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Bill, I presume you have already tried the door key in the trunk? - not sure if they were supposed to be all the same when new, but you can certainly get matched three piece sets now. Also, the BMIHT certificate gives original key numbers if this information is available - I don't know if you could find out before paying up if it is there for your car or not, though. Regards David "David Jacobs" 24428... MORE
Max Well as everyone's corrected my deliberate mistake *s* (gotta give these guys something to do) I can now tell you a little more about your MkIII Sprite. The main changes from the previous versions were, a new windscreen assembly, quarterlights, and as everyone's pointed out, wind up windows, exterior door handles and locks. It lost door pockets but gained a parcel shelf. A new dashboard and instrumentation was introduced, and a new hood clipping onto the windscreen frame top. The other major change was the change to the rear suspension from quarter to semi-elliptic rear springs. Produced from... MORE
On the Mk2 Midget (Mk3 Sprite) with the 1098 engine and the D I Y hood kit, the ignition and the boot key were definitely different key patterns, with different keys. That is how they left the factory. R "Roger Stinson" 24419... MORE
Thanks Guys! The reason I am asking is my Mk3 Sprite (on my V5) is registered in 64 and has removable hood and wind-up windows. I was trying to work out the time period these Sprites were made and in what quantities. Cheers Max "MG_Max" 24418... MORE
My book says- March 1964 A-H Sprite MK III #H-An8 38829 to H-AN8 64755 Doors substantially altered. Wind-up windows instead of sidescreens....External door handles and door locks now fitted....etc. March 1964; M.G, Midget MK II G-AN3 25788 to 52411 Identical to contempory Sprite except price was 20 lbs mor in U.K. and $170 in USA. *Guide to Purchase & D.I.Y. Restoration of the MG Midget & Austine- Healey Sprite by Lindsay Porter. Bob, Troutdale, OR USA "Robert Webb" 24417... MORE
Max Heres the List - Austin Healey Sprite MkI (Frogeye/Bugeye) (Mar 58-Dec 1960) (948cc engine) Austin Healey Sprite MkII and MG Midget MkI (Feb 1961-Jan 64) (948cc engine, 1098 from 1963) [Sidescreens, fixed/removable hood] Austin Healey Sprite MKIII and MG Midget MkII (Jan 1964-Sept 66) (1098cc engine) [Sidescreens and fixed/removable hood] Austin Healey Sprite MKIV and MG Midget MKIII (Oct 66-Aug 69) (1275cc Engine) [Wind up windows, folding hood and reclining seats] Austin Healey Sprite MKIV and MG Midget MKIII (Oct 69-Oct 1974) (1275cc Engine) [Wind up windows, folding hood and reclining seats] Facelifted version with thinner front bumpers,... MORE
I checked this morning and the ignition tumbler has a different end piece on it than the trunk one so it will not work. Strange but I tried my 73 trunk key in the 69 lock that I do not have a key for and with a little wiggling it worked, pure chance I suspect. Don "Don May" 24432... MORE
That's is what I pay. I supply the frame, dismantled, cleaned, polished, protected, with new fitting screws and new rubber seal. I get it back with new glass, fitted and assembled. its for a '71 Sprite. "Guy Weller" 24405... MORE
The meaning of life still eludes me however . . . I am wondering if the tumbler sold by Moss for the earlier MKII (midget MKI) dash ignition will fit the trunk handle as I suspect the same tumblers were used on the ignition and the trunk lock and the trunk lock remains the same for later models. I have bought one from Moss for a Midget MKI ignition and it only costs $8.00 and comes with two keys. I have a 69 Midget (sort of for now parts car, sorry it is also missing the trunk key) but... MORE
It took me 14 months after I bought my Bugeye, BUT, the P.O. had stripped and primed the car, had the engine, transmission, and rear end rebuilt. All I had to do was paint, find seats, (recover) and totaly assemble the car. Bob. Troutdale, OR USA "Robert Webb" 24401... MORE
I don't know about Kurust. Phosphoric acid will simply dissolve the rust - not much color except the liquid will be light green. After the phosphoric is rinsed off with clear water there will be a gray/brown film of iron phosphate left behind. That's a perfect paint base, don't sand it off. Prime it soon, preferably within hours, certainly within days. If phosphoric acid is unavailable to you, use Naval Jelly. It's phosphoric acid with a thickening agent. The pink color is just cosmetics. "Jeffrey Holmes" 24397... MORE
Chris It really does depend on what you're going to do and the standard of finish you want. Without knowing these things it's kinda hard to estimate a time frame. I thnk I read somewhere that for a ground up, nut and bolt rebuild you're looking at about 2,000 hours which is about 5 years worth part time. It's a balance between what you do yourself and what you farm out, but 2 1/2 years does seem a little optimistic to me. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 24387... MORE
G'day Adam, Nigel, Robert, Cap'n Bob et al The car in the photo, 7522N, is mine - the Fright. Bugeye tub, but now with 4.3 lt E-type running gear, except rear suspension which is Lotus 16 trailing arms and Chapman struts. Also Mk III doors and screen. 13" magnesium Minilites at the front and 15" at the rear. That's me in a khana. No problem getting around the flags with as much power oversteer as you like to dial in with the right foot. Look at the rear right tyre profile and compare the "bag" at the top and... MORE
LOL, Colin..."I knew that"! :) You're gonna say, "Yeh,....sure, right!" but I knew this was the Fright...I'd know the knockoffs and "flare" treatment anywhere! This car has a special place in my tiny brain 'cause I was going to graft a bugeye glass rear clip on my '67 which came with a BE bonnet and the Fright had appeared in Classic Sports Cars (I think I have the title right?) and was to be the "example" of what I was planning before my '67 met it's demise. The Fright has got to be a riot to drive, for sure!... MORE
Chris, Been there, I replaced the floor pans, trunk floor inner and outer rockers, kick plates, inner and outer quarters, inner fronts etc. rebuilt the 1098, front end, brakes, steering. Took 5 years. Hope you can make your 2 1/2. Pics available Bob 60 AN5 Tampa MTGBRKR1@... 24384... MORE
Well I've gone and done it..the '60 is coming apart. Engine and trans are out in preparation of a complete refurb. At the very least this will include new inner and outer sills, maybe floors and possibly rear spring boxes. Paint will be redone and interior gone thru. I have a 1275 and ribcase waiting to be rebuilt and installed, along with Weber sidedraft etc. I am seeking suggestions on cams, porting and header. This will be a "quick" street car, neither a daily driver nor a "road racer." Any advice will be appreciated. At this point my proposed... MORE
Hi You can do it yourself, but it can be a pretty tricky job to do. First thing to watch out for is in the dismantling process, a lot of the brackets that hold the windscreen together have seized screws, if you damage them, or split the heads you've got a problem. Assuming you successfully dismantle the frame assembly the resassembly process is as follows - 1 Mount glass into new rubber beading surround. 2 Use vaseline or soap or washing up liquid to fit the glass and beading into the frame and fit side pieces. 3 Get some... MORE
I have a nasty crack in the windsheild of my '76 midget. One shop in town would be happy to replace the glass...for $600. The competing shop has a much more reasonable price quote, but they dont stock clear glass, and would have to put a piece with a slight green tint in. From the workshop manual, it doesnt look like a terribly difficult job, but the book doesnt give many details beyond the removal and refit of the entire frame. Is it a job I can do with my fair technical knowledge and a few extra hands? Is... MORE
Don, The boot or engine compartment is usually the giveaway. Check under the tail lights or other corner lights. Maybe it's just a fender that was repaired at some point. Gerard "gerardchateau" 24365... MORE
C'mon Robert, that's a Sprite with a GRP Sebring bonnet.. Tub is a MKIII/IV (rollup windows)with a Bugeye rear clip This is Colin's Jag powered "Fright". Many pix and the story on my site. under unique Spridgets. Your link is Mike Gigante's site. Gerard "gerardchateau" 24364... MORE
Thanks Nigel, I am almost certain that the original color is Black Tulip, however there are a few strange areas that cast some doubt. The space between the dash top and windshield, (windscreen)is a silver primer color. I have never seen this before. I have seen cheap paint jobs where it was left in the previous color. And there is none of the sloppy edges around any of the trim one finds when something has been masked off. All the far recesses in the trunk and underneath the car are Black Tulip. Then, when I removed one of the... MORE
Is there a code number on any of the body id tags that designate the factory paint color? Don "Don May" 24359... MORE
Adam This really isn't an easy question to answer, which is why I suspect you haven't had many replies! I read this last night and I've been pondering it ever since! The first thing I think you need to do, is really decide what it is you wan =3D=0D t, and what your priorities are because many of your requirements seem to conflict =3D=0D with each other. To be honest, I think you need to forget about Frogeyes, they just are not =3D=0D within your budget of =A33,000, you can get Frogeyes for that money, but yo u'=3D=0D re... MORE
The packing is to ensure that the rack and the column meet at an accurate 90 degrees. So the packing piece could go on either side to ensure this, depending on where it is needed.. I don't think it relates to the year of manufacturer, but is just to adjust for "manufacturing tollerances" in the assembly of the front chassis rails and cross member. Assemble the shaft to the rack pinion, with the rack bolted loosly in position to the frame. Fix the steering shaft upper clamp bolts; spin the wheel left and right to get it "comrfortably aligned"... MORE
Hi again: Thanks to all those that helped answer some questions I had about the carpet, that was most useful. I found that I have snaps on the footwell carpet and the trans tunnel. Question: The rear wheel arch cover pieces seem to have a small vinyl pad sewn into them. I assume this is a wear pad for the top frame? Or could I have placed this piece in the wrong spot??? They sure seem to belong there. Can someone tell me if there is a vinyl pad on theirs? Thanks Rio "Rio Rafael" 24319... MORE
