New project, not a mini but still 60's

[robert]

really like the look of that with those wheels ,fascinating to see what its history turns out to be .

[graeme1293]

Here is the Fred Game CCC car - actually a Bugeye with a Midget front and rear. I think you said your one had the bugeye curved dash - and chance of a photo of the interior?
The CCC car here has a one piece front I see - so prob not yours.

[chris-pilling]

Yep, I'l take some tomorrow! Cheers for all these photo's Graeme1293

[graeme1293]

Phil Whitehead built the car - I think he ran Aldon - made suspension stuff for Minis and dissy's too maybe?

[graeme1293]

I think it said 124 was David Harrison and 139 Graham Lynch. There is another Midget/Sprite with the door open behind what I guess is an E Type.

You can see the difference screens frames on the front two cars - the front is the wind down window type - and the one behind is the sidescreen type. If yours has the curved dash then it has had the screen changed - so an old photo of it might show the older screen.

Graeme

[chris-pilling]

rusty running gear,




odd cut-away (any ideas) turbo? super charger?

possibly had an intercooler?







despite the exterior its not actually that bad, the chassis doesnt look too bad, the garage is currently full of stuff that shouldnt be in there so when we get rid of it if will be moving in, we will then strip it all down to the chassis and asses the rot. definatly needs both floor pans, inner outer sills, hinge panels inner rear wheel arches, front arch on passenger side and probably alot more. We are also in the process of deciding whether to convert it to a sebring racer or keep it a midget.?? cant make our minds up though! we'd definatly be keeping the wheels on it though and iv never seen a sebring with bubble arches, we might get shot for doing it but i think it would look very good.. i dont know though

[tomkidd]

Good luck mate...

[chris-pilling]

Its not that much worse than what i have to weld up at work Tom.. ha, all you need to do is cut it out and put new in, well its not that simple but you get me...

[graeme1293]

Looks like a Mk1 Midget/Mk2 Sprite (they were the same) with later doors and screen fitted - or possible, but less likely, a later car with an early dash?

The MK1 Midget/Mk2 Sprite had the 1/4 elipical springs which carried over from the Frogeye - you will see the mounts of the springs behind the seats - it will be rusty there!

The present colour looks to be a Mk4/5 colour - so maybe it was modernised with the doors and screen/hardtop.

If it was a known Modsports racer it would be cool to restore it to the orig spec/colour?. But the CCC colours look great too!

Graeme

[graeme1293]

and I think the colour is Citron Yellow.

[Will Grant]

For what its worth, that arch / wheel combination looks pretty sweet to my eyes....

+

Sebrings done to death! Vive la difference!

[Mike]

Hi Chris,

I think its a later Mk3 with earlier dash fitted, the windscreen fitting and scuttle give it away and this would tie in with the doors.

I suspect the modification to the passenger inner wing was for a 45 Weber on a long straight manifold.

I can understand you wanting to re-build it as was but you may want to consider Julius Thurgood's new initiative for 1380cc A series engined 60's GT cars, no wheel arches though!

Mike

[davidnutland]

Hi Chris, the wing cut out is more than likely for a Webber 45 (I have a surplus sprite manifolded 45!). With regards to the shell, if you have a raised lip on the cockpit/rear deck edge (this is where the soft top fits) then the shell is a Mk4, if you have 1/4 eliptic rear springs then it is Mk2, if you have the normal semi eliptic rear springs then it will be a MK3, you definatly have late doors and an early dash and top rail.

All the best

David

xvs1333.jpg

[chris-pilling]

Hi Chris,

I think its a later Mk3 with earlier dash fitted, the windscreen fitting and scuttle give it away and this would tie in with the doors.

I suspect the modification to the passenger inner wing was for a 45 Weber on a long straight manifold.

I can understand you wanting to re-build it as was but you may want to consider Julius Thurgood's new initiative for 1380cc A series engined 60's GT cars, no wheel arches though!

Mike

Sorry Mike but I'm Unfamiliar with this Juliius Thurgood. Is it a company that produce grp conversions? I've had a quick chat with a chap at Archers garage and they seemed really nice people. We are not sure what to do with it at the moment but there's no rush to get it on the road.

Ps cheers David, I shall have a look tonight when I get back to try identify the shells age. The log book we have suggests its a 70 car.. Were not sure if its the original I'd or not.. Either way that what's it going back on the road as.


Cheers chris

[Mike]

Chris,

Julius Thurgood started the Top Hat Series amongst other things before selling to Masters.

This is a link to the enterprise I was referring to: -

http://sebringsprite.com/A-Series%20Cha ... 0PRINT.PDF

I know Archers Garage very well, the late Brian Archer and his equally friendly and knowledgeable business partner Andrew who now runs the company. Highly recommended. I am 75% through the build of my third Sebring Sprite replica and have just commissioned the body for a fourth, another fast back. This will be built around a Mk1 MG Midget shell on a Lotus Elan chassis and running gear with 2.0 litre Zetec engine. (all in stock!) Will be an everyday road car for me and will look like our racer but 4" longer in the cockpit....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_youle ... 719290151/

....and the first I built.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_youle ... 178489495/

I have loads of knowledge and spares for these cars.

Regards,

Mike

[chris-pilling]

Cheers for the links Mike, I'l have a gander when I get home. This new one your doing sounds great can't wait to see that come together! The only reason we thought about arches is we want to use the jap wheels. If we do use them we need to fit arches! I think we could make it look quite tastefull but I can see your not very impressed with the idea! Ha have you seen one with sarches before? I'd be interested to see how they look!

Cheers again, chris

[Mike]

Chris,

I like the idea of arches and I have seen photographs in period of Sebring Sprites modified later in their lives - late 60's/70's - when the fashion and technology favoured wider wheels and tyres. Also, I have always liked the J A Pearce wheels.

I guess my view point is biased by a commercial stance whereby cars fulfilling a recognised Historic criteria generally are worth more and most of that period were pre-flared arches. The comparative values of both my Sebring Sprite replica and 1460cc Mini are less than standard competition cars because of the limited arenas in which you can campaign them but in both those instances I wanted to build two cars that were technically interesting and to suit my criteria.

However, with the high cost of car preparation these days - just look at eBay for ridiculous component prices - unless you have a bottomless pit of money you have to consider the residual value of your vehicle compared to restoration or build cost to minimise your likely loss if you need to sell!!

But, do build it to suit yourself, we all have different opinions.

If I can help with anything you know how to contact me.

Mike

[graeme1293]

A friend who has restored a few of these thought it looked like a Mk2 Sprite(or Mk1 Midget) with Mk3 onwards doors and screen. Was there any names in the log book? No reg number?

There looked to a quite a few used in Modsports. I wonder if any of the 4 works Midgets ended up as Modsports car like a few of the works big Healeys did? If so they would be red and they would be the sidecreen model.

The works Mk2 Midgets are - YRX727, 737 and 747. And YRX723. YRX737 appeared as a Sprite in one rally. Nice thought...

[davidnutland]

Nice thought graham but I believe all are accounted for, this one looks like a 1970's comp car based on a mk2/3 Sprite, the roll cage would have been fround upon in the 80's with the John Alley clamp even in speed events in the south. Perhaps the clue is in the Applejack colour change from red, Applejack being a mid 70's colour. If you have a look at John Baggotts
book Mighty Midget and Special Sprites the large arch look started in approx 1968.

David

[graeme1293]

Heres a photo from CCC mag - some Spridgets that raced in the 1970 Silverstone 6 hr Relay race. The third car from the right has big flares, the right screen and something poking out of the back of the bonnet. Also has a different colour bonnet which suggests it might not be a one piece front.

In the article it said the Modsport Spridget Team was Lynden Thorne, Andy Belcher, John Dale and Charles Ivey.As Jens siad earlier Dale was a Janspeed man and now lives here in NZ. But we don't think you car is his one. I would say his was the 2nd from the right.

It did mention Andy Belchers one was a Sprite.