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Both my certificates came with an exact date (maybe it is different for exported cars) although the 66 Sprite was down as an MKIV (not MK III as it should have been) when I phoned them a corrected certificate arrived in a couple of days. Both my Sprites were listed as having red interior trim when built but both had black when I got them. According to Horler red and black were options for the body colours but I find it hard to believe that coincidentally both cars had owners who decided to go to the trouble and expense... MORE
Ian, As far as I am aware no Sprite or Midget was originally built with either an overdrive unit or for that matter anything other than a 4 speed box. However quite a few people have converted their cars to the Spit**** (we don't like using words like these in polite company!) overdrive box, myself included, or more numerously a five speed box from a suitable Ford or Toyota rwd vehicle. Geri 67 Sprite Mk IV (with seven on the floor) "Geri Swann-Price" 28505... MORE
Gee Nigel, I don't know whether you mean to be or not, but you really can be terribly offensive sometimes! To address your specific "you're wrong" comments: I have a BMIHT Certificate for HAN9/85286 (we paid for it) stating this car was built in October 1969. Ditto, a BMIHT Certificate stating that the first Austin Sprite, HAN10/85287, was also built in October 1969. Perhaps you have a better source of information than the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust? If so, please share it with us. Please re-read my email - I said "Now if they built the same number... MORE
G'day Alan (and Nigel) As Registrar of the Sprite Car Club of Australia, I am custodian to all our production records. I can tell you that the last Austin Healey Sprite produced was HAN9/85286, build in October 1969. The exact date was not recorded by the factory. HAN9U/84968 is 318 cars short of that last one. There were 20,552 Mk IV Sprites built between October 1966 and October 1969, an average of 18.77 per day. So on average, that's 17 days of production. "Your" car would have been built late September or early October 1969. The first Mk IV... MORE
Hi listers. First the question: I see that there are seperate part numbers for the front and rear sump/pan seals (those cork strips). I just got a Payen lower engine gasket kit and both strips looked the same to me. It didn't occur to me that they were supposed to be different so I didn't inspect too close and put them in randomly. Both protruded at least a 1/4" (probably more) at both ends when put in their sump grooves. Should the excess be cut off? If so how much? Or are they just supposed to compress? Now the... MORE
Alan You've decoded it correctly, but having the VIN number alone will not tell you the date it was built, you need a book with a Production Dating chart in it. The body numbers are largely irrelevant, its the VIN number that holds the information. Vehicle # H-AN9U-84968 G was built around August 1969. Vehicle #H-AN9L-66861 was built between January and March 1967. And is a very early MKIV Sprite, the first H-AN9 numbers commenced at Oct 66 with H-AN9 -64735. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 28454... MORE
Over the years during many moves I lost all the my photos of my 60 bugeye and 63 MK II, however I just found one surviving partial photo of my MK II which I bought brand new. Photo taken Feb.1964. I have posted it in the group photo album (Don May) Sorry only 3/4 of a MK II in its new original shape. With white walls. I bought the car new so is must have come with them, or something the dealer put on. I do not recall special ordering them. Wish I had more photos of my cars... MORE
Can anyone please tell me for sure if a 1970/71 Sprite Hardtop will fit a 1970 Mg Midget? Are the fixings the same etc. Many thanks "smeggy_smeg" 28403... MORE
While thumbing through the "Original Sprite & Midget" book I checked on the GAN number of what is registered as my 73, which I assumed it was. Turns out it was built in Sept. 1972, in fact I also discovered 9/72 clearly marked on the ID tag. I suppose it is correct to now say I have a 72 RWA model regardless of what the state of California has it listed as. Don 72 Midget 74 Midget "Don May" 28420... MORE
Alan I can't give you a source for fibreglass frogeye rear ends, because I simpl =3D=0D y do not know of any company who makes them, although there are probably plenty about. I do know however that Paul Banham makes a 'Frogeye' replica kit, which is =3D=0D based on a mini 'donor' car and that the Frogeye outer fibreglass panels ar =3D=0D e exactly the same dimensions as the original Frogeye. It may be worth contacting them and asking them if they would be willing to sell the Frogey =3D=0D e rear end separately and if so what the... MORE
Don Thats the 'bible' you've probably heard many of us referring to from time to time, and yes it's probably the most useful reference book you can get for Spridgets. For those of you who don't know Terry Horler is the 'archivist' for the Sprite and Midget Club. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 28376... MORE
Hi guys As I mentioned in my last post about the Sebring Sprite Conversion, I'd upload some photo's of the car a guy restored, putting a fibreglass rear end on a 1973 Midget whilst retaining the Midget front end. This story was related in the June 1992 issue of Popular Classics Magazine. I've also uploaded a picture of the 'factory' prototype Mk II Sprite as shown on page 64 of Geoffrey Healeys book - 'More Healeys, Frogeye Sprites and Midgets', that the guy above used as inspiration. These photo's are viewable on the yahoo website, under photo's and in... MORE
Guy Yes I did know of it, but couldn't remember the name of it, all I could remember is that its got a red cover with a couple of yucky pics on it! I've seen a couple go through ebay.co.uk, but they've always gone for more than I was willing to pay (which wasn't a lot!) and from what I can tell it is one mans story of his Midget restoration. Thankfully David was able to tell us the name of the book. As I've mentioned on here many time before, by far the best book I think I've... MORE
Just received a new book I ordered from Amazon. Great detailed color photos of year by year model changes, trim and interior changes and such on all Sprites and Midgets including Innocenti. Good price at Amazon $17.47 I think a good reference source and coffee table book. Love those color photos. Original Sprite & Midget The Restorer's Guide by Terry Horler Photography by John Colley. Don "Don May" 28372... MORE
Alan Well, you reply to my original reply, you make no mention of me in your rep =3D=0D ly, and you ask virtually the same question in your reply as I answered in my reply - I will therefore refrain from making any comment on your eyesight. It's not that difficult to replace the rear end of a Spridget with the rear =3D=0D end of a Frogeye if you do it with a one piece fibreglass rear, although as there' =3D=0D s no boot opening - it means having to crawl into the tiny opening from the cock =3D=0D... MORE
"Magnet rotates on shaft" To Geoff on autox. list: I will tell you...this is one I have not run into myself. The one I've got fits snugly... always did. So I've no clue. Methinks a phone call to PerTronix Tech. may be in order here unless some other listers know about this...maybe Rex or Colin on the Bugeye List?..... .....Guys...we've got a PerTronix wherein the "magnet" does not fit snugly on the dis shaft...seems it's free to rotate a couple of degrees (not the dist. shaft, itself) either way. Is this "proper" or "acceptable"? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@...... MORE
I believe that what you are looking at is a Bugeye chassis fitted with an original Sebring nose and a Speedwell hard top that was sold in the sixties. If you look close you can see the speedwell bonnet badge installed on the front. The speedwell nose featured a raked back windshield that was moulded into the front cowl. It looked like it was removable from the rear but in reality it wasn't. The racked back windshield allowed the little thing to reach a higher top speed.I have been looking for one of these for years to replicate but... MORE
For anyone interested, item # 2454801444 on E-Bay is a fiberglass hardtop located in Colorado. The info plate in the picture says Custom Hardtops in Long Beach CA made it. No financial interest here. Steve Quandt Steve Quandt 28351... MORE
Frank Clarici Toms River, NJ Back up to too many sprites again. http://www.exit109.com/~spritenut/ Frank Clarici 28345... MORE
Alan Hi and welcome to the list. You've got a couple of problems here, and as I don't know how much you know about Sprites and Midgets I'll try and explain as best I can. Now I may be wrong here, and I'm sure someone will correct me if I am, but =3D=0D the Red Sprite in the Sebring pictures look like its had a front Sebring Bo =3D=0D nnet fitted and a rear fibreglass Coup=E9 fitted. The Silver Sprite in the other p=3D=0D ictures, the one you prefer is in fact a Standard Frogeye Sprite with a Sebring... MORE
Listers I'm looking for a source of stainless pan head upholstery screws. I guess pan head would be the term as the screw I'm looking for is a pan head type sheet metal screw with the "finishing" washer attached to the screw. ( make sense?) Any suggestions/ (I've already tried a local marine shop). Larry Pitts 60 Bugeye 76 MGB (with new front bushings and tie rod ends- interesting project-nice ride) Larry Pitts 28338... MORE
Alan, That appears to be a bugeye rear. As far as I know, and others will undobtedly chime in here, the only way to achieve that on your 73 is to convert to a bugeye tub, or use a rear clip from one. The top in those pics look a lot like an original bugeye hard top. These are sometimes available on ebay, or sometimes a lister runs across one. The nose is available in the US. Frank Clarici of the spridgets@... ,net list has one, although his does not have the grill that shows on your picture. Good... MORE
My '65 Riviera blue Midget has an original white removable hardtop which seals out the weather just fine - and it is quiet. I love the hard top and I do use it a lot here in Pennsylvania when the weather isn't so nice. Warning - they aren't light (the original ones at least.) When it's off the car it is very easy to carry around by yourself but you can't reach far enough over the car from any direction to be able to simply lift it on or off by yourself - it isn't a one man job... MORE
ALBERT? WTF is Albert? That's no name for a car, and in case you're wondering - old cars are female! They have to be as they consume so much money, never start when you want them to are tempermental and always needs attention to their bodywork! And as you don't return my emails - how is (ugh I can hardly say it) Albert? and did you get the windscreen washer working? N "amukdigiphoto" 28313... MORE
Nigel, Well I lied! The garage ( I built it when we first moved here) is 9' 4", interior, but has a 22" workbench down one side which reduces the available floor space to 7' 6". That was the maximum width garage I could get between the house and our neighbour's wall, whilst retaining a "back passage" (excuse the phrase!) footpath to get to the back garden. Americans are right you know ... "Little old England" (with acent) says it all! When I was rebuilding my Sprite I stripped back to a bare shell and stored all the bits... MORE
