HAS ANYONE FITTED SEBRING BUCKET SEATS TO A STANDARD-BODIED SPRITE?

Malcolm McCrae is trying to fit a pair to his Sebring XSC 500 and to gain access to the boot area it will be necessary for the seats to tilt forward. They also need to be mounted with a slight backward rake for comfort. Malcolm would welcome suggestions/experiences of this problem please - feedback

DAVE MARRIOTT'S SEBRING FASTBACK MAKES BIG PROGRESS DURING LOCKDOWN.

The body kit has been fitted by Jason Elliott of Halls Garage and they have done a very nice paint job. Now the fun starts!

This photo appeared on Facebook recently, showing HNX 455D when owned by Stan Huntley around 1981 - possibly at Riverside

ANYONE WANT A TATTY SEBRING BONNET? - only hours to go on ebay SOLD for £50

Gary Lazarus recently sent me these two photos of the alloy bodywork which came from Douglas Wilson-Spratt's Sebring DWS 97 and was then fitted on to Peter Skellern's Sprite where it remains. Peter has kindly updated the car's web page.

Mike Authers is now the proud owner of this supercharged Sprite!  It’s been stored, used, stored, used, etc, etc, and has covered a verifiable 15,000 miles from new. It has a Healey hardtop number 19 and one of the original 'Supercharged' bonnet badges.

The Ex-Ian Ashfield Sebring Fastback 5116 HN has recently been sold by Mark Petersen and the new owner is Lawrence Maudsley.

APRIL 1958 FROGEYES
Having recently spoken to the owner of a Sprite with a very early chassis number, JOHN BAGGOTT wonders what other examples built in April 1958 are still out there, either in use or under restoration. Current information he has is as follows:
AN5L 501 Kerry Bennetto Australia
AN5 503 Under restoration UK
AN5L 505 Under restoration USA
AN5 507 Reeves UK
"If you own one of the very early Sprites (built during April 1958) would you kindly get in touch as it would be really good to know just how many survive" Feedback

SVEN'S BEEN OUT PLAYING WITH HIS TOYS!

"I am at the moment building a new shell for one of Bill (McDonough)'s Sprites as well as one for Jochen´s Fastback. Our own (aluminium) Fastback has been painted inside and underneath (and) we are in the process of rivetting the top to the body. Enclosed are some pikkies of my roadworthy cars coming out of the winter hibernation we took two of them for a semi-legal spin in the Alps (Sudelfeld). Cheers from over here and stay healthy. Sven"

ALEX HAZLEWOOD sent in these photos of his A.G.Thorpe front and rear body panels as purchased on ebay and fitted to his car. Unfortunately the original boot lid was missing so he is making a replacement using a 3d printer. Once he has completed a full rebuild he plans to enter the car for hillclimb events. [See also under 'bonnets']

FROM ALAN MEAD IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

Alan is the only supplier of Sebring Fastback bodies in Australia. I asked him how it was going and his reply was:
"I have not made huge progress on some of my own project cars as I have been busy on other cars and  more mundane things such as house renovation, factory extension and rebuilding of the garage at home. I have also been side tracked by  a 1964 Sprite Mk3 I purchased which had a Sebring GT Mk2 front, So I have started to fit a Sebring MK1 fastback roof to the MK3 body ending up with a GT  Hybrid Sebring MK?/Jacobs Midget Style.
The other project getting in the way is car which is a Brickette - an open wheel race car with a Mini Cooper engine and sub frame in the back of a fibreglass body and steel space frame
The Sebring MK1 fastback bodies are currently hanging from the roof waiting to be fitted.
I have also obtained another Alexander alloy crossflow 7 port head and am looking for some rocker gear and rocker coverwhich was not with the head when purchased so if any leads on parts would be appreciated"

Can anyone assist with these two missing items? If so I would be pleased to hear from you via Feedback. Thank you.

KEN GRASING IN THE USA SEEKS ASSISTANCE WITH WIRING A LUCAS RB310 CONTROL BOX

"While at home I’ve been working on the minor bits and pieces for the cars and have found a “new” issue.  I have collected several of the Lucas RB310 Control Boxes, as used on the 1959 Sebring cars and XOH 276, and find I don’t know how to convert from the 5-screw RB106/2 Control Box to the 3-screw RB310.  Do you have any information on this detail?"
If you can help please let me know via Feedback. Thank you.
Ken is also looking for a Girling 1” clutch slave cylinder 64067580.  Anyone have a source for these?

SPOTTED ON EBAY
by Dave Marriott was this b + w photo of 6943 MM, the Speedwell GT now owned by Richard Rooks in the USA. It is shown with amended registration 6943 MH because it was featuring in the film "Watch the Birdie" at the time (1963). A rare find Richard will be bidding for it.

& 2 MORE PHOTOS FROM FACEBOOK

The Sprite team which took part in the 1969 6-hour Relay Race at Silverstone. Left to right: Arthur Appleby (EAC 90C), Dudley Lucas(team manager) - John Harris (LNX629E), and Richard Budd (4 HAC). The team came 4th place overall, and 1st marque team with 3 DHMC built cars. Dudley: "Sadly Arthur died a few days ago, Richard last year and John is confined to his house. I was managing the team that day. Arthur drove EAC, did the first stint and refused to obey the IN signal from the pits until he decided he was low on fuel. Enjoying himself too much. John had the standard bodied car that was driven by Clive Baker af Mugello, among other places".  [With many thanks to Dudley Lucas]
I was interested to learn only last week from Charlie Budd (Richard's son) that 4 HAC bears the chassis no. PR101 which presumably translates as Production Version No.1.

RECENTLY ON FACEBOOK

On the left is the Healey works team at Sebring in 1963: L to R: Mechanics: Roger Menadue with BMC rosette, Colin Groom, drivers Clive Baker, John Colgate and Donald Healey. Colgate/Baker finishing 6th in P3.0 [!] class. It was only in 1965 that smaller classes were added to the Sebring 12 Hours event.
[With thanks to Pieter Bakker and also to the Healey Museum for use of this photo.]

WHY NOT BUILD YOUR OWN SPEEDWELL GT!!!
Just a little one though - from Model Maker & Model Cars 1963
web link

[courtesy of Gary Lazarus]

SEBRING BODY PANELS
I have today (5 April) updated the list of suppliers of Sebring body panels in the UK and Australia on the 'replica' page.

THE STAR SPRITE BONNET (info kindly supplied by Gary Lazarus)

The Starsprite bonnet was produced in the early 1960's by G.A. Glassfibrication Ltd of Leeds in the UK. Clearly a lot of detailed work went into its design and the making of the 'buck', from which the mould was made. I don't recall ever seeing one on the road so suspect the production run was short. The price seems modest at £42 by today's standards but their competitors like Speedwell, Williams & Pritchard and Ashley seem to have faired better in the numbers stakes.

EARLY ASHLEY HARDTOP FOR SALE

Gary Lazyrus has this hardtop for sale - he says it needs "a little bit of fettling", looking for £375.
Contact Gary by email.