4 HAC ~ chassis PR101

Ex-Richard Budd alloy-bodied Sprite intended for production.

This unique car is one of the ten Donald Healey 'works' streamliners, and was built in 1967 and intended for road use. It first appeared at the Racing Car Show early in 1968. I believe the company had hopes that BMC would put it into limited production and they prepared it initially as a left-hand drive version for the American market. At that time the car was also equipped with chromium-plated quarter bumpers and grille surround. It was later converted to right-hand drive before being sold in the UK, first to a Mr Johnson and then to Richard Budd who traded-in his MGB for it, in 1968. He used the car in both circuit racing and speed events for seven years from about 1968 to 1974. He had two second places - in 1969, where he was beaten by Brian Hancock - and in 1972 by Malcolm Beer. Richard also drove the car at  MGCC Castle Combe on several occasions.

James Thacker told me: "I am pretty sure that Richard won the 1968 Midget/Sprite 5 lap  scratch race in the first year he raced the car after changing from his MGB. I don’t think he competed after 1974  but he has driven 4 HAC on the road to a few race meetings at Silverstone and to various car gatherings" including Sprite 50 at Goodwood and Gaydon in 2008.

Contrary to some reports about the car, its body is not of steel but alloy like its nine sister cars.

Following the death of Richard Budd in May 2018 the car has been passed on to his son, Charlie.

[Thanks to Ian Grainger and James Thacker for much of this information, and Graham Bish for the photos below].