registered Mk.I Sprite, with its unknown owner/driver, sits on the grid waiting for the off! Any info' on car or driver welcomed.

WILLIAMS & PRITCHARD SEBRING GT2

Murray Henderson had an outing in Ian Hulett's recently completed Williams & Pritchard Sebring GT2 at the HulettCrystal Palace Sprint on 29th May. It was Murray's first drive in a competition car for six years and he got progressively quicker during the day as his confidence in the car increased,  finishing mid-class. . The car was previously raced with standard shape bodywork but  was damaged at Angouleme last year. Following a major chassis repair and update it has now been fitted with a full Sebring Sprite GT2 body kit  and Ian will compete in selected rounds of the CSCC Swinging Sixties series. Next outing is Brands Hatch on Saturday 4th June.

Nik
Nik
Nik
Nik
AND coincidentally another W & P Sebring GT2 is being prepped for this year's Angouleme by Nik Aveyard. The above are just 4 of a whole mass of photos on Nik's Facebook page showing the very high spec of his car's build. Link.

777 EBH ~ ALEXANDER GT
It always gives me a bit of a thrill when some new information or photos come to light about one of the historic cars. The Alexander GT lovingly restored for Paul Freeman by Paul Webb and Paul Woolmer was owned, back around 1970, by Charles (Chaz) Morgan who relates:
"That's me in the pic with it in the condition I bought it, with the Frog Eye bonnet. The previous owner had smacked the ORIGINAL  alloy one. [Presumably one of 777 EBHthe half dozen alloy Monza bonnets which W & P made] It was similar to the one on it now. I took the car to Williams & Pritchard and bought from them the grey fi777 EBHbreglass one. Nearest I could get to the original. They showed me pics of the original. Also pics of MGs re bodied by them for land speed runs. Ian Walker lived and also had a garage near me in Woodhouse Rd Friern Barnet, North London maybe N11. He called to see me a few times, and drove the car. So did a friend of mine Gerry Marshal, a saloon car champion, drove droop snoots for Vauxhall amongst others. He did his damdest to break it! Had to change my underwear!! I rebuilt the engine, using the same short skirt pistons as original. 10'' Humber brake drums on front! Stopped well! It also had Mini, or A35 van roof vents fitted in the footwells and one on the 'boot'. Central and below rear window. Ian said that when he raced them...and he still holds track records for the class, that there was so much petrol sloshing around ...  they fitted the vents for fresh air! I/we, timed it many times 0 to 60...6secs! Peed many an Elan owner off!! I have other pics, I will look them out".
[I hadn't realised that Williams & Pritchard built the bodywork for Alexander ~ I think the top is in mild steel ? I notice the windscreen shape has changed on the restored car - perhaps the original was not available.]

ENX
IVO VISSER has published (on Facebook) this photo (right) of the 1965 'works' Sebring entry DAC 952C photographed at Sebring in 1977 for the SVRA historic display, AND (left) a 'new' photo of ENX 415C, the Paul Hawkins/John Rhodes entry at Le Mans 1965.
DAC
Sebring62
TOM COULTHARD ON FACEBOOK: "Why only three?? Not noticed this shot before from Autocar (09/03/62 - probably by Edward Eves) outside the experimental shop at the Cape. One of the two on the right could be Jon Whitehouse-Bird's 9253 WD (soon to be seen at the Cultra hillclimb, near Belfast), the sole known survivor of these cars. Or was it not quite finished? The International Healey Museum has a reference to it as 'Car No. 4' ..."

ANDY GIBSON

Andy
Andy
Andy

A good friend of many in the Historic Rallying world has sadly been lost to us. Andy was a brilliant navigator with an amazing mathematical mind as well as being a great character, and he successfully guided me and JJO on several events including the Lands End to John O'Groats. Our sincere condolences to his family who have circulated the following email:
"Our family is deeply saddened to inform you that Andy Gibson passed away in the morning of Monday 23rd May 2016. As many of you know, he has been quietly battling pancreatic cancer for some time now. We are relieved that his passing was peaceful and painless, and he was surrounded by his loving family. We will inform you of the funeral/memorial details as soon as they have been arranged. We have loved him in life, let us not forget him after death. Rally on! Best wishes,
Andy's daughters (Claire and Caroline), Andy's sister (Hilary) and all the family".


MARTYN WILKS' PROGRESS ON HIS LENHAM LE MANS
Mwilks
Mw
MW

Martyn has "almost finished fitting the running gear - just the hubs, discs and calipers to fit. The overhead shot of the front end shows what looks to be a rusty steering column; in fact it is the inner column which is all I will be using.  I have fitted it just to gauge some measurements for the fitment of a Lifeline Motolita quick release boss, which I will be using along with a 13” flat steering wheel. I modified the steering column support by machining the bore out to a nominal size and then making a captive bush in PTFE. When the two halves of the column support are bolted up the bush can neither move up or down or side to side thus doing away with the felt bushes etc. Once I have the column cut, machined and welded I will then paint the part on show in the engine bay".

CHRIS KEEBLE TO OFFER RTL 304 FOR SALE
following a recent refresh of the engine bay and suspension. He can be contacted on : 07850 183 677.
RTL RTLRTLRTLRTLRTLRTL
AND STILL MORE ABOUT THE CULTRA HILL-CLIMB ~ FROM TREVOR MCILROY

"I can confirm James Thacker with the A.Poole Mk.I Sprite TZA238,  Jonathan Whitehours-Bird with the MkII Austin Healey  9253WD are coming to Cultra. David  Wylie will also be making the trip back home with 505 BZ Speedwell Sprite to compete at Cultra 2016.  I will lead the local contingent with XXC818. We have 100 entries & 25 on a reserve list at this moment in time. At the end of the event we will have an Austin Healey, Speedwell, Sebring & Midget shoot-out of approximately ten cars , ranging from mildly tuned to full blown modsports, this IN MEMORY OF MIKE WYLIE. Ronnie White's  52 LPH Sebring & Wil Corry's 510 DWD Sprite Mk2 recently purchased from the USA will be displayed beside 9253WD at the Kennedy Manor House on the day. The Clerk of the Course for the event is Fel Mcilroy (young sister) - her mode of transport on the day will also be a standard bodied Sebring Sprite. I will send you a report with images following the event. Trevor" 

TZA
JAMES THACKER CONFIRMS TZA WILL BE THERE
- at the Cultra Hill Climb, near Belfast on Saturday 11th June.
I imagine that Will Corry, Trevor McIlroy and David Wylie may also be there so could be quite a big Sprite showing. Mike (Wylie) would have loved it. Link to pre-publicity material
Photo: Derek Hibbert.

9253 WD TO GO TO THE CULTRA HILL-CLIMB
Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird: "Visitors to your website might like to hear that 9253 WD has been invited (along with, or so I believe, the ex-Alan Poole Mk.I Sprite - TZA 238) to attend the 2016 running of the Cultra Hillclimb on June 11. In preparation, I've (spent) most of today over at Aldon Automotive getting the car 'tuned-up' on their rolling 9253 WD road and reminiscing about the "good old days" with the boss, and former owner of the ex-works Targa Florio Sprite (693 LAC) - Alan Goodwin.  It was also great to catch up with Andrew Forster - formerly of Archer's Garage - in his new role at Aldon. Alan remembered competing alongside 9253 WD (driven by fellow competitor/owner John Willetts) during the mid-60s, commenting that both cars had very similar 1098cc XSP engine units; he added, 'Sometimes John would win one, and sometimes I would; we had some great scraps!' "

9253 wd
9253 WD
9253 WD
9253 WD

Photos above show: WD sitting outside Aldon's reception; WD on the rollers; WD emerges into the sunshine - now running like a Swiss watch, and finally, a shot with Aldon's boss - Alan Goodwin.

I asked John (Sprinzel) if he was invited to the Cincy Conclave and had this reply: "No they haven't. but I did get nice letter from John Colgate suggesting we do another Healey event together. And the folks doing the Goodwood ITV movie say they are coming to Molokai to do a piece on me for the A 35 races....cheers. J"

STAN BROWN SPRITE

Joe Armour has sent me the full article from Sports Car World showing this Australian conversion: He tells me: "More colourful and details on the Australian Sprite aftermarket modifications available in 1960 quite early after the Sprite's release. The report links several major names in the Australian motor racing and sports car industry. Stan Brown plus Clive Adams was Prad.  JWF was a very succesful and important anufacturer and supplier of fiberglass hardtops, complete bodies in open and GT format. ( see separate advert for a JWF -Nota. Nota fabricated chassis and complete racing cars for open wheel and sports car classes.) Sam Johnson was the man behind JWF and he was very successful with a whole range of cars, mainly bodies to be fitted by the owner of a chassis and hardtops for almost ever sports car on the market. There was/is a Milano GT with a six cylinder Holden engine racing in UK. Sam also made a perfect copy of a Ferrari front engine F.1 car and a 206 SP sports car. Even the rivets heads in fiberglass were the correct spacing as an original car and fitted with a Ferrari Dino engine. Read the article.

Safety Fast Article
on Paul Webb's hand-crafted SPRITE (BRABHAM) -CLIMAX
Brabham-Climax



SEE ABOVE

Stan Brown Sprite

Falcon-9
The car as driven by John Colgate and John Dalton at Le Mans in 1960
THE FALCON SPRITE MAKES PROGRESS ~ NEWS FROM ROGER SIELING

"The (damaged) Falcon (Sprite) was taken to Tsikires Classics in November 2015 and Paul completed the chassis tub repair and had an associate make a new bonnet and boot lid. There was still lots of  fiberglass work and a good bit of prep work on existing aluminum panels (outstanding). I've pretty much given up on Allstate insurance. Since I had committed to the Cincy (Cincinnati) Conclave (June 12 to 17) to have the Falcon at their event, we loaded it up and brought it back to Ohio (on) May 1st. We are making  progress, but we know it will not be running or painted. But, it will be rolling on its own wheels. John Colgate has already committed to the event too. I don't know if they've invited Sprinzel". **

JJO's ENGINE WOES
... are hopefully at an end. I have now fitted a set of low compression pistons and a pretty standard 12G295 cylinder head (skimmed 5 thou) to give a much lower compression ratio more suited to a supercharged (1098cc) engine. It has only done 50 miles so far - to the MASC meet today, and back - but its temperature stayed steady at around 180 F, oil pressure was between 40 & 50 psi (purposely lowish to reduce oil going through the Shorrock, and there was no evidence of oil leaks. So very many thanks to all those who kindly gave help and advice and put JJO back on the road.


JJO

PAUL CLARK: "Regarding the "Healey Frogeye 2004" I recall a similar if not the same car being in the showroom at Frontline Developments old premises in Batheaston. Tim Fenna may or may not have been involved in the build or previously owned the car. I think it was subsequently sold, not necessarily by Tim, on e-bay for a surprisingly low price. I rather liked the car at Frontline and was particularly impressed with the cut down screen arrangement. Not one for the purist but probably quite a lot of fun though. Regards Paul 

1098 ENGINE FOR SALE
David Smith, from whom I have bought engines and parts in the past has available for sale:

"A ‘big mains’ 10CC prefix 1098 engine.
Complete from sump to rocker cover, and from crank pulley to flywheel.
Dizzy is present and I can include a starter and dynamo if desired.
Not seized but best to assume it is for rebuild.
Price £350 collected from Wokingham.
Email mgsmithy@yahoo.co.uk or call 07903 899991".

MS-29
US RACER NEARS COMPLETION
I am gradually adding photos of Robert Kansa's 'Miss Saffron' to the web page - 20 so far and many to come.
Falcon Model


Model of the Falcon Sprite makes £80.60 on ebay

Frog
Frog
Frog
Frog
Frog
SPOTTED AT PRESCOTT - BY DAVID MORYS
Labelled as a "Healey Frogeye 2004"
and rumoured to have a Ford Twin-Cam engine.

"I have a couple of screens  as in the attached picture. Mine are quite tatty and need to be refurbished. I am after someone that could make the same type of white plastic wrapping  around the original frames once I have cleaned them….do you know of anyone that could do the work at a decent price…i.e cheap… I have finished restoring 257 UXU at long last  and want  to use the DHMC hardtop I bought a while ago ….apparently the new generation want to  travel unadulterated by the elements. Pierre Lequeux". Feedback please. 

Lequeux
Zamlynski

Zamlynski

NEWS FROM PHIL ZAMLYNSKI - WILL HIS BE THE FIRST ROADWORTHY SEBRING REP IN USA?
" I do hope you and your are well and enjoying a new racing season. Our local vintage group, VSCDA, had their first event this last weekend. To my surprise there was a 1955 Cooper at the track!!!!! And, about 30/35 Minis, Sprites and MG Midgets. Its been a long winter with loads of unexpected issues. My body parts are at the painter again, a different painter, and I brought the roof and doors home yesterday. Next week the glass goes in. May is a busy month so I'm hoping that the Sebring will be on the road in June.
Best Regards, Phil Z


Sven
Sven with his Sebring en route home to Germany last weekend.

Sven Backplate
Early GT6 backplate to re- create 8" rear brakes
SEBRING PARTS FROM SVEN ECKHARDT
Our good friend from Germany, when not busy with his 3 Sprite projects, is supplying various Sebring parts to others in need of them. He can supply a front disc brake set-up which emulates the original Sebring Sprite's Girling system using calipers from the Vauxhall/Opel Carlton Estate which are accepted by the FIA as an alternative for historic racing. In addition he is now offering an 8" rear drum brake set-up using early Triumph GT6 backplates. He has acquired 6 pairs which need the centre slightly enlarging and the mounting holes slightly filing to fit. Spitfire or GT6 handbrake levers can be used together with GT6 brake linings, springs, etc all available from Rimmer Brothers. Four different bores of wheel cylinders are available to suit all needs, and Morris Minor front drums are employed, as per Sebring. Sven is offering the backplates machined and powder coated at £155 per pair. He is also going into the manufacture of copies of the original DHMC hardtop having made a mould, and these will be available in a couple of months. Either laminated glass or acrylic window will be fitted and they will come with all fittings and rubbers (but without headlining or side-screens). Price is expected to be approximately £1,000 for the complete hardtop.
Email Sven if you are interested in any of the above.

Sven discs
Modified disc, ATE caliper and mounting bracket.

Hardtop
A DHMC hardtop, copies of which will be available soon.

Healey

THOSE STRANGE HEALEY INLET MANIFOLDS
Hi Maarten, I have seen your question about the Healey manifold with the four bolts pattern on your site. I can tell you I'm in possession of those. The story is that I first saw them on the Cooper cafe racers Facebook page,  Lance showed a few photos of his Healey manifolds, he had bought them from a former staff member that works for MiniMania. I immediately contacted him and asked if he would be interested in selling them - and luckily he was! We agreed on a price and I bought all of them.  There where two sets: one original Healey inlet manifold with homologation number 02344. This one is the same as found on the original. The other set had a strange 4 bolt pattern on the flange side, but with this same outer dimensions, homologation number and distinguishing Healey signature cast into them. I can now tell you that the inlet diameter is 32mm or  1 1/2 inches,  and this size runs through the whole inlet manifold. So they do look exactly the same as the original ones we already know, but look to be for a smaller type carburettor. I think it is possible that they might have been used in the early cars that used H2 SU's. They both seem to fit the flange pattern of both H2 & H1's. Since the H1's have a horizontal orientated flange [ Is that so? MEI ] and the H2 and HS2 have a vertical orientated flange. It looks like they were experimenting with different types of SU's. I know it is an original one because their numbers and name is cast in perfectly. I have a replica inlet to compare so I do think they're original.  The thing is now that we have to determine what they were used on. But that is for somebody else to determine that has more knowledge of the experiment period. I am not going to use them myself so I will be putting them on eBay very soon. I will send you the link if it is in the air. I hope this information is useful. And glad to contribute to your site. Best regards, Ivo Cappon. [Anyone interested please let me know and I will forward]


Healey

Healey

Healey
Healey
Healey


Blaney

Blaney
NEWS FROM NEIL BLANEY IN N.S.W., AUSTRALIA.
Hi Martin, Hope all is well over your way.Your trip to the Isle of Wight brought back a few memories. We were there in 1993 and had a nice drive around. We were met at the dock by Keith Brading of the Frogeye Car Co and had a nice tour of the Simeon Motor works before doing some sightseeing. Bryan Wells has been down here and had a look at my Replica. Up to now he has been mainly working on collecting and working on the mechanicals but last week he was going to put the shell on a rotisserie and starting to work on the body. I will be going up in the future when he has made some progress and I will take some pics and send them to you. The guys over your way on a Bugeye what type of rubber do they use between the hardtop and the car body. I’ve used a block type of rubber which doesn’t seal the best. The original sealing rubber on it was shaped like a ”Z” but I am unable to obtain it over here. I’ve included some later pics of my replica. Cheers  Neil. [Anyone help with hardtop rubber? Feedback]
Blaney

Blaney

Blaney
494 YVT
RICHARD SANDS' SEBRING FASTBACK FOR SALE
Professional built on a 1962 shell this Sebring has a 1340cc fast road engine mated to a Ford MT75 5-speed gearbox. For full details and lots more photos go to link.
Asking price is £29,500
494 YVT
MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GOODWOOD SPRINT ON 8TH MAY ~ THANKS TO JOHN BAGGOTT
JB
JB
JB
JB
Rick Dupuy's Fastback in the paddock
Garrow or Max Shand in their
Mk 2 rep
David Abram - quickest with 102.94 secs
Ralph Haywood
MORE ON XSP ENGINES
We could do with some more help with our research into XSP engines. A quote here from an email received from John Poulter who has considerable knowledge on the subject:

"My interests have been with the early 60’s XSP engines and particularly the 948 diesel version. It seems that anything produced by Eddie Maher in Courthouse Green as a bit special was given an XSP number. The man had such a high profile with the engines I am surprised there seems to be no information written about him or the work of the department. I thought there would be build sheets, etc for every engine built but have come up with nothing – it may be everything was thrown away in years past. I put an enquiry on a Coventry website a few years ago asking if anyone worked with Eddie or in the department and could tell stories about working there but got no response. I have been speaking to a chap called Roger Whittle who told me Eddie used to call to his home as he was a friend of his Dad's. Roger also had an old Mini van at one time which was running around with an early 1071 S engine from the experimental department. He wrote it off and the engine went for scrap!"
This was in response to an enquiry by Noel Hutchinson who has a 1275 XSP transverse engine in an as yet un-restored Austin Mini-Cooper, XSP 3139/2, built from what he believes is essentially an Austin 1300 GT unit.
Rob Maxtone-Graham has compiled a spreadsheet of information collected to date of which I can supply copies. Any other information would be gratefully received via Feedback

FUY
AND WHILE ON THE SUBJECT OF LENHAM LE MANS:
David Scothorn has just put his part-restored project for sale on ebay at a 'Buy it now' price of £4,950. NOW SOLD
FUY
WANTED: Identity documentation for a quarter elliptic Sprite or Midget c.1961/3.
If you can help please contact me via Feedback.
M Wilks

MARTYN WILKS' NEW LENHAM LE MANS
"Around May last year I decided that I needed something to do (I have built 3 Westfield’s, 2 Caterhams and rebuilt 3 single seat racecars). My first thought was a Westfield XI so I went to the factory and discussed what was required and came away with the notion that I needed to find a rotten MG Midget 1275 with all the running gear. So after a few weeks of searching I came across OOH 762G which had basically been rotting away since 2001 but importantly for me at the time was complete and had a current V5, so I bought it for £600 and brought it home. Then started the not too easy job of gutting the car, as I wasn’t going to use the body. I just basically cut it away as necessary to remove all the components.  I should add that the body was in a shocking state, if you look carefully you will see that the line between the bottom of the wing and the sill has been filled in – with a piece of galvanized sheet, pop rivets and filler. On checking the VIN plate against the logbook I noticed that the number was very slightly wrong so enquired with the DVLA as to the procedure to rectify the fault (it was on the V5 as EAN not GAN), they suggested obtaining a Heritage Certificate and then sending off the paperwork highlighting the correction needed. In the mean time I had cut the body into manageable pieces and disposed of it via my works skip. When the last piece was removed I received the Heritage Certificate which I noted had the delivery address of The Earls Court Motor Show. Anyway at around this time I looked closely at the Westfield XI and the IVA test and decided that maybe I should look at a Sebring Sprite replica. However despite many attempts at speaking with Archers Garage I gave up and looked at a Lenham LeMans. I should just point out that I knew of a brand new Midget shell (original not a Heritage one) that was in a friends garage untouched since he bought it in the early 80’s which I had managed to persuade him to sell me for £3K – I subsequently sold the unwanted body panels for nearly £1K so the shell stood me in at £2K. Then just before Christmas 2015 my plan was launched, the shell went to CCK for a Lenham conversion plus cage and I started to amass all the parts required for the build. The axle was the third one I found, this one had no rust at all and was duly powder coated along with all the other parts – the picture with the wishbones etc shows all the masks I made up so they would only be powder coated were needed. The engine is from Mamba Motorsport and is a 1398CC with 1:3to1 roller rockers, single 45DCOE etc, the gearbox is a straight cut 4 speed from Heathrow Transmissions along with a 4:2:1 diff, drive shafts are 3 piece from Magic Midget as are the KAD 4 pot calliper’s. The car was collected from CCK at the end of March and went straight to the body shop for painting in Speedwell Blue, and was brought home last weekend for me to start the task of rebuilding the car. Currently I have fitted the rear axle complete and will be fitting up the front suspension this weekend so I can get it onto its wheels. The eagle-eyed might notice that I have had the space for wind up windows filled in, I will be making up fixed single piece frames from 2 pairs of Frogeye frames and then instead of fully sliding windows will be using rally car style sliders. I have attached a few photos. Regards   Martyn".
MORE TO COME

M Wilks
M Wilks
M Wilks
M Wilks
M Wilks
M Wilks
M Wilks
M Wilks
M Wilks
M Wilks
M Wilks
M Wilks
M Wilks

AUSTIN-HEALEY CLUB AT GOODWOOD SPRINT

P Taylor
Pat Harris
Steve Casson
Kevin Rowe
Pete Taylor shared his son Paul's Frogeye at Goodwood on Sunday and on his first run Pete was quicker. Then they had a problem necessitating a trip into Chichester for a new battery. On their second runs Paul pipped his Dad by just 0.15 second! Also there were Pat Harris (Fastback), Steve Casson (Coupe) and Kevin Rowe (open).

NEWS FROM ANDREW FORSTER (FORMERLY OF ARCHERS GARAGE)
Sebring Pedal Boxes: With the exception of 2 of the 25 pedal boxes recently produced, all have now been allocated and despatched - the last 2 going out this week. Andrew is planning to arrange the manufacture of a further batch of 10 shortly.
Sebring Side-Screens: There has unfortunately been a lengthy delay in supplying side-screens and roughly 12 people are currently awaiting them. This has been due to the fire at Archers having damaged a machine used to swage the aluminium surrounds as well as due to closure of the garage. Andrew is finishing off a couple of pairs commenced earlier, and is overhauling the swaging machine. The aluminium is cut to length and the polycarbonate is all prepared. All that now remains is the fairly time-consuming job of polishing, assembly and detailed finishing. Andrew is continuing to work on these in his spare time.
Fibreglass A couple of seats have been order from a fibreglass firm local to Andrew. Cost is something like double that of Archers so that once trimmed a pair of seats would come to around £500. Andrew is looking into getting this price down somewhat, before considering producing other fibreglass items.
Inlet Manifolds Andrew does envisage producing more of the 3 piece manifolds. He has the moulds so needs to get more inlet tubes cast and the steel balance pipes bent up.
Girling Type 10 calipers: For some considerable time it has been hoped to reproduce the Girling calipers. A number of castings were made a while back but difficulties were experienced in machining them up, due mainly to the high cost involved. Sven Eckhardt is on the case so these may still be a possibility before too long.

1st May 2016 - Brands Hatch - MGCC Sprite-Midget Challenge & Steve Everitt Memorial Race

Every year the Sprite-Midget Challenge round at Brands Hatch is dedicated to the memory of Steve Everitt who raced his Midget so successfully through the 70's and 80's before dying relatively young in a road accident in Greece. A group of his old mates always gather on the bank at Paddock Bend and cheer on today's drivers in the series. Steve's sister Ros (and her partner Dave Woodgate who was his mechanic) was also present on this occasion to present the highly-prized bronze trophy which depicts Steve's Lenham-bonneted Midget.
Brands
Brands
Brands
Brands
Dean Stanton & Tom Walkers' Frogeyes
Andy Southcott's Lenham Le Mans
John Hilbery's Lenham GT
Richard Perry's Midget
Brands
Brands
Brands
Brands
Leaders of the pack (lap 2)
John Hilbery and Ian Burgin clash at Paddock
The Weston/Dunkley duel
Nigel Langford's brightly coloured Frog
With a pretty full grid of Sprites and Midgets running in 4 classes, the first couple of laps were pretty hectic and John Hilberry spun out at Paddock resulting in Ian Burgin taking avoiding action so they both ended up in the sand trap. This brought the safety car out and once the two beached cars had been repositioned the race developed into a three car scrap at the front between the Class A cars of Dunkley, Weston and Adams, with old master Reeve trailing a little behind. Dunkley led for a number of laps with Weston getting in front on occasions. Meanwhile Adams dropped out having lost his fan belt, and on his 3rd attempt to lead the race Weston spun out and rejoined in a distant 2nd place. Just half a lap from the chequered flag Dunkley's car developed an electrical fault handing Weston the win of which he was unaware till a little later. Reeve followed home in second.
Brands
Brands
Brands
Brands
James Dunkley in front...
..until Weston squeezes by
Stanton chases Perry
Tom Walker & Pat Harris
Brands
Brands
Brands
Brands
Eventual winner Dave Weston leads Graeme Adams into Druids
Ed Reeve was delighted to pick up 2nd place
Some of Steve's cronies watch at Paddock Hill Bend
Steve's sister Ros presents Dave Weston with the trophy
[The above photos (except for 4 of my own) were kindly provided by Dennis Wharf]



Tony Wood

More from Tony Wood: "a couple of photos for you, unfortunately I don't have any shot of the XSP engine only the Longman split weber setup, the B&W shot is at my local circuit Croft on March 16th 1975 which produced a 2nd Class , the XSP unit is fitted then and the colour shot is at Castle Howard Hill Climb in October 1977 on the way to a class win with the Longman engine . Incidentally when I sold the XSP to Mike Harrison I kept the gearbox in the Sprite, I presume you will know of the engines where-abouts now [NO] but what of the gearbox ? Sadly I can't remember the name of the chap I sold the Sprite to but he was a freelance journalist from Grimsby way . Nice to see James Thacker as a contributor, I had a couple of tussles with him back in the day on my rare trips to Silverstone , regards , Tony"




Tony Wood
Lempert wheel
LEMPERT STEERING WHEEL
for sale at £300
Contact Roger Friend if interested SOLD
[Posted on Facebook by Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird]
XNB 712 in action (circuit unknown) during the 1980s.
XNB, as seen here, had been fitted with the Peel Coachworks alloy coupe body, that had originally graced Doug Wilson-Spratt's 1962 Monte Carlo Rally Sebring Sprite - DWS 97.
XNB 712 was campaigned by Don Hands for a short time.

XNB

AN XSP ENGINE (from ANTHONY WOOD):
Just fell over your website and fascinated on the XSP engine material. In the mid 1970's I owned and drove a mod-sports Frogeye Sprite fitted with an XSP engine and gearbox. Mine was dry sump 1100cc unit with the oil tank in the passengers footwell and if memory serves me correctly a ribbed gearbox. It was a phenomenal little engine, nothing under about 8000 rpm and then everything happened at once . Very reliable, I did two seasons with no problems and I know it did two before that as I bought it from a friend (the late Tony Palmer) who bought it from a man in Scotland. At the end of the 1976 season (again memory may be a year out) I replaced it with a 1300 Richard Longman unit as the 1100 unit put me in the same class as the Clans and Davrians and a steel Frogeye couldn't keep up with them but I always finished so there were plenty of seconds and thirds (at least 50% of Imp engined cars would be DNF's). I sold the XSP engine to Mike Harrison for his Formula Three Cooper and I believe he won the historic championship with it the following year.I think the price paid was £250 !

EPJones
EPJ
EPJ
EPJ

SEBRING SPRITE REPLICA KIT No.86 Registration 381 SYB
Hi Martin, We are pleased to confirm that we have at last  completed the Sebring Sprite kit that we collected from Andrew  in March 2012 and enclose a few pictures of the finished result.  It took us much longer than anticipated due to illness and work commitments.   Its first journey out was to a Healey event on the Island of Anglesey in North Wales over the May bank holiday weekend. It had been our initial intention to hill climb the sebring but over the years that we have had the kit we decided we would like to use it  first as a road car  initially and take it on classic car events in the UK and Europe before hillclimbing.  Whilst on its first journey out we had a problem with a new bottom hose which sprang a leak after only being on the car for two days not great when its a bank holiday and your on an Island in Wales, but as luck would have it a guy came over to look at the car and after talking to him it turned out he had a 1965 scrap Morris Minor which was just around the corner from were we had broken down so now fitted with a 50 year old hose and working perfectly!!!!.  Car has been built with adjustable rear shockers, supercharger, low compression pistons, fully balanced engine. It  sits really well on the road and engine performs really well even though it has not as yet been put on the rolling road. 
So looking forward to driving the car and meeting other Sebring Drivers in the coming months.  We enclose some pictures.  
Emrys and Pauline 

ROAD TO MONTE CARLO 1964
Spot John Sprinzel at 7m 43s
On YouTube
MGs ON TRACK
Blyton Park 16th July 2016.  Open for Booking on Friday 6th May. Further details on: www.mgs-on-track.com
HOW ABOUT ENTERING THE SPA 3 HOURS ?
2/3 driver teams welcome. Two pit stops mandatory. No HTP requirement. More info
W and P
The Williams & Pritchard Sebring GT of Dutchman Mark Dols negotiating the Hugenholtz Corner, Zandvoort.
For Sale - 1965 Austin Healey Sprite/Ashley GT, ex-Cameron, race ready spec. £27,500
Full details at Car & Classic
fnp 462c
Asher
Asher
Asher
Asher
A GOOD DAY FOR ASHER ROBSON
at MG Car Club Brands Hatch on Saturday (Apr 30) and a nice break from his GCSE's! He started at the back of the grid (in Dad's Sebring Rep having been exempted from qualifying as he was at school. The car ran well and he finished 14th out of 20 starters and 3rd in class in the FISCAR Fliers. He had a great scrap with a Lotus Elite ....and really enjoyed himself. That's what it's all about isn't it?.

Asher
REVIVING THE VALENCE HILL CLIMB (Westerham, Kent)
Sunday 16th May 2016
10 am to 4 pm
Not a full-blown hill-climb, more a demonstration and show. Further info from: events@valence.kent.sch.uk

MIDGET & SPRITE CLUB ~ ISLE OF WIGHT TOUR, APRIL 22 - 25, 2016

IOW
IOW
IOW
IOW
Unfortunately JJO was not ready for this weekend tour as I discovered only on the Thursday prior that my replacement (12G295) cylinder head was letting water into the bores. So it was in our daily Alfa that we joined the group of fellow Spridget enthusiasts at The Grasshopper near Westerham early on Friday morning. We trickled down towards Portsmouth via a MacDonalds for a coffee break, somehow missed the others at Weatherspoons for lunch but met up again at the ferry. Over the the busy shipping lanes we motored on to the very comfortable Brunswick Hotel selected by Dave Chalk and settled in after squeezing all the little cars in the car park. We had a free day on the Saturday so after breakfast on a cool but bright sunny morning we all headed out in varying directions. Susan and I visited the botanical gardens, an alpaca farm, and the home of an early photographer. The 30 of us congregated in the bar/lounge in the evenings before and after an excellent dinner, to talk over the days events.
IOW
IOW
IOW
IOW
Sunday was Drive-It Day when all classic car owners are supposed to be out in their special cars so we proceeded in convoy for a tour of the island. We visited the Needles, a famous beauty spot, where we were joined by a local Sprite owner who couldn't believe his eyes when he met up with 13 others! An errant Porsche Boxster joined us. Then on to visit Queen Victoria's former home, Osborne House for a look around before returning to the hotel. Another sunny but cold day, the varied colours of the cars looked great out on the rural roads.
IOW
IOW
IOW
IOW
It was back home on the Monday after a most enjoyable weekend. I can't mention all involved but a special thank you to Mel and Barb Collins for organising the tour, and congrats to Ron Edwards who celebrated his 70th birthday while we were on the island . (We'll be in JJO next time).
IOW
IOW
IOW
IOW

Coach Trip to the BRITISH
MOTOR
MUSEUM,
at GAYDON.

FOR ENTHUSIASTS FROM KENT, SUSSEX OR SURREY, UK
East Sussex MG Owners Club have a few spare seats on their coach trip to the newly enlarged collection of 250 vehicles at Gaydon ~ on Thursday 19th May. Cost is £25 incl admission. The Lynns Travel coach will pick-up from 3 points: 7am from Langney Centre footbridge (Eastbourne); 7.30am from Wellshurst car park (Hellingly); and 8am from Linden Park Road, Tunbridge Wells. Packed lunch desirable. Non-members welcome. Ring John Baggott on 01892 862656 to book your seat.

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS - TO WHOM I SEND MY GRATEFUL THANKS:
John Baggott; Graham Robson; MGs on Track; Alan Anstead; Pieter Bakker; Christoph Klamert; Roger Friend; Emrys & Pauline Jones; Ivo Cappon; Neil Blaney; Richard Sands; John Poulter; David Scothorn; Pete Taylor; Andrew Forster; Dennis Wharf; Tony Wood; Pierre Lequeux; Phil Zamlynski; Sven Eckhardt; Tom Coulthard; Ivo Visser; Martyn Wilks; Chris Keeble; Trevor McIlroy; James Thacker; Paul Clark; David Smith; Neil Anderson; Robert Kansa; David Morys; John Sprinzel; Joe Armour; Roger Sieling; Charles Morgan; Nik Aveyard; Ian Hulett; Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird.

 

News ~ April 2016

LEGENDARY CIRCUIT SERIES ~ organiser Pieter Bakkar says (on Facebook):
" I am looking for two more pre-1971 under 2L Production Road Sports Cars for our Angoulême 16-18 Sept. grid. The grid so far consists of AH Frogeye, MG Midget, MG Sebring GT, Triumph GT6, TVR Grantura, Lotus Seven, Morgan Roadster*, Triumph Spitfire, MGB Roadster, Lotus Elan, Morgan +8*, WSM Sprite, Davrian MkI, Marcos 1800 GT [* = on Avon tyres]. In order to further add to the quality of this grid, cars not mentioned before have my preference. For your details, have a look at this link
"

Leg Circuit series
ADO 34-50
MORE ON ADO 34/50
I had a chat with Douglas Anderson (Dundee) on the phone the other day. He told me that he had commmissioned his friend Richard Oakes to design the car for him. Richard was responsible for the GTM, the Nova and others and Douglas is currently engaged in writing a book about him. They are now trying to source a windscreen and have scanned the body in order to ensure both sides match. They will be making certain alterations to the front and rear shaping of the design on the computer before creating a mould for production. Watch this space.

RE: STAN BROWN (See yellow bonnet lower down the page) [Contributer Joe Armour]
"Just for your interest Stan Brown was a major player in 1950 & 60s Australian motor racing specials  with his partners— see attached link. Prads were very successful and the blue no.3 car on the poster was a Healey 100/6 that was called the Prad Healey after being modified by Prad.  When I spoke to Clive Adams and asked where he got the detail from for the Healey six he said he just drew it on the garage wall and floor!  The car had a full tilt forward front and was fitted with 3 x 45 Webers etc. This panel work was very similar to the Healey works streamlined 100/6 used at Bonneville and Sebring. The red no.3 car was similar to the Maserati 300S and fitted with a six cyl GMH Holden engine. I loved the look of it and saw it at early historic race meetings. More useless info. Joe". LINK

Rev Ctr
SPEEDWELL REV COUNTER
Rebuilt with replacement analogue mechanism on ebay at £255. Expires late May.
[Mark Matthews]
Inlet Manifold
ANYONE RECOGNISE THIS HEALEY MANIFOLD ? It looks similar to those used on the Sprites but with unusual cruciform mounting. Feedback would be appreciated.
JONATHAN WHITEHOUSE-BIRD recently sent me this link to the 1961 Sebring race, on YouTube which you may enjoy.
LENHAM GT CONVERTIBLE!
Built from a 1974 Midget this car appears to offer open and closed options on the same shell. Anyone speak Dutch?
AND FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: Pete Taylor supplied this photo of the new Ford GT at Silverstone recently.
Ford GT
Sprinzel
SPRINZEL ON 1991 CLASSIC MARATHON
Steve Nash kindly sent in these photos taken by the brother of his ex-business partner, Phillip Senior. "Their father, Arthur Senior, who sadly passed away recently was a rally driver in the same period as John and continued to take part until the last few years".
Sprinzel
Juergen
Juergen
Juergen
JUERGEN SCHAEFER'S FASTBACK
is now on the road but is not without problems. See below:
Hi Martin, It is done - the toy is on the road again, now registered as ER MG 5H in Germany and running well. Pinking cured by ignition setting, still on 98 octane, rear axle noises gone - the LSD needed special oil. However the car is obviously "jinxed" as a new problem is surfacing ! Massive "crazing" on the right/passenger  side roof area and on the rear edge of the bonnet. According to literature, crazing appears in high stress areas and this seems to be true. The bonnet case is a high-flexed part whenever I open it and the roof will be loaded heavily when the rather soft chassis tries under driving shock loads to bend and the rather thin skin comes under pressure. My questions therefore are: Has anybody else found this on his Archers replica or on other similar bodies? Is it GRP or Kevlar or ??? Mine is glassfibre, thus the most brittle of the standard materials. Is it a "Coupe' " or hatchback ?  My hatch is probably weakened by the opening rear polyacryl window, but the crazing is not in that area, but in front of the passengers heads! Does that car have a full cage, which carries the stress or only a roll bar or no additional stiffeners at all ? My body has been produced I believe by end of 2012, early 2013 and spent most of the time indoors, being worked upon. So aging of plastic due to excessive ultraviolet sunrays is not a likely root cause. The effect was discovered right now, the first driving experiences happened in summer 2015, up to now little more than 200 km. Any ideas? Regards, Juergen.
Qtr springs
ROGER FRIEND
is in need of a pair of original rear springs 15 leaf in any condition. If you can help, please email him.NOW SORTED
HOLIDAY BREAK
I am off to the Isle of Wight tomorrow with the Midget & Sprite Club, sadly not in JJO which now has a faulty cylinder head. Ran out of time to get it all sorted so the car will be out again soon. I shall be back at my website desk on Thursday next, 28th April.
Bonnet
Bonnet
Bonnet
Bonnet
Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird recently posted the above left photo of a bonnet on Facebook. A couple of guys identified it as made by Stan Brown of Sydney, Australia and Ray English has confirmed this, helpfully provided these other 3 photos. He says: "The car on the cover of Sports Car World still exists; however both the bonnet and the hardtop are not fitted to it anymore.   Owned by Bob Lomas, who visited the Sprite Room a couple of weeks back, and is currently on holiday somewhere in the UK as I write this,  bought the car in the early 1980's, the alloy GT top was still fitted, albeit in very poor condition, but the bonnet had been replaced".
DEREK STEWART ON MX 5 SEATS:

"I fitted a pair of MX5 seats to a 1275 Midget a couple of years ago. As mentioned, the donor should be an earlier car (separate head rests) as the seat runner pattern can be adapted to work. It will require a spacer under each mounting foot (total 8) of the runners. This foot will have to be rebent from the original MX5 shape and the orientation of the Mazda floor fixing points are not uniform. I can't be completely sure, but I think the forward inner Sprite floor mounting hole rings a bell for a pick up point. It'll require a bit of fiddling to obtain the desired result and I found the original Midget floor mounting points and metal bracing could be conflicting when drilling new holes. There's quite a lot of stuff on Google".

AN UPDATE FROM JUERGEN SCHAEFER ON HIS SEBRING BUILD

"After frustrating months, now some good news, this last week I've managed to get my toy on the road again - with the small engine now - and on Friday have passed the "TÜV" test, roadworthiness and historic. There are still a number of bugs to eliminate and problems to solve, so I do not yet want any public celebrations or uproar, however I expect to get my numberplates this week and then I can send a few proper pictures and technical spec as well as a bit of its history for your website. Open issues are mainly:
1. Massive pinking everytime I touch the pedal, using 98 octane fuel. As I've installed the Dutch 123-tune ignition, it should be rather easy to adapt the advance curve, which is presently one of their "standard" curves, originating from a Mercedes engine. Would you have a recommendation, particularly about the vacuum advance ?  As carb settings probably also need modification, I'm in search of a rolling road somewhere in southern Germany. My local Bosch Service in Nuremberg has stopped this activity. With 10. something CR, I may also have to go for 100 octane fuel or octane booster.
2. Still no  fitting windows, which makes travel to distant experts rather uncomfortable.   I understand Andrew is busy with his own survival and I have my local expert to try his magical hands on modifying.
3. strange small scratching noise from the rear wheels/drums
4.  Valve caps on the outer edges touch the rocker cover, I will change to the aluminium one from the big engine, if rqrd grind out a half mil
5. Seating is horrible, entry and exit past standard seats and even more my Corbeau Classic seats is a nightmare. I had visited Bob Ridgard, but did not like his designs.  I heard rumours that MAZDA MX5 early seats would fit without big mods, can you confirm this ? More to come in due time, Juergen"
CAN ANYONE ASSIST JUERGEN WITH THESE MATTERS - I THINK I CAN SAY THE EARLY MX5 SEATS FIT WELL IN A SPRIDGET - I SAT IN A PAIR AT THE RESTORATION SHOW . FEEDBACK please.

ANOTHER DOZEN FASCINATING PHOTOS OF THE PETER SMITH FASTBACK AT PHILLIP ISLAND
courtesy of Alan Mead
Phillip Is
Phillip Is
Phillip Is
Phillip
Phill
Phillip
Phillip
Phillip
Phill
Phillip
Phillip
Phillip
ebay item
UNUSUAL REV COUNTER
on ebay at £300
Expires 17 May
ANYONE GOT A LANDAR ROCKER COVER FOR PER ROXLIN?
Feedback please
Landar
ADO 34-50
ADO 34-50
ADO 34-50
ADO
ADO 34/50 REVEALED
Some of you will remember my publishing a drawing of this prototype which was due to appear at one of the shows a while back. Douglas Anderson has now revealed: "The aluminium pre-production prototype and its suspension is now complete and I am working towards a glass fibre production version by the end of the year.  I thought that your fellow enthusiasts would be interested in seeing photos of the aluminium prototype which I will be selling. If anyone is interested I would be happy to provide more details.  I can be contacted at this email address or on 01382 731755".
Broken Piston
Broken piston
HOMOLOGATION INFO REQUIRED
Roger Friend needs photographic evidence that a Sprite was raced or rallied internationally using a fibreglass Frogeye bonnet pre-1961 in order to obtain his FIA HTPapers. If you can help please let me have your Feedback
JJO's OIL LOSS TROUBLES
After much dismantling and heaps of advice from you guys, I have eventually discovered that JP piston no.4 has broken up between the rings and will have to be replaced. This was no doubt the reason oil was being blown out into the catch tank. Of course the Australian pistons are no longer available here so I am waiting on a set of Hepolite low compression ones courtesy of Colin Carpenter of Southern Rebore.
SORRY IT'S 'THE FRIGHT'
Joe Armour says: "Did you mean Colin Dodds' MK.1 called 'Fright' ? It is well covered in his website www.spriteparts.com.au The Sprite has just finished a total restoration. The standard of work is incredible. The amazing thing is the quality of fit and finish when you consider that the motor, transmission and rear suspension is so different to the original size components. Lots of engineering under the panels including work by Lotus etc. I first saw the car back in the 70s".
Coker
GERRY COKER designer of the Healey 100 and the Sprite, flanked here by Roger Menadue, opening the First European Healey Meeting in Luxembourg in 1999. Coker is now 93 and living in the USA. Menadue, "a key figure from the Donald Healey Motor Company was responsible for the construction of many of the company's racing and recording-breaking cars", died in 2003, aged 90. [Courtesy of Erik Van der Klippe]
Fright
Fright engine installation
Frite
THE FRITE
A couple of photos sent in by Bob Blayden showing Colin Dodds' Frite (or is Fright?) but unfortunately not displaying its Jaguar XK power unit. Must be quite a handful round the corners.
Frite
EAO
Pictured right is "Richard Melville's Speedwell GT following it's practice accident at the 1961 Nurburgring 500 Km. race when it rolled. It's highly modified engine with 'deep-loop' cylinder head was removed and fitted into Peter Jackson's Sebring Sprite (46 BXN) in readiness for the race". [Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird]
2824 MV
Above left: "Andrew Hedges' W&P alloy bodied Sebring - 410 EAO - at the Nurburgring in September 1961, during practice for the 500 Km. race. Alongside is David Siegle-Morris' D 20 - on this occasion driven by Paul Hawkins and Ian Walker". [Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird]
THE LATE RONNIE COIA
first got Alan Anstead interested in Sebrings when he let Alan drive one of his two around a race circuit somewhere in Europe. He says he had some good laughs with Ronnie on several MSA Euroclassics. See Ronnie on this clip
DEREK'S NEW MOTOR
Not as I suggested a V8, or the family washing machine motor but it turns out to be a Coventry Climax Derek is building for his Fastback. About which the fully story coming shortly.
ANOTHER ALEXANDER
reported by Ken Grasing in the States, a 950 engine with SU manifolds on the racecars.com website. Link
Alexander
At Brands, the Robsons had to substitute the Sebring Sprite replica with their newly built A35 Academy because of an oil pressure problem. So Asher did his first race in a very busy A Series race in the A35 qualifying 32nd of 35 cars but kept out of trouble and the frantic goings-on to finish 12th - winning a trophy for the best presented car of the race! Graham and Asher then shared the A35 for their first Father/Son drive, in the HRDC Touring Greats, and after a poor first stint in Graham's hands, Asher took over when 5th in class and pulled them back up to 2nd in class, 17th overall. A brilliant first race meeting for Asher bringing home two trophies - he was over the moon!
Asher Robson
RACE REPORT ~ BRANDS HATCH 10th APRIL
Ian Burford reports:

"A few of us were out with Julius and the A Series Challenge at Brands Hatch yesterday on the Indy circuit. Charles Rainford (Lenham Le Mans), Larry Tucker (Ashley GT) and I (Lumbertubs) were up against a few Mini's plus the Academy A35 cars. The Sprite-based crowd did well, I qualified 3rd behind 2 Minis and Charles was 5th and Larry 9th. I had a good start, holding 3rd place until just after Graham Hill bend when I was over taken by another of those pesky Minis and I stayed there for the rest of the race (28 mins). There were a number of incidents, including 2 roll overs, with the last one happening on the last lap, caused according to the MSA by one of the Minis and leading to his disqualification, meaning I ended up 3rd and Larry 5th (Charles had to retire with an electrical problem). All in all a fun day with a good bunch of people!" The 3 cars were all prepared and supported by CCK Historic.

ANYONE GOT ALEXANDER 7-PORT HEAD DRAWINGS 1 & 2 ?
Alex
Alex
Alex 3
Alex

Alan Mead has just returned from the Phillip Island Historic motoring event where he saw Peter Smith and his Sebring Fastback and took a lot of photos of the car. Whilst there he got talking to the owner of a Turner sports car, Les Schwebel, and enquired as to which engine he was running. It was a Ford engine rather than a BMC Alexander but he said that Bob Rees in NSW had two of the Alexander 7-port cylinder heads and also a great deal of information on them.  Alan: "Upon our return from the Island a phone call to Bob Rees was worth the effort as Bob has a copy of the drawings/blueprints of the Alexander head from drawing number 3 to drawing 11 with only numbers 1 & 2 missing. He was very helpful  in sending me a copy of all 9 drawings. The missing two appear to be for the cylinder head itself and the rocker cover. If anybody has a copy of the 2 missing drawings I would be most interested in obtaining copies to complete the set. Attached are some photos of the head when first purchased in 1995 plus a photo of the drawings". 

R Kansa
RKansa
R Kansa
R Kansa
"MISS SAFFRON"
Robert Kansa's Southwind Racing team is rebuilding a 1960 Frogeye with a Sebring bonnet for vintage racing. The car is getting ready for final paint and Robert is starting to assemble her. He says: "I have tons of build pictures on her own Facebook pages. Long way to go but its also come a long way".
TAYLORS GO SPRINTING
Pete Taylor tells me that he and his son Paul

have an entry in the Goodwood Sprint on 7th May, sharing Pete's Frogeye. Organised by Brighton and Hove CC, it is also a round of the Austin Healey Club hillclimb/sprint championship.

JJO'S OIL PROBLEMS
A big THANK YOU to everyone who came up with such helpful ideas as to my engine problems. Further investigation has shown that No.4 cylinder is down on compression so it's off with the head today. The pumping out of its oil may also be due to glazed bores and/or the not-quite-standard breathing system. Time will tell. "Your Comments"
Moss
Joe Armour directed me to this photo of Stirling Moss on his way to 3rd place in the Sebring 3 Hours in 1962. [Photo: Tom Bigelow]
Stolen SC
STOLEN SUPERCHARGER
Newly built for a customer's MG Midget and taken from Alex Boucher's Minispeed workshops in Byfleet. If anyone is offered it please contact Alex on 01932 400567, or notify the police

HELP!!! OIL CONSUMPTION/CRANKCASE BREATHING PROBLEMS

A couple of years ago I decided to make use of the Shorrock supercharger I used to run in historic rallies back in the 90's. I duly built a 'new' engine based on a 10CC (large main bearing) 1098cc lump, with balanced crank and lightened flywheel and fitted my old Speedwell aluminum head. The unit runs very well but I have clearly got something wrong in that it uses lots and lots of oil so much so that I am very worried about taking JJO on a tour of the Isle of Wight later this month. I fitted a catch tank and fed hoses from both the rocker cover and side tappet cover into it. I now realise that perhaps the pipe from the rocker cover should go into the air filter so that suction through the carburettor creates a bit of negative pressure (as original). I believe the 10CC engine had a chimney on the tappet side cover which I don't have, and oil is clearly going down the side hose and filling up the catch tank to overflowing! I have fitted a baffle inside the alloy rocker cover and am now going to investigate whether there is any baffle inside the tappet cover. Can anyone help me with other options?. I have addressed the question of the supercharger using oil as it supposed to, but more like a pint in 1500 miles I gather, not 150!! Your Feedback would be much appreciated. Responses on "Your Comments 2016"

ZAm seas
Phil Zamlynski (USA) continues building his Sebring Rep:
"My car's body parts were delivered to the painter yesterday. The glass is the next to be installed after painting. Attached are two pics - my seats and a pit view of some Sprites. The seats are now in the car with seat belts. The pits usually have about 25 to 30 Sprites and Midgets. Our first vintage race is the end of April. Spent some time on the web getting up to speed with whats going on. Thank you for the Sprite web site. Best Regards, Phil Z".


Zam pits

Healey Histories wins Heritage Lottery Fund support

"Warwickshire County Council has been successful in its £51,300 bid to preserve (the remaining part of) the Warwick Healey Motor Company Archive. The project team hope to meet the target of (a further) £30,000 from public and private donations to ensure that the collection can be fully conserved, catalogued and parts of it digitised to ensure that the maximum benefit can be achieved from this project. Once the project is complete the collection will be available to anyone wishing to use it for research and will stand as a permanent legacy to the achievement and ingenuity of the Healey family in Warwick, the birthplace of the company". [Extracts from latest Press Release - my additions in italics]

Qtr Springs
PIERRE LEQUEUX ~ £9.50 per leaf!!
expresses amazement at the prices being achieved on ebay, for quarter-elliptic Sprite rear springs. Those left realised £286. The ones on the right are still for sale , currently at £70 expiring 10th April.
Qtr springs
P Slangen
HAVING COMPLETED HIS SEBRING COUPE & a MINI-MARCOS
Paul Slangen has now embarked on a Lenham GT with Ashley bonnet. He is interested in Sven's Speedwell exhaust manifold as he is collecting parts for the new car which, he says, needs to become the more "brutal  brother" to his Sebring - and faster. It will be modified to 5 speed gearbox, Webers etc.
P Slangen
Goulburn
SPRITE NATIONAL MEETING AT GOULBURN NSW
Joe Armour's photos sent by Bob Blayden who drove 4 hours to the meeting and back the same day. Australia is a big place. The little green car never missed a beat and enjoyed sitting alongside the most important Sprite in the world.
Goulburn
HEALEYSPORT OPEN THEIR HILL-CLIMB/SPRINT SEASON WITH A TEST DAY AT CURBOROUGH
[Great photos, borrowed from Facebook - not sure who took them but thanks anyway]
Curborough
Curborough
9524wd
Curborough
Stephen Casson and...
....Dave Abrams' SSY 119
Garrow and Max Shand Mk.2
Problems for John Tewson
MARK WARNE has taken delivery of Derek Stewart's A-Series engine to put in his Sebring Coupe and has delivered it to Andrew Forster at Aldons. I wonder what Derek has planned for his Fastback - could it be a V8 or maybe even something electric. He's quite an innovator.
STEVE NASH
on the 74th MEMBERS MEETING
at GOODWOOD
See "Your Comments"

BRYN ROSSITER'S SPRINZEL FROGEYE

is now modified as per the Sprinzel catalogue to 'Sebring Competition' spec (with a few extra tweaks). "It is an evocation of the car which I wanted as a young man. I passed my test in 1964 on a second-hand Frog and have had them, off and on, ever since. This one was bought as a little-used 'restored as standard car'. I have kept all Bryn Frogthe displaced original assemblies for authenticity. Peter May has done all the work. The 998 road engine which we specced together, and he built, went on the dyno before running-in and topped out with 86 bhp at the same rev reading where a standard car makes its max. 50 gross. So, a bullet-proof 72% increase, if my maths works! Peter advised a ribbed-case g'box and tougher half-shafts. Otherwise, the mods stick to the spirit of the period and hence the car of my youthful dreams. It's a lively drive and burbles with a satisfyingly fruity sound track.

J PECK XSP
ANY MORE INTEREST IN JONATHAN PECK'S XSP ENGINE? He is planning to close a deal by 8th April. Contact him promptly if you are interested.
LENHAM GTO FINDS A BUYER - 3RD TIME LUCKY FOR SELLER ON EBAY
Walter Heale is the new owner of OYM 760A - first registered on the 17/07/61, according to the V5 - an Austin Healey Sprite with a Lenham (GTO) tail and Frogeye front. Walter is hoping the readership of this website might be able to provide some information on it. It was reputedly raced at some point in its history and he would love to find out more before mechanical restoration commences. He was told there had been many old track passes on the roll bar but sadly these were removed when the previous owner started working on the car. There is a Monterey Classics badge from the 80's on the dash so perhaps it was in the US at some point!? He says: " I attach some pictures that may help or at least provide you and your readership some amusement!". ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING OF ITS BACKGROUND ? PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA FEEDBACK The registration number is, oddly, from 1963 and the bodyshell would appear to be later than that, having wind-up style doors! Only a very few of the GTO bodies were produced, so that is quite rare.
oym
oym
oym
oym
YOU TUBE LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFQlUKTSiDU shows LNX 629E at Sebring in 1967 (at around 2.38 being overtaken by a white Chapparal...blink and you miss it).
AND ANOTHER:

LWD959E at 1:52 on the Sebring '68 film  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rqxCMbFHxI#t=117.062754[Thanks to Simon Bilbie]

B Benno
Benno Berchtold from the USA asked me to identify the 'AUSTIN' he had purchased. I was able to tell him it was an export model Mark 1 Sprite but it took a call to Ray English in Australia to identify its rare Emil Frey bonnet. Thanks Ray.
Emil Frey
Marq 1
WHILE ON THE AUSTRALIAN THEME
the latest edition of "Marque One" arrived this week with articles including an interesting one from Ray showing how he fitted his steel Frogeye bonnet to open forwards using bracketry supplied from Speedwell Engineering in the States. Can anyone identify the UK village, the owner and the occasion when SPN 852 passed by?
SPN
Ray English

Neil Blaney and Ray Fahey visited Ray English on their way back from the Phillip Island Historics, and Peter Smith called in to see him the next day. This was Neil's 3rd visit to the "Sprite Room"
Ray English
P Smith
P Smith
P Smith
P Smith
P Smith
Peter Smith and son, Asher, at the “Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motor Sport”, probably the biggest and best Historic race meeting in Australia. Cars are entered from the UK, USA, Germany. It is normally held the week before the Australian F1 Grand Prix. Peter and Ash were entered in Regularity and over the two days they had 1 qualifying and 3 races each. They were very happy with how their newly completed Sebring Rep performed. [Photos thanks to Neil Blaney.]
Peter Smith

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS - TO WHOM I SEND MY GRATEFUL THANKS:
Neil Blaney; Ray English; Benno Berchtold; Simon Bilbie; Walter Heale; Bryn Rossiter; Jonathan Peck; Steve Nash; Mark Warne; Healeysport; Bob Blayden; Joe Armour; Pierre Lequeux; David Scothorn; Alan Mead; Mark Wilson; Per Roxlin;

 

News ~ March 2016

1966 SEBRING SCRUTINEERING STICKER
Paul Kinghan and his team are endeavouring to re-create the Miles/Ruby Ferrari X1 roadster entered by Shelby American Inc and which won the 12 Hours race at Sebring in 1966. He says "Its the 66 Sebring winner being restored, well mainly being recreated as there was little left of the original car, but every part is either original or to 100% original spec using original blueprints or otherwise reverse engineering parts. Plus we have the 2 guys on board who built the car for Ford at the McLaren workshop in Surrey. The chassis is now around 80% completed and we have approx 80% of the parts ready to start being fitted but the whole car is till some time off before completion as every single part has turned into a project. There's probably around 30-35 mini parts projects on the go at any one time, so its keeping me occupied! FYI, I also attach the best image I have found so far of the scrutineering sticker, but the logo is still not too clear to be able to replicate it confidently. I need to see which ARCF logo they used, as there are a few different versions. Any help you can give would be much appreciated. I actually visited the circuit last weekend and met with the Hall Of Fame directors. - they hardly have any old info or photos from 66. There are a few pics on the Revs Institute digital library but nothing much of any use to help an accurate reproduction of the logo shown on the sticker 
It's all a bit odd as none of the pics show a clear shot of the sticker. I'll keep on searching - really appreciate your help". Feedback if you can help, please.
67 sticker
Pete Taylor kindly supplied the photo, left, from 1967 but in 1966 it was triangular and yellow. Winning car right. See above.
Sebring 66
Sebring 66 sticker
SEBRING SCRUTINEERING STICKER 1966

Paul Kinghan is working on the reconstruction of a 1966 Sebring car [I'm not sure what car it is] and is trying to find accurate info on the yellow triangular scrutineering sticker that was placed on these '66 cars. Does anyone happen to have any info on this sticker please? Contact Paul by email or use Feedback.

AN5

BORROWED FROM FACEBOOK: This photo (left) was uploaded by Pieter Bakker of Legendary Circuits Series and identified by Bill Uerkwitz as: Chassis: AN5L 30489 - Driver: Laurent Soubirac/Vincent Cuzacq - 2013 Dix Mille Tours at Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track. (From Ultimate Car Page with thanks to Google Images)

Didier Marty
Same car (?) Archers Rep No.3
Lenham
FOR SALE AT ANGLIA AUCTIONS
It claims to be a Lenham Sprite but seems to have a modified Ashley bonnet, maybe a Lenham GT rear with side windows added, and a standard late Spridget centre section with rag-top, plus a B-series motor! A project for someone no doubt. Guide price is £2-3,000. Sale is on 9th April.
Lenham
GOODWOOD 74TH MEMBERS' MEETING
I convoyed down to Goodwood on Sunday in the Sebring with Morgan Sparrow leading the way in his Ashley GT. It was very cold and we took regular coffee breaks in the warmth of the Grand Hall. It was good to meet up with Bob Hinchliffe, owner of a Sebring Rep USU 607, and former Midget racer and curator of Bernie Ecclestone's car collection, Robert Dean, among others. Much of the racing was rather spoiled by the Safety Car having to come out aftrer incidents, only the Edwardian race being exciting to watch through to the end. I have to admit to being a bit shaken by the first race accident in which a car ran wide exiting the chicane, collided with another which then flew into the air. We watched from the pit area as the car, upside down, disappeared into the opening above the underground foot passage beneath the track. We missed seeing the driver pulled out but heard later that by a piece of luck the car became caught in something within the opening and hung there with fuel pouring over the driver. A guy walking through the tunnel tried to help and also got soaked. He was put in the ambulance first, quite shaken up. The car driver Stephen Bond amazingly had only a broken collarbone. He was extremely lucky. The remains of the car were left there to be recovered later. Watch the incident on this link
MYSTERY HOLES IN BONNET FROM USA
Can anyone suggest the possible reason for the lines of holes drilled in Andrew Clarke's Frogeye bonnet (right). He imported the car from "the Tennessee area. It arrived in racing trim, with wide Wheels, larger drum brakes, welded diff, and various stickers on the body, lots of typical racing dents, etc. Specifically, when I stripped the bonnet I found a series of holes back from the lighting pods which might have been to mount some fairings, similar to a note I recalled from your site?? " Feedback your ideas please.
A Clarke
Sprite Meet 10
603 MUY ~ Steve Norton of Cape International, who built this Sebring Rep in 2014 has now sold it to Simon Durling, "a well-regarded hill climber who loves his single seaters".
Alan Anstead sent in this pic of the Mamba Motorsport conversion to fit MGB shocks on a Spridget. Cost of adaptor plates is c.£100
Mamba
Lenham
LENHAM IN TRAFFIC
Alistair Ross spotted this Lenham Le Mans in the 1970's traffic on YouTube. Anyone recognise it? 18 secs in.
5506
ROBSON REP AT 74MM
Antonio Paquette took this photo at Goodwood at the weekend where the car was on display.
REPLIES TO MY QUERY ABOUT FITTING MGB SHOCKS:

Tony Griffiths says: "Martin, Fitting MGB shocks to a Sprite is very easy, all you need is an adaptor plate and some nylatron bushes for the top fulcrum (I presume std bushes would do). I fitted a quick lash-up on my last race car and they worked very well, although the car ran with a lot of negative camber; this is easily cured by re-positioning the mounting holes. Since I did this I believe that John Bridge at Mamba Motorsport can supply ready-made adjustable plates for a reasonable cost. I shall be fitting them on my project Mk2 Sprite. I hope this helps ......Tony"

Alan Anstead says: "Apparently there is a pic of such in Daniel Stapletons first edition of Tuning Spridgets. I found the below which may be of assistance: I have twin lever arm dampers on the Frog. There are several different versions but if you opt the for Austin A60 ones with the top resevoir and cranked arm there is no need for an adapter plate and the arm length gives essentially zero camber. The first pair I had lasted about 60000 miles (or 3 engines and 2 gearboxes in my case) so they've been pretty robust on the Sprite. 2 mounting holes are carry over and you need to drill 2 more - but I've only ever bothered with 1 and in 40 or so MOT's they've never attracted any comment.The fulcrum pin takes standard bushes and the Sprite trunnion is carried over but turned 180 degrees. The bottom line is they are so over- engineered for a Sprite they never wear out and all the loads stay on centerline as intended so the pan is never subject to twist. They sometimes come up on eBay"
Jpeck

J Peck
Jonathan Peck has now put his E-type style fibreglass bonnet on ebay, having taken a mould off the one fitted for a while to PMO 200. £193.88 with 5 days to go - expires 26 Mar
XSP ENGINE FOR SALE
XSP 1973-7, owned by Jonathan Peck, this 995 (or 1098cc) dry sump motor is thought to have come originally from one of the four 1962/3 Sebring works team Sprite Mark 2s. Currently on ebay at £410, exp 26 Mar.
J PECK XSP
FITTING MGB FRONT SHOCKERS TO A SPRITE OR MIDGET
I recall having seeign this done on a racing Midget some years ago. Does anyone know what is involved and how effective it is?
 
OKLAHOMA CITY-BASED KEN GRASING IS BUILDING 2 "NEW" SEBRING SPRITES:
The first is to be a BONNEVILLE SPRITE i.e a supercharged standard-bodied car. Under-going restoration Stateside, the bodyshell had suffered considerable corrosion and minor damage.
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
Ken has been collecting those rare parts required to make the car fully authentic as Donald Healey Motor Co would have built it, including Adjustable Armstrong rear shocks, Shorrock supercharger, Girling brakes, etc, etc.
KG
The 2nd car will be a replica SPRINZEL SEBRING car with ALLOY BODYWORK:
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
KG
This one is currently being assembled in the UK. Having purchased a bodyshell (AN5 29570) from CCK Historic, Ken commissioned Darren Welsh of Creative Classics to construct an aluminium rear end and hardtop for the car. As you can see the shell is also fitted with alloy inner front wings and radiator uprights. Doesn't it look superb?
KG
510 DWD 13
EN ROUTE FROM NEW YORK TO NORTHERN IRELAND
is 510 DWD the works-modified Mk 2 which Tony Giordano has now sold to Will Corry. Will says: "A very exciting time. I will give a proper write up on the car and photographs - hopefully next week".
510 DWD 9
Blayden
BOB BLAYDEN'S "Little Green car" finally made it back to Australia after lots of delays. Bob says: "Hi Martin, After looking at the March latest news regarding the 74TH MEMBERS MEETING AT GOODWOOD I wish sometimes I should have left the green car in the UK as it sounds like a great day for the Sebrings to be on display (I suppose it doesn't hurt to dream) I am still coming to terms with having the green car home as everyday I have been for drive to the little local township its just going so well . Cheers Bob"
P Smith Spec
PETER SMITH'S HIGH SPEC SEBRING FASTBACK
as entered at Philip Island
Robson
74TH MEMBERS MEETING AT GOODWOOD
This weekend 18-20th March the racing season commences at Goodwood. I plan to be there on Sunday. Graham and Asher Robson have been asked to once again display their Sebring at the gates to welcome arrivals. See you there?
SEBRING PEDAL BOXES
Andrew (Forster) has begun to distribute the new pedal boxes, at least 5 now delivered.
Roadster
THE ROADSTER (8426 UE - ST 450S)
A couple of photos from Amelia Island in 2008 (taken by Pete Taylor) at which time the car was owned by Mark Flanders.
Roadster
FROM ALAN ANSTEAD - RE: 577 DNX

"I recently noticed that the profile of my Sebring rep was a bit dated with the last picture taken at Angouleme in 2009. I sent Martin a more up-to-date picture but Martin wanted more! Since 2009 I haven't done much more than replace the 577 DNXfront shock absorbers and routine maintenance. The car gets quite a lot of road use. Until this year on alternate years the car has either been to Le Mans Classic or participated in MASC Miglia Tours. These tours are organised by me for members of the Midget and Sprite Club for which I am Area Rep for Kent Area (www.masckent.org). The tours are about a fortnight long and the cars travel about 2500miles. You can read of last years tour on the website. By popular demand we skip Le Mans Classic and participate in another Miglia Tour this September (9-23). Want to join us then contact me via the website. The replica also participates in other tours as Kent Area are often touring at home and abroad. This year we go to Montlhery Heritage; GP Retro Le Puy de Notre Dame; and Anstead Clutch modsIsle of Wight whilst monthly we have popular 'Old Boys' runs to local venues. One modification that will be made to the car, as soon as the weather improves, is to fit a clutch roller release bearing that I have made that is a direct replacement for the carbon thrust race but which does not require the clutch cover thrust pad to be removed. I am supplying these to Kent MASC members with 1098/1275 engines".

2824 MV ~ SPEEDWELL SPRITE ~ WEB PAGE UP-DATED
776 KNX
776 KNX to show at Amelia Island Concours.
& more photos of "The Roadster"
Roadster


Exhausts
Exhaust XM5 (bottom left)

SPEEDWELL EXHAUST MANIFOLD
Sven Eckhardt has been asked whether he can supply copies of his Speedwell manifold. He has approached Maniflow who can do the job. Price will come down the greater the number. Anyone else interested in this project? Contact Sven.

Asher Robson
MORE YOUNG BLOOD
Asher Robson, son of Graham, has passed his ARDS test a few days after his 16th birthday and is entered for his first race on 2nd Apr at Silverstone in the HRDC All Stars race in 5506 AR and then on the 10th April at Brands.

TONY GIORDANO says re: the Sebring 1965 rain storm - "I spoke to a few racers of the day who where there, as I own many original snaps of that race taken by the factory. One thing which came up in conversation was in addition to cars filling up with water the racers would open the doors on a hard left or right to empty the cockpit. Furthermore, since the visibility of the track was nil and dark "some cars with skinny tires were known to cross the field to the other side without notice".... While I can't say who I can say it is possible, and probable...What do you think?"

SCD
Joe Armour reports: SEBRING 1965 ~ SPORTS CAR DIGEST recently showed this photo of DAC 952C captioned: "The Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite of Clive Baker and Rauno Aaltonen was able to lap the faster cars during the storm due to narrow tires and higher ground clearance. Photo courtesy of Dave Nicholas". Current owner Bruno Verstraete says "It is interesting to note that in the floor of our car there is a hole which allegedly was the fast and solid solution to the temporary water issue. Unfortunately it stopped raining. That could have been the chance for Healey Sprites to win Sebring overall...
OYM
ANOTHER LENHAM GTO
rears its head after a while of the road. On ebay currently at £620 WITHDRAWN at £3,309
Now back on at £4250
& AN ASHLEY HARDTOP
(early style) for a Frogeye
SOLD on ebay at £102
Expires 11th March
Ashley top
Restn Show

Restn Show
PRACTICAL CLASSICS RESTORATION SHOW ~ NEC BIRMINGHAM

I took a train up to the show on Saturday and met up with numerous old friends. Alan Anstead and John Clark were busy changing John's front suspension over to poly bushes while Gary Puxty rebuilt a 948 motor on the Midget & Sprite Club stand. Peter Seamen's lovely Sebring was once again on the AHC stand, and there were several restored Spridgets dotted about. R.J.Johnson had imported Frogeyes ranging from Concours to rust-bucket to suit your pocket! An enjoyable day out.
Restn Show

Restn Show
THE LAST FACTORY LENHAM
It seems Ian Burford also lays claim to owning the last of the factory-built Lenhams. However it now seems Rod Allsworth's car was the last kit the company supplied. Just to clarify!
LE MANS 1967 ~ DAMAGED SPRITE PASSES THE PITS
Always on the lookout for glimpses of his car on old film clips, Joe Armour spotted the Hedges/Baker No.51 entry with its damged rear bodywork after a collision in the Esses. It continued to the finish hours later. 4m45s into this clip
Tony Gearbox
STRAIGHT-CUT CLOSE RATIO RIB CASE GEARBOX FOR SALE
Tony Giordano- New York USA
On ebay at $950 expires 8 Mar
WSM WRECKED
I was sorry to learn only recently of Ian Hulett's huge accident at Brands in the Equipe GTS race in Sept. (See below)
WSM Hulett
Hubs

Hubs
SEBRING HUBS AGAIN
Dave Wood of Orson Equipment has received a new enquiry for front hubs of which he has none. I also know of another who wants a pair so am starting a new list. Higher grade steel for racing use is an option. Meanwhile there are still some rears available. Use Feedback if interested
He tells me: "I initially led the race but then was side by side with Pete Foster's TR4 when in snapped sideways and went into the pit wall just passed the start line at about 100 mph - possibly due to oil on the track. The race was stopped and I was put in the medical centre for 30 mins but apart from a couple of bruises was unhurt. I'm sure well-mounted belts and a HANS device helped. As you would expect the car is badly damaged and will require a big pull and a new front chassis, suspension and bodywork". What a shame.
LENHAM LE MANS PROJECT FOR SALE
Rod Allsworth has bought an (ex- Goodwood) 1938 HRG which needs full restoration so finds he has not the space or time to complete his Lenham project. Believed to be the last Lenham body kit made and sold by the original team at Harrietsham to the previous owner who fitted it to a 1967 Midget shell, it has been stored for many years. Not complete but with £3,000 race prepared engine and sccr gearbox, etc.
See Full Spec. Asking price is £14,500.
Contact Rod on email or on 07711 268150
Rod Allsworth
Rod Alsworth
Rod Allsworth
Rod Allsworth
P Smith
P Smith
A FOURTH SEBRING REP IN AUSTRALIA
Neil Blaney took these photos of Peter Smith's Archers Fastback with Speedwell bonnet, now prepped and ready to race at the Phillip Island Historics in March. He says: "It is a real weapon. Peter is an auto engineer and the engineering on it is quite special. I’ll send you some photos of it racing at Phillip Island. He has another Bugeye he has run in Targa Tasmania about 8 times and the experience he gained their is reflected in his Sebring.
P Smith
P Smith
EX-WORKS LE MANS/SEBRING
RACE CAR HNX 455D SOLD BY CCK HISTORIC AND HEADING FOR Oldtimer Galarie Rosenau
IN GERMANY.
HNX
Nearside Armstrong
A CORRECTION:
It is an off-side Armstrong Adjustaride shock absorber which Keith Egar is after.
Feedback please.
Coupe manual
ARCHERS SEBRING REPLICA BUILD MANUALS
22 YEARS ON & THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN THESE BUILD MANUALS - COUPE (LEFT) AND FASTBACK (RIGHT)
Thanks to Dave Marriott and John Poulter
Fastback Build
MORE ON THE TIFOSI SS:

Jason Elliott, owner of NMY 208 tells me that he works in the bodyshop at Halls Garage for proprietors Steve and Lynn Owens. He confirms that the rear end of his car is fibreglass and that they have been out racing with it. They are going to build a 1275cc engine for it. The 2nd Tifosi which I showed recently on the website was fitted to a costumer's car - a 1970s Midget and the owner finished the car himself. Halls' kits come with panels, front and rear screen, bonnet hinge assembly, bonnet catches, mounting kit, lights, screen seals and build manual. The side screens come as an extra and they make them in-house. They will supply kits to customers 'as long as the donor car is strong enough' and can rebuild donor body-shells or supply a new shell. (I wonder where that comes from). Also they have a few early donor cars in stock to build into Sebring Sprites. I wonder whether parts are interchangeable with those of the Archers rep e.g. side-screens?

Pete Farmer
ANY MORE FOR DHMC TALL SIDE-SCREENS?
I now have 5 people on a list, to encourage Pete Farmer to produce another batch sometime soon and am wondering if anyone else would be interested. Not cheap at £500 a set last time round but an essential component if you are building an original-looking (standard-bodied) Sebring. Let me know.
Pete Farmer
ARCHERS BUILD MANUAL?
Robert Marshall has asked me about a build manual he says he is having difficulty accessing online. Is there such a thing?
ARMSTRONG ADJUSTARIDES (see above correction)
Keith Egar is nearing completion of his hill-climb/sprint Sebring but finds himself with 3 off-side adjustables rear shocks and no nearside one. Does anyone have a nearside one they might be interested in swapping or selling? Feedback please.
Armstrongs

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS - TO WHOM I SEND MY GRATEFUL THANKS:
Robert Marshall; Keith Egar; Pete Farmer; Jason Elliott; Dave Marriott; John Poulter; CCK Historic: Ivo Cappon; Neil Blaney; Rod Allsworth; Ian Hulett; Tony Giordano; Ian Burford; Joe Armour; Mark Matthews; Joe Armour; Graham Robson; Sven Eckhardt; Bruno Verstraete, Rick Neville; Pete Taylor; John Maddocks; Pieter Bakker; Bill......; Alan Anstead; Bob Blayden; Will Corry; Ken Grasing; Tony Griffiths; Alistair Ross; Steve Norton; Andrew Clarke; Paul Kinghan.

 

News ~ February 2016

Marque One

 

"SPRINZEL SPEAKING ~ SEBRING"
An article wich appeared in the First Quarter
edition of Ray English's 'Marque One'
magazine. One of many such items which appear in this
brilliant little journal especially published for
Austin-Healey Sprite enthusiasts.

Sprinzel Speaking
PMO
THAT PMO REGISTRATION ADORNED A MIDGET
FOR THE 1970 RAC RALLY
[Maybe PMO No.10 according to "Spritely Years"]
Photos kindly sent in by Colin Barnett
PMO
Race Car
RACING FROGEYE FOR SALE
on ebay at £6,000 (No V5)
& minus engine, box & diff.
or contact CCK: 01825 733060
LYNDON THORNE'S RACING SPRITE
Back in Nov 2015 I was contacted by Bob Kemp (AHC registrar) as he had been asked about the current whereabouts of Lyndon's old race car - by Alistair Emson, who had various trophies from Lyndon's racing days. Robin Leathart has confirmed he "bought the car to use for Hillclimbs , Sprints and odd races. It had no log book and was an out and out race car, very light and highly developed with coil rear springs, and Midget front and rear (bodywork). It had no log book or registration number and was a vibrant blue with an orange hard top. It was a fantastic car, really competitive and I had a lot of success with it". It was sold to a young guy from the Midlands though Robin cannot be sure of his name. Can anyone get us any further?

ALLAN CAMERON

Allan
Allan
Allan
Allan
AllanSusan and I were among the multitude who attended Allan Cameron's celebration service in Faringdon yesterday. The church was packed to overflowing with relatives and friends from his many and varied connections. His son Drew told how Allan initially did his training in engineering but really wanted to go into the family's dairy business which he ran into the 1980's. When the supermarkets robbed him of that he went into his second love, classic cars with the establishment of Old Dairy Classics where he specialised in Healeys and Morgans. Several of his cars were parked outside the hotel where the wake was held though his Sprites were absent. A much-loved man taken from us by cancer at only 64, he will be much missed by all his friends in the Austin-Healey Club, Bugatti Owners Club and at the Presott Hill Climb. I am sure his sons will continue to demonstrate his lovely cars on the hills in the years to come.
SPA 3 HOURS
Pieter Bakker still has a few grid slots left for the Spa 3 Hours race on 23-25 June. 2/3 driver teams with 2 pit stops. If seriously interested in joining in, register at the foot of this page:- http://legendary-circuits.eu/spa-3-hours/
ALLAN CAMERON's funeral takes place tomorrow 23rd Feb at All Saints Church,Faringdon, Oxfordshire at 2 pm.
112 HYM
TO BE OFFERED AT BRIGHTWELLS' AUCTION IN HEREFORDSHIRE
on 2nd March is this wire wheel/disc braked Frogeye with Shorrock supercharger (not fitted).
Guide price £8,500 to £9,500
112 HYM
2284 WD
OFFERS SOUGHT FOR 2284 WD AND LENHAM GT
Jonathan Peck is retiring and has decided to sell his Mark 2 Sebring copy complete with old log books, other papers, trailer and spares. An (?)XSP engine is also available, as is his 1958 Mk1 Lenham Sprite with 248BXN-style bonnet. Phone: 07582 808054 OR Email him for details
2284 WD
Sprite Room
THE SPRITE ROOM
Ray English's museum of Sprite memorabilia located in Victoria, Australia contains just about everything relating to Bugeye/Frogeye Sprites.
Read all about it here.
Sprite Room
NMY
NEW WEB PAGE ~
JASON ELLIOTT'S
TIFOSI SS
SEBRING REPLICA
BRUNO'S ART
While on holiday, and looking outside at the snow, Bruno Verstraete Bruno Artthought it a good time to try his hand at some artwork. He says: "Not Picasso level, but gives some sort of impression". Well done Bruno - any more budding artists out there?


Arnold-Garton
CAN YOU HELP? WHAT SNETTERTON MEETING WAS THIS?
Pablo Raybould is writing a book "on the complete race/rally career of Christabel Carlisle, with her help, and this meeting/appearance is one that we have no knowledge of. Christabel’s Sprite can be seen clearly in the paddock next to Mike’s. It is 1963 not 1964 (as Mike thought) as Christabel’s accident was 1963 and of course the car did not exist after that. It was Snetterton and Mike seems to think it was a Healey club event?" In the left-hand photo Les Arnold in EAO leads Garton at the same meeting. Feedback please.


Carlisle-Garton
RALPH ZBARSKY on 505 CYF
Hi Martin, thanks for the note and the amazing photos!! I am very grateful for any history on this car. I purchased the car from a fellow in California, I presume he imported it from the UK, and had done nothing with it. It was still a gastly purple-ish colour, with the 1275 engine. The engine tag translated to a 'Warranty Replacement Gold-Seal' engine, and was totally worn out. He had advertised it as a Lenham, and to me, it looked like Lenhams that I saw on the always-correct internet. A Lenham website co-ordinator thought it might be the Lenham prototype, based on discussions he had with some Lenham folks, but no proof. If this was built by the fellow from Wales, he did a fantastic job...... I think there are definite Lenham features, but have nothing to compare it to here.... Any further info/photos would be very welcome! Regards, Ralph.
DAVE MATTHEWS ON 505 CYF

As I recall Ralph contacted me many moons ago about this car and I spoke to Lenhams at the time. Iit appears they made a couple of these incorporating Spitfire windscreens in to the hardtop; one was for their accountant** who lived in Crowborough and for the life of me I cannot recall his name! The car has an early bonnet with no carb bump in it yet I believe it has a 1275 unit which should foul the bonnet!  Based on a Lenham GT.

[** I think Dave is referring here to Tony Pay who was in fact a Crowborough solicitor, now retired and living in Scotland, who owned 347 RAL. MEI]

505 CYF
505 CYF
505 CYF
505 CYF
6943MM
6943 MM ~ SPEEDWELL GT
I have now completed the re-vamp of this web page showing Richard Rooks' unusual car.

A RATHER DIFFERENT LENHAM GT
Brilliant motoring photographer John Bowman sent me the above photos of 505 CYF which he took some "25 years ago at least on the mountain road B4407 Ysbyty Ifan not too far from Betws Y Coed. I remember it well and speaking to the driver seen in the photograph. He was a local lad who I believe lived in the village.  He told me that he had built the car himself and I am sure claimed it was an own design. There are quite a few quite clever chaps in Rural North Wales and this could have been true but I honestly do not know. The car was maroon at the time and is still on the UK DVLA as a 1275  1961 Austin. I never saw it again and wondered where it was and if it still existed, please use the pictures if you wish and I do have a couple more taken at the same time". The car today.

ARCHERS GARAGE CLOSES (10 February 2016)
Andrew Forster wishes to make the following announcement:
"Dear Martin and fellow Sebring Sprite owners,
It is a very sad day for me to announce that due to circumstances beyond my control I have to close the doors to Archers Garage Limited. The fire that happened a year ago to the day causing severe smoke damage to several cars and resulted in the insurance company claim which was drastically reduced due to it being under insured and then to have a major argument with a trusted customer to again lose a considerable amount of money has brought me to this decision. I would like to whole heartedly thank all of my customers from all the years that we have been in business for their support and friendship. I have been offered full time employment by Aldon Automotive in Brierley Hill where I will be working on classic cars. If any of you require any work to be carried out you can contact me there or on my mobile 0772 984 8213 or my email address . I still intend to continue to produce the Sebring panels and items that we already make, in my spare time from home. Again I would like to thank everyone during this time and hope to be producing many more Sebrings in the future. Andrew Forster".
[I understand that Andrew will be processing the outstanding orders for pedal boxes, side-screens and other items over the coming weeks.]
SEBRING BONNET FOR SALE
Barry McCann is offering this bonnet located in Peterborough on ebay SOLD for £398 on 20 Feb
Sebring bonnet
4457 MM
Peter Rogers once owned this Sprite with W & P Sebring bonnet. Bored to 997cc it had its exhaust exiting under the sill. Anyone know its history? Feedback
6943MM
COMING SOON
I am going to prepare two 'new' web pages shortly. The first will be a re-vamp of the existing page on Richard Rooks' Speedwell GT originally registered in the UK as 6943 MM, and the other will be on Jason Elliott's Tifosi SS Sebring replica NMY 208.
NMY 208
SEBRING FRONT (& REAR) BRAKES
With the original Sebring fitment Girling Type 10 brake caliper being unavailable the accepted alternative has been the ATE (Vauxhall Carlton Estate rear) caliper. A similar to original adaptor bracket is needed to fit these to the Sprite Mk 1 stub axle, and suitable brake discs are machined-down Triumph Spitfire items. Sven Eckhardt has recently supplied this set-up to Ken Grasing in the USA and has offered to supply others at cost plus 10%. If interested you can contact Sven by email. You will also, of course, need a pair of Sebring front hubs. Sven has also made an adaptor to bolt the Rotoflex GT6 backplate to the Frogeye backaxle and should be able to supply the bits for an 8" rear drum conversion in the (near) future. 
NEW DHMC Mk 1 HARDTOPS
Staying with Sven Eckhardt in Germany, and his recent offer to have a mould made to re-produce DHMC hardtops, he has now obtained a quote of 1000 Euros to get one of his hardtops to a mouldable state and another 2500 Euros to make the mould(s). The cost of a new hardtop would then be about 700 Euros to which Sven would add his 10%, plus 10% of the tooling cost bringing the hardtop to 1050 Euros (about £800). On top of this will be needed the rear screen, rubber, brackets and clamps. A conservative guess is to add 300 pounds for these items.
If still un-daunted please contact Sven by email or come through to me via Feedback

A TECHNICAL QUERY ~ CAN ANYONE HELP ON THIS ONE, PLEASE?
"
At the moment I am about to rebuild my Midget ribcase gearbox (1275/late type). Can you tell me perhaps for which tolerances/mesh  1st and 3rd motion shaft in relation to laygear I should look out for? In the original workshop manual only endfloat for laygear is mentioned, but nothing about forward/aft mesh from motion shafts into laygear..." Wolfgang Bankowski.

Youles mould
BODY MOULDS FOR SALE [NOW SOLD]
Remember that special body Mike Youles created for Meredith Hutchins - well the fibreglass moulds are up for sale on ebay. [Understood to now be with Dominic Mooney
of Midland Classic Restorations ~ 20 Feb 2016]
Youles mould
Classics Monthly

TWO NEW ARTICLES FOR YOUR DELECTATION
Kindly supplied by Alan Anstead these are, firstly one from Classics Monthly Oct 2005 featuring 4 Sprites including Alan's Sebring. Please note John Carrington should read (The Late) John Larrington. The second one is from an American Magazine Sports Car International March 2005 edition. The picture of John and Alan, was taken after lapping the Ferrari Test Track at Fiorano, Italy.
Sportscars Int
MY SPELLING SUITABLY CORRECTED ~ I KNEW SOMEONE WOULD HAVE THE ANSWER!

MAZAK [edit]
"In the early 1930s Morris Ashby in Britain had licensed the New Jersey zamak alloy. The high-purity refluxer zinc was not available in Britain and so they acquired the right to manufacture the alloy using a locally available electrolytically refined zinc of 99.95% purity. This was given the name Mazak, partly to distinguish it from zamak and partly from the initials of Morris Ashby. In 1933, National Smelting licensed the refluxer patent with the intent of using it to produce 99.99% zinc in their plant at Avonmouth". David Scothorn
{As we know Mazak unfortunately tends to become speckled with minute holes beneath any chromium plated finish applied and satisfactory re-chroming is not easily achieved. However it served its purpose in its day didn't it?]

SPEEDWELL DOOR HANDLES
Remember those handles offered on ebay last month. Well they were produced by Terry Cartwright in New Zealand. Terry wanted a set for his Mk1 Midget and having searched the web without success decided to make a set using measurements from an original, plus various photos. He then had a mould made and several sets cast. Terry runs a restoration shop in NZ and believes anyone who buys these handles will be pleased with the quality. They are available at £280 a pair plus carriage (As a guide he says he sent a pair to the US for £30)
Contact Terry Cartwright by email or use my Feedback page and I will forward your enquiry.
N.B. a pair of original Meyzak (? spelling) ones fetched £510 on ebay last year!!
SVEN ECKHARDT has kindly offered to make a mould from one of his 2 DHMC hardtops so that Andrew Storer can have one - subject to the likely cost being acceptable.
CCK
WANTED ~ DHMC HARDTOP FOR ANDREW STORER'S FULLY RESTORED FROGEYE (below)
Andrew's car now has some period style upgrades - Minilites, adjustable rear levers, disc brakes, anti-roll bar, Mike Lempert steering wheel, and a tuned 1330 engine. Does anyone have a DHMC hardtop they would be willing to sell him? Alternatively, does anyone know how feasible it might be to convert a BMC accessory hardtop to take the taller side-screens? I think the basic profile is almost the same. It might be easier to find one of those. Feedback please.
A Storer
A Storer
A Storer
A Storer

ALLAN CAMERON

I was very sorry to hear, initially from regular fellow Healey hill-climber Pat Cooper: "Had a call from Drew Cameron this morning with Alan the sad news that Allan had lost his brave fight with cancer and died at home last evening. He was a great pal to us all, we will miss him very much. Pat Cooper". And from David Morys: "It is with regret that I have to tell you of the death of Allan Cameron at the weekend. He had been unwell for some time though you wouldn't believe his stamina and one must feel incredible sadness for his wife and family. As you know he was an Austin Healey specialist and extremely knowledgable on the subject and built and raced cars with his two sons and was a very proud grandfather as well as an excellent competition secretary at the Bugatti Owner's Club. He will be missed amongst the Healey fraternity and the family at Prescott". We all send our sincere condolences to his wife, Carol, his sons Neil and Drew and the rest of his family.

Austin-Healey
MGB
Spridget



JOHN BAGGOTT
has asked me to offer these 3 books for sale. Contact me on Feedback if interested, or phone him on 01892 862656 (UK)

"Austin-Healey" by Geoff Healey a (favoured) US edition
£40 plus postage
MGB Super Profile
by Lindsay Porter
£15 plus postage
Spridget Profile
by Lindsay Porter
£15 plus postage

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS - TO WHOM I SEND MY GRATEFUL THANKS:
John Baggott; Pat Cooper; Andrew Storer; Sven Eckhardt; Terry Cartwright; David Scothorn; Alan Anstead; Tim Halket; Pat Cooper; Wolfgang Bankowski; Peter Rogers; Archers Garage; Barry McCann; Bruno Verstraete; Dave Matthews; Richard Rooks; John Bowman; Ralph Zbarsky; Pablo Raybould; Jason Elliott; Ray English; Jonathan Peck; Mike Pope; Pieter Bakker.

 

News ~ January 2016


And Lew McAllan says: "May have originaly been an Aleaxander (bonnet), but looks a lot like this "Walker" front avaibale through Speedwell Engineering here in the US". 
Walker
Available from:
Speedwell Engineering
508 B Glenoaks Blvd.,
San Fernando, CA 91340
David Scothorn points out: "that registration 1770 PQ has never existed. It is most likely to have been 1770 PO, issued in West Sussex between March 1959 and December 1960. Correlation puts it around July 1959. There is no current registration at DVLA. An enquiry to the West Sussex Records Office in Chichester might reveal the name of the first registered keeper".
THAT FILM CLIP:
Both David Morys and Derek Stewart have pointed out that during the chase there is a shot of a Jaguar dashboard instead of one from an MG Magnette!
BONNET
Anyone know who made this bonnet (right). Was it Alexander? Feedback please.
1770 PQ
MANY THANKS
to all those who found the YouTube clip of that film "Shadow of Fear" for me.
Click the photo.
Gary Lazarus thinks it might be a Peasmarsh bonnet but I thought they had full 7" headlights?
ClassicCars
A NEW ARTICLE
is published in the current (March 2016) issue of 'Classic Cars' magazine. It's a slight pity it is described as modelled on WJB 707 as this one is a Fastback and has a Speedwell Monza bonnet!

[Kindly supplied by Nigel Whitty]

DAVID WHITWORTH
tells me that he recently watched a film entitled 'Shadow of Fear' starring Paul Maxwell on Sky Talking Pictures Channel. A Sprite: registered 1770 PQ, features throughout the 1963 film with good shots from various angles. I have looked it up and it seems to have been shown on Jan 16th. Anyone know how we can all get to view it?

Alan Oakes
Alan Oakes
Manchester-based Alan Oakes put his Sebring Coupe build on hold when his wife died, but is now hoping to move it forward this year. Right - note the battery box as per the originals.
Alan Oakes
Here you Alan's project car displayed on a club stand at one of the Manchester shows.
GORDON MURRAY & HIS FROGEYE ~ FROM JOE ARMOUR (See Your Comments 2016)
AND MORE TYRES
Hi Martin, In relation to Femi’s question on tyres, on my Sebring I have Avon CR6-ZZ 175/70R13 82H on 4-1/2” wire wheels, fill the guards nicely and perform really well. Cheers   Neil (Blaney)

TYRES ~ CONCLUSION
Thanks alot for the responses. I will be ordering a set of 175/70/13 during the week. Femi

TYRES (in reply to Femi Odutolu's enquiry)
Dear Martin, the 185/60R13 is 11% smaller in diameter than the 'standard' 145R13 so no wonder it looks empty between tyre and body. Most Sprites are said to do best on max. size of 155R13, unless you only use it on a dry road. Remember the weight of a Sprite is only approx. 650 kg, compared to at least double that number for the cars the 185/60R13 was designed for! Good news is that looking at the dials gives you really the idea that you improved engine performance significantly.....
Seriously: look at this website http://tiresize.com/comparison/  for all conversion tables of tyres.
Kees van Beijmerwerdte (NL)
SEBRING PEDAL BOXES & SIDE-SCREENS
I understand that 24 newly-made and powder-coated pedal boxes are finished so that Andrew will now be able to assemble and despatch them very shortly. I am awaiting further news on progress with the 10 pairs of side-screens currently on order.
& MORE ON TYRES

Hello Martin, I use Avon ZZR 185/70/13 at the rear and 175/70/13 at the front on my Lenham GT and on my Lenham Le Mans. Both are on knock-on alloy wheels. We also have fitted these to Rene Bloemen's car on 5" wire wheels. Kind regards
Ton Blankespoor. (NL)

ENX
(click on photo to open the PDF)
JOE ARMOUR HAS BEEN BUSY....
going through his extensive archive to find these 3 interesting items. The first on the left is of ENX 416C when Denis Welch put it up for sale - it is today living in Japan. The 2nd is this picture of XNB 712 from XNBDave Matthews' 1987 WWAH Calendar incorrectly labelled as one of the 6 W & P cars but actually the Douglas Wilson Spratt (Peel-built) body on another car. And the 3rd item is an interesting article from 1998 when Bill McDonnough and Dave Grove uncovered 585 MY (now for sale with Brian Classic.
(Again click to open)
585 MY
Vau-Teh
HOW ABOUT THIS FOR AN IDEA? A 948SL?
Spotted on Facebook - is it real or just a bit of Photoshop? Said to be designed by Vau-Teh Tuning.
I'm not sure I would find it easy to get my 6'2" frame into it.
Vau-Teh
Air Filters
CAN ANYONE IDENTIFY
these air filters belonging to a guy in the USA? Feedback
[Dave Matthews]
LENHAM LE MANS PROJECT
FOR SALE ON EBAY
Assembled on a Heritage 1500 bodyshell by Lenham SC
Asking price £4,000
Lenham LM
Sprinzel Advert
COLIN BARNETT
found this wonderful Sprinzel advert from the 1960's (left)

1411 WD
1411 WD at SEBRING
[Courtesy of Karsten Stelk]
TYRES:
My own response to Femi's query would be...first, let the car settle a bit as that gap will probably change once the car is occupied and in regular use. I presume he has 5 or 5.5" rims and it will depend on the intended use as to what tyre is best. For general road use and light competition I would recommend the Uniroyal Rain Expert which is available in various sizes (mine are 175/70) but for serious motorsport there are other options like the Yokohama AO range (though check legality for the road and for various competition classes and they will look even smaller in the wheel arch). MEI
Femi Fastback
FROM FEMI ODUTOLU:
Offers are invited for this Peter May top link arm kit which cost Femi £120. He is also looking for advice on tyres. He currently has a set 185/60/13 tyres but says there is still a gap over the rear tyre despite fitting a Moss lowering kit. What sizes/brand tyres do people use? Feedback please
Femi Trailing Arms
Elite
AND THEN AGAIN...
Looks likethat Sprite hardtop is from a Lotus Elite after all. "The giveaway is the line of the top of the passenger’s window aperture which is much flatter on the Elan. Who realised that the tops themselves were so alike?" My informant sent this interesting shot of John Frayling’s one-fifth scale clay model beside the first full-size Elite body at W&P’s premises in Edmonton by way of an apology. Many thanks.
I am reliably informed that's an Elan top, below (not Elite) - not surprising it looks so like a Sebring as both were by W&P ...

UBC696

UBC696

ELITE TOP FITTED TO A FROGEYE
During Alistair Ross's research into Speedwell GT's and their owners he was sent these two pictures by Alan Wood who once owned Speedwell GT, 60 XMX. This Sprite GT was built by Alan using the GRP top recovered from a crashed Lotus Elite. The car was also fitted with a Monza bonnet and Alan remembered that, with a bit of fettling, the Lotus top fitted very well. I wonder what he did for side windows and where the car is now.

60 XMX

Photos courtesy of Alan Wood
ALEXANDER GT ~ RWV 661
As featured in John Baggott's book "Frogeye Sprite" this car was initially owned by Geoff Williamson and won its class at Monthlery. Nicolas Billion-Rey wonders if it is still alive?
RWV 661
LENHAM HEADLAMP COWLS
A pair of these, from CCK and for the Lenham streamlined bonnet, are currently being offered on ebay.
Bids are now at £80.
Expires 26 Jan
Lenham Cowls
E700
E700, here in the hands of Eric Davies in 1962 - with Mark 2 Sprite rear lights.
[Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird]
BRIGHTON SPEED TRIALS
A video which includes a glimpse of Pierre Lequeux in 2080 PO
Pierre
MYSTERY SEBRING COUPE
is not 410 EAO says Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird as it always had a dark blue stripe. Nor is it Gabriel Konig's E700 - wrong rear lights.
Unidentified
Sebring 61
SEBRING 1961
Walt Hansgen (works Sprite) leading Stirling or Pat Moss in one of the Sprinzel cars
[Photo: Karsten Stelk]
Halls
JASON ELLIOTT recently posted this, and other photos of another Sebring being built by Halls Garage [on Facebook]
N.B. lack of gutters
Peter May
COMPETITION HALF SHAFTS (Peter May Eng)
on ebay, currently at £280 Expires 23 Jan
SPEEDWELL SLIDING DOOR HANDLES
Another pair of new repro ones from New Zealand on ebay, currently at £280
Expires 23rd Jan
Sp Handles
RESTORED SPEEDWELL SEATS being offered on ebay by Moto-Build Racing at 'Buy Now' price of £495!!
Speedwell seats
Mike Curtis on Steering Columns See "Your Comments"
Giordano-1
PRICE CHANGE
Bridgehampton Sprite NOW $19,000 (£13,250)
See For Sale page
DAVID SCOTHORN confirms the Ashley Sprite 3758 UE was originally registered to Donald Healey.
BRABHAM MIDGET PROJECT FOR SALE
Ash Ward is selling his 62 Mk1 Midget touched by the hands of Sir Jack during a few conversions he did many years ago.
"At present it has been garaged for 4 years since gearbox failed but due to divorce I am losing my storage. I only know of two others in existance, both of which are replica/remakes? This car currently has a Mk2 engine but I have sourced the required Climax unit to install, but not the gearbox. I am aware of the cars potential value and open to sensible offers for someone to complete the work in maintaining the former historic glory of this car. Please contact me to discuss further if interested.
Ash Ward, Leicestershire, United Kingdom, ashward45@hotmail.com ". Believed to be 4736 PL
Strg Col
Comparison - Frogeye (top)
Strg Col
Collapsible lower section
Strg Col
Comparing the 2
Strg Col
Different splines, etc.
COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMNS

Following Jonas Lindquist's enquiry and a suggestion from Steve Nash I took a look at a later Spridget steering column in my collection. The first thing I realised is it's 1¼" longer than a Frogeye one. Also it has a steering lock which needs to be removed by drilling out the bolts. A metal bracket is welded on to the outer sleeve so I ground off the welds and removed it. The inner column comes in three sections with two pairs of nylon shear pins. The top section can only slide down about 1" before it stops while it is the lower section which can move 8" or 9" so you could substitute the top section with part of a Frogeye column and fix it in solidly without shear pins. By cutting the Frogeye inner column and machining 2 flats on its sides you could make the column the right length and end up with a collapsible column with correct steering wheel splines, taper and nut. Care needs to be taken with the bottom section as once the shear pins are broken they could be difficult to re-create. N.B failure of the shear pins would not mean loss of steering merely allow the column to slide up/down. [PLEASE CHECK ALL THIS WITH A QUALIFIED ENGINEER FOR SAFETY ISSUES]
Strg Col
Dismantled later column showing steering lock and fixing bracket.
Strg Col
The top collapsible joint with steering lock boss and loose plastic lower tube bearing.
Strg Col
Top tube after removal of lock and bracket. I don't think you can use the Frogeye outer tube as it will not pass over the lock boss.
ALAN ANSTEAD
on AUSTIN/AUSTIN-HEALEY
in "Your Comments".
THAT POSSIBLE 61 WORKS SPRITE BELOW
Mark Snowden tells me he is offering the car for sale for an elderly friend in the USA. He does not think there is a chassis number which would have helped identify it, but it has a fibreglass rear end and he thinks there may be a body number. I await hearing more.
LEIGH GROVE suggests the car below might be 410 EAO Andrew Hedges Sprinzel Coupe. Any other suggestions?
AUSTIN OR AUSTIN-HEALEY
- THE ANSWERS.
See "Your Comments"
Marcos
CAN ANYONE IDENTIFY the Sprite Coupe in the background of this Marcos shot (taken in about 1963), sent in by Maarten Krikken? Feedback
Unidentified
Frog Racer
COULD THIS BE ONE OF THE 'WORKS' SEBRING CARS FROM 1961?
Currently being offered for sale on Car & Classic the seller of this much-modifed Frog claims: "More information has come to surface that this Frog Eye was either 3rd or 5th car in PanAm plane due to location of gas cap filler. It raced Sebring in 1961 then came back to England (all 5 cars) to have the RHD converted to LHD for American Use. Then shipped back to America".
AUSTIN OR AUSTIN-HEALEY?

Bob Hinchliffe mentions that he has "been in correspondence with Terry Horler of MASC regarding the DVLA  registration of Austin Healeys. He wrote an article about DVLA activities in Mascot magazine. The car that I have just bought is registered as an 'Austin' and the model is designated as 'Healey Sprite'. I thought that this might be wrong and used the DVLA website to run a random check of 20 cars from your website and 15 of them were registered as Austins and 5 as Austin Healeys! Terry thinks that this is wrong but I’m not so sure. Do you have an opinion on this. I don’t want to approach the DVLA unnecessarily! Your website is a constant source of interest to me and it rekindled my passion for Sebring Sprites which first started when I saw one at the Racing Car show in the early 1960’s. Finally I have one of my own and I look forward to enjoying it for many years to come".

650 FTX
650 FTX
650 FTX
650 FTX
Ralph Whitmarsh was in Cornwall over the New Year and happened to be there when ex-BXN racer Peter Jackson's newly acquired supercharged Sprite arrived after having some work carried out. Note the Allard and Oselli-tuned badges.
DHMC sidescreen
Sidescreen
DHMC sidescreen
BMC sidescreen
Pierre Lequeux sent me these photos of his DHMC sidescreen made of steel, now rusty, and with a PVC covering. He has also obtained a brand new pair of standard side-screens (AHA 5414) - note the difference in size.
Deep Sump
Deep Sump
Deep Sump
Deep Sump
Pierre also has an original BMC deep sump kit (C-AJJ 3424) - it takes an extra 3.3 pints (it must hang down quite low!)
Lynx
Lynx
Lynx
Lynx
and another of Pierre's little surprises: a very unusual flat Weber inlet manifold made by Lynx Engineering Australia.
JOHN SPRINZEL HAS THE ANSWER!

"We used to get those BMC badges shown on Ray's photo with some special result engraved in the space at the bottom. I might even have one somewhere, though I doubt if I could find it quickly. That was in the days when you didn't get paid a lot for results...."

SPEEDWELL ALLOY HEAD
for sale on ebay
at US $ 2,500
expires Friday 15th Jan
{At that price I'd better sell mine!]
Speedwell Head
LYNDON THORNE'S FROGEYE
Regarding Alistair Emson's search for the Sprite raced by Lynden Thorne, (lower down the page) it appears in John Baggott's book "Mighty Midgets & Special Sprites". John describes the car as a beige 1961 car but to which Thorne fitted fibreglass Midget front and rear. Thorne went on to race Aldon's sports-racing AL2 (1975) and was last heard of Lyndon was running a gliding club in Warwickshire. But what became of his Sprite?

Lynden Thorne
BMC Badge
MYSTERY BMC BADGE
This B.M.C. badge was recently purchased on ebay by Ray English for the Sprite Room from a seller in the UK.   It seems to be something that might have been awarded for long service, but he is hoping it might be connected to competition in some way.    It came in its original packet, which it is very fragile, though the maker's label is quite good for its age.  The badge itself is in perfect condition, the seller said it was in the sealed bag when he got it, however he opened it up to check the badge's condition.   Any information would be appreciated. The badge measures 1⅝” X 2⅛” high.
Feedback please.
DD 58 33
2 NEW PHOTOS OF DD-55-33 COME TO LIGHT
Posted on Facebook by owner Robert Visser and recently obtained from Zandvoort Historic are these images of his Speedwell/Ashley bodied car at the Netherlands race track back when?
DD 58 33
Sprite Meet 10
603 MUY ~ SPRINZEL SEBRING SPRITE REPLICA FOR SALE

Full details or at CarandClassic
Asking Price £30,000
Contact: Steve Norton by email
or by UK Mobile - 07860 520682

603 MUY
FROGEYE SPRITE RACED772 DOH
BY LYNDEN THORNE
INFORMATION SOUGHT [via Bob Kemp, Sprite Registrar, AHC]
ALISTAIR EMSON has been searching for a Frogeye Sprite for a few months now. It was once owned by Lynden Thorne who raced it and Alistair has many trophies awarded for 1st place at several tracks. He obtained the registration number 772DOH from friends, but does anybody know if this car is still around, please? Use Feedback for your reply.

OUR OWN PERSONAL REGISTRATION SLEUTH, DAVID SCOTHORN, REPORTS:
"An enquiry to DVLA shows 3758 UE untaxed since November 1994. If Ian (Grainger)'s photo was in 1999 it would be interesting if you could see the expiry date of the tax disc. It looks nicely restored, but no other apparent clues in the photos. Of course, it could be on private land. The DVLA will have details of the most recent keeper, but they may not divulge it. Next time I'm in Warwick I will try to find out who it was registered to".

Shorrock
SHORROCK SUPERCHARGER
KIT FOR SALE
Asking Price £1,000
Contact Nikolaj Mortensen
by email if interested.
USU 607
A nice photo of USU 607, Bob Hinchliffe's SSR (Sprinzel Sebring Replica) recently acquired from Mike Prangnell.
COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMN
Anyone having experience in modifying the steering column for safety reasons by installing a "collapsible" steering column?
What parts should be used? Photos would be appreciated!
Thanks! Jonas Lindquist
KEITH BRADING OFFERS HIS
ISLE-OF-WIGHT FROGEYE BUSINESS FOR SALE
[Classic & SportsCar magazine, Feb 2016 edition]
Brading
ACCOMPANY EX-WORKS DRIVER CLIVE BAKER IN A RACE AT EAGLES CANYON RACEWAY IN DECATUR, TEXAS, USA IN THE TARGA FLORIO PROTOTYPE TFR 7. YouTube
AS KEN GRASING SAYS:

Here’s where all the hardtops are! Link

Hardtops
FROGEYE TACHOMETER OR FACE WANTED
Keith Newitt is looking for a Frogeye Sprite Tachometer with HIGH BEAM printed at the bottom of the face by the warning light. His has IGNITION  printed on it (Mark 2 I think). Does anyone have a "HIGH BEAM" face to swop for his "IGNITION" face? Contact Keith on 01327 843262 or via email if you can help.
TYRES FOR ROAD-GOING FROGEYE
David Bruzas has asked my advice as to a suitable 145/70 X 13 road tyre for his Frogeye. I have suggested the Uniroyal Rain Expert which I have on JJO, admittedly in a wider size and have found they have great adhesion in wet or dry. Any other suggestions would be welcome. Feedback please.

"Hi Martin, All good wishes for the coming year and to all the other readers of the site. It is really nice to have a website that is constantly being updated thanks to your diligence and the contributions of the readers Kind regards David Morys.

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS - TO WHOM I SEND MY GRATEFUL THANKS:
David Morys; Keith Newitt; David Bruzas; Rob Clubbe; Ken Grasing; Hans van der Kerkhof; John Sprinzel; Alistair Emson; Robert Visser; Steve Norton; David Scothorn; Jonas Lindquist; Ray English; Pierre Lequeux; Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird; Karsten Stelk; Jason Elliott; Mike Curtis; Leigh Grove; Ralph Whitmarsh; Maarten Krikken; Bob Hinchliffe; Mark Snowden; Alan Anstead; David Smith; Neil Blaney; Femi Odutolu; Kees van Beijmerwerdte; Ton Blankespoor; Dave Matthews; Colin Barnett; Alistair Ross; Nicholas Billion-Rey; Gary Lazarus; Nigel Whitty; David Whitworth; Joe Armour; Alan Oakes; Derek Stewart; Lew McAllan.

 

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