News ~ 2023

SOME PICS OF BOB HEPPELL'S COUPE ~ LAST OF THE ARCHER CARS

SEBRING SPRITE RECORDS UP-DATE

I am endeavouring to bring up to date my records of the Sebring Replica cars as well as the much earlier group of original cars. In doing so I have been in touch with Andrew Musgrave who has one of the first Coupe kits suppled by Andrew Forster through Aldon Automotive. The car (left) will bear the registration WET 465 and is due to be painted shortly though Andrew is still undecided about his choice of colour scheme..

Please get in touch if you own a Sebring Sprite and the records on the website are of date.
Just go to Feedback and send me an email. Many thanks.

COPIES OF JOHN SPRINZEL'S LAST BOOK NOW AVAILABLE AGAIN

Tom Coulthard apologises that John's book "LUCKY JOHN" hasn't been available for some time due to illness. But copies from the original print run (with signature plate individually signed by John) can be obtained again, now at the reduced price of £30 including UK postage. Just go to coulthardpress@btinternet.com and pay using PayPal, provide your full name and address and a copy will wing its way to you.
Available in the UK ONLY.
Also see "Books & Regalia" for more info.

Phil Gardner's Sebring Fastback and Ashley GT Hill-climb/Sprint cars

 Phil Gardner: "I completed my build in the Autumn of 2017 and used the car for two seasons with Healeysport, with a modicum of success. I put hours of work into the Sebring and I will hate to part with it!! I built the Sebring to replicate the Peter Clarke “Peel” bodied JT 51. The car is built onto a 1959 Frogeye shell, a car that I had owned for quite a while prior to my decision to build a Sebring. It was built as a fast road car but with the intention of perhaps trying a hill-climb or two!!  The car is now purely used on the road and I have had to change some of the setup to make it friendlier to drive on the roads. It has a 1310cc engine with Omega cast pistons on a standard crankshaft, a Piper BP285 camshaft and 1.3” roller rockers on a stage three big valve head. It runs twin 1.5” HS4 carbs and a Maniflow inlet and exhaust system. Once run in it was put on the rolling road and had 101bhp at the flywheel. The flywheel and clutch are 7.5” MED lightened and balanced. The front suspension remains modified to 400lb springs, 25% uprated shock absorbers, adjustable top trunnions, with the Peter May top arm kit. The roll bar is 11/16th. The rear suspension has been returned to road specification as it was too soft for the road. The car has front disc brakes and Riley rear drums as per the original cars. It also has a Sebring type pedal box and master cylinder setup. I used to run with either a 4.2 or 4.5LSD Diff, but it now has a 3.9. The car has a full roll cage and was originally fitted with Cobra Classic one piece seats. Currently I am changing these back to standard Frogeye seats but with the exact colour match.During lockdown I decided to build another Hill-climb car, this time for competition use only and with significantly more power. This car is Ashley based and runs a 1380cc engine with multi-webbed Steel crankshaft, forged Omega pistons, Arrow rods and Weber power 45DCOE. An altogether different beast!! I have had two good seasons with it. 

Another Sebring Fastback on the road - shortly

COPIES OF JOHN SPRINZEL'S LAST BOOK NOW AVAILABLE AGAIN

Tom Coulthard apologises that John's book "LUCKY JOHN" hasn't been available for some time due to illness. But copies from the original print run (with signature plate individually signed by John) can be obtained again, now at the reduced price of £30 including UK postage. Just go to coulthardpress@btinternet.com and pay using PayPal, provide your full name and address and a copy will wing its way to you.
Available in the UK ONLY.
Also see "Books & Regalia" for more info.

Riley 1.5 for sale on ebay

Just in case anyone feels keen enough to secure some Girling rear brakes for their Sebring this Riley would offer the necessary parts. At £400 it;s probably a bit pricey unless you can sell off other spares to Riley enthusiasts. Ebay No.186161995956 NOW SOLD 19 Nov 23

The Story behind Stephen Casson's Championship (Class) Winning Lenham GTO

"I bought the car off David (Scothorn) in November 2021, - he had had it in storage since he bought it in 2011.  The car had an original Lenham GTO rear end (one of 4 originals according to Sean Rainford), but an AG Thorpe front which was in very poor condition and 2 Magnesium Minilite wheels (alas in too poor a condition to use).  The car was much modified to accept a MGA engine and MGB gearbox with alterations to the chassis, and bulkhead as well as the removal of much of the transmission tunnel.  The chassis was, in the main, good with only minor rusting to the nearside.
To run in HealeySport, the car had to be restored to original and (parts of) the chassis were replaced along with the transmission tunnel.  A new Lenham front was purchased from Sean who has all the original Lenham moulds.  A full race 1330 series A engine along with a Dog Box was fitted.  The suspension remains standard in the main, just uprated within the regs.  A full welded in cage was fitted by GC Fabrication of Ipswich (highly recommended).  Brakes are uprated as allowed by the regs.  I carried out most of the work myself including spraying the car! It took 18 months from start to finish and I tried to do something everyday!  Took 5kg of underseal off the bottom of the car filling a Sainsbury’s carrier bag! Haha. 
The car has had a few teething problems this season, mainly due to the rear suspension set-up.  With much help from Peter May Engineering, the car is now running well and with a lot of help from the weather and the racing gods, managed to retain the Class Championship in the HealeySport Sprint and Hill Climb Championship".

A Virtually New Sebring Coupe replica for sale

Very Rare Aluminium Speedwell Monza Bonnet NOW SOLD

Jonas Lindquist has decided to sell this very rare item (I believe only 6 were made).

"The bonnet was damaged in a collision in the late sixties, the front part was roughly straightened, cracks repaired with aluminium strips and pop rivets and filler was applied to make the bonnet-shape look good again. The bonnet was used in this condition for several years until I bought it. I have removed the filler and my plan was to TIG-weld the cracks and then to let a skilled sheet-metal guy do the proper straightening and repair of the bonnet. I have now decided to use my GRP Speedwell bonnet instead and now the aluminium bonnet is up for sale. I’m sure most of us know how very rare these aluminium bonnets are! This item is not cheap but since it needs repair (or filler…) I will happily discuss the price with anyone who is seriously interested. The bonnet is currently in Sigtuna, Sweden."

Sebring Sprite 1/32 scale slot cars/models

He was looking for a Midget to do a little motorsport with. It appealed because it is a bit different, and slightly lighter than a standard Midget and already had a rollbar, Type 9 gearbox and LSD fitted. Since purchase he has had the engine rebuilt to 1380 cc by Oselli, running a fast road/race cam, Weber 40DCOE and tubular manifold. He has also installed a competition clutch and adjustable suspension (Frontline front and Spax rear).

News from Australia as Bob Blayden adds an A40 to his stable

He says: "We enjoyed a weekend run to Rylstone, 3 hours west from home, about a month ago. The A40 managed the 500km round trip without any mechanical issues although we did have a flat tyre. There was a good variety of cars among the 200 entries, mostly Minis but also an Austin Lancer, a Bugeye and other British marques.
I’m off to Sydney tomorrow in the A40 for an all-British car display at The Kings School, a prestigious private school with magnificent grounds for such an event". 15.9.23

1961/62 Sebring Sprite Hillclimb/Sprint car built for the Austin- Healey or MG Speed Championship, Fully road legal, only 4 or 5 events from a fresh build. Specification 1380cc Brett Sims engine full race, Omega pistons H beam rods, MED flywheel/clutch with roller bearing thrust, Straight cut gearbox and LSD by Hardy Engineering 4.5 final drive. Suspension modifications by PME and Frontline, uprated front shocks AVO telescopic adjustable rear shocks, body from Archers, Safety Devises rear cage, TRS 3" belts, Maniflow oversized LCB with custom reverse megaphone exhaust system, prototype Longman inlet manifolds with twin HS6 Su, 2 Gallon Alloy fuel cell Facet pump and Mangoletsi fuel filter and pressure regulator. Powerlite starter and Oddessey gel battery. Six Minilight style wheels with Toyo tyres. KAD 4 pot calipers braided hoses. £24,500 ono.
Location: Christchuch Dorset. Contact: David Nutland
01202 474890 or email

(archive photo)

THIS HISTORIC SPEEDWELL GT
originally owned by Danny Margulies and one of only 8 or 9 survivors, is looking for a new home. Current owner Emilio Cruz is hoping that it will go to another enthusiast like himself.
Asking price is US$ 70,000
Please email Emilio Cruz in Mexico if interested.

(archive photo)

Mike Wood tells me Oldtimergalerie Rosenau
is offering the ex-Ian Walker, ex Stephen Bowen
race car for sale
at an asking price of £103,304
see: their website

1965 MG Midget ‘6 GRX’ For Sale
Ex-works racing car built by the Competitions Dept
Raced at Bridgehampton USA in 1965 by Rauno Aaltonen.
Offered for sale from the Dave Saunders Collection
at an asking price of £95,000
See more on www.classicmotorhub.com

Alistair Ross's Speedwell GT now ready for the road again

Formerly registered 5447 HX this fine example of the Speedwell GT is now nearing completion. Alistair: "The GT is done and has been finished for some time, I have been snagging it but so far have found nothing too bad. I have fitted a Weber carb that came with the car, this being my first Weber its been fun getting it on song. I was concerned that the cooling might give trouble but its been fine. So far so good. - attached are some pictures of the car".

The Brabham Midget 751 VPF restored by David Bruzas
was sold at Bonhams Goodwood Revival auction
for £18,400 inc premium.
(photo: Bonhams)

 

Can anyone tell us more about the history of this original Sebring Coupe lost in an accident back in the 1970's ? 9 CKT with opening bootlid!

Adam Bettinson tells me: "My father - Dave - owned this for a few years. He remembers it as '1 of 9' produced and that it was a special car. Bought it second hand, toured Europe (including having it shipped home when the head cracked in Southern Spain) and drove it at Zandvoort circuit for fun. Sadly his enthusiasm got the better of him and the car was written off in a road traffic accident in Kent. Happy to share more about what my Dad remembers but curious if you can shed any knowledge on the car?

Another standard-bodied Sebring Sprite emerges in the USA

Reid Bertolotti in California has finally achieved
his long-held ambition to own a genuine Sebring Sprite. Read its history here.

Sebring Replica for sale in the USA

Phil Zamlynski has decided it is time to part with his much-loved Sebring Rep.
He is looking for $27,750 US and can be contacted on (00)+1-269-941-3620
or by email
The full specification of the car can be read here.

EHM Norge uppskjutet 2023 (6th European Healey Meeting in Geiranger,Norway)
12th to 16th June 2023

Both Ken Grasing and Sven Eckhardt took their Sprites to this international event back in the summer

Sven with John Chatham

John Chatham and son

Above: photos of 7140 RO Speedwell GT newly restored by Sven Eckhardt.

KEN GRASING reports: " Yes, we’ll send pictures.  We don’t have so many photos of the Healey’s, but quite a few of the truly amazing roads.  In and out of Geiranger by either road required traverse of quite steep terrain,  including a nice series of linked switchbacks.  Sven had a good time running up and down the grades in the Speedwell GT!  The actual altitude gain/loss from sea level to highest point was only 1500meter +/-, but the gradient was quite severe, running marked 8,9 and 10% grades.  Many on the scenic sections on the higher sectors were 1 or 1-1/2 width tracks in alpine or semi arctic environments or climes, again spectacular.  
John Chatham attended, with son, as did Bill Rawles.  Clive Baker, Peter Healey et al made up conference forum one day.  One of the big Healey’s in our USA group had a coil failure descending the steeper sections of the Trollstigen and was quite happy to have Bill Rawles assist in getting the car back on the road.  The driver is now adamant the car has never run better!"

AND FROM SVEN ECKHARDT whose photos are above: "Some footage of the Norwegian Meeting.
Some minor teething problems - other than that RO got me around as well as home. Yes it is John Chatham. Sprite folklore has it that Bill Graham beat him to pole position at Silverstone I think in 1965 driving RO. John beat him in the race because the engine went off song after 3 or 4 rounds. So it say in John Baggots' book and so Bill Graham told me".

Ding Boston drives the OUMF Sebring to a CLASS WIN at Brands Hatch

They call their car ‘Little BeWT’ and it was out on track for its debut at Brands Hatch earlier this month at the Festival Italia in the combined HRDC ‘Allstars’ and ‘Alfa Challenge’ race. It qualified 13th in a full grid of 34, and then in the race climbed through the pack and the slick shod 70’s and 80’s Alfas (GTV, Sud, Alfetta, GTV6, etc.,) to take the flag with a Class win and 6th Overall, on historic Dunlop L’s. A great race and all a bit of a pleasant surprise to everyone! And no scratches!! BRAVO!! [Photos courtesy of Tom Reid]

After nearly 12 months of trying to sort out the Contact/Feedback form for this website it is now up and running once more. I am now able to receive your messages and make all necessary amendments to the site. Thank you for your forbearence. Go to Feedback

The 36th running of the Steve Everitt Memorial Race:

Steve Watkins (r) receives the trophy from Dave Woodgate while Challenge co-ordinator Mike Parker looks on.

~ took place at Brands Hatch earlier this month and saw Steve Watkins, one of Steve (Everitt)'s old adversaries take home the coveted trophy. At the awards ceremony, he received the trophy from Everitt's former race mechanic Dave Woodgate. Watkins pointed out that he won it in the same car he used to race against Steve way back and it was the first time he has won the trophy. The race was the first round of the
2023 Lackford Engineering Midget & Sprite Challenge.

Rod Graham’s Sebring Sprite, displaying  the “Sebring Sprite Memorial – Brian Archer Trophy” shield  for 2022, on its roof. Having received the award from Ding Boston, of OUMF – the previous year’s winner.

Ding Boston (right) handing over the trophy to Rod Graham (left).

SEBRING SPRITE PARTS FOR SALE

“Andrew Burroughs is disposing of a number of items which include those listed below:
To enquire please ring him on 07957 245056.”

VERY RARE WARWICK MK.2 HARDTOP

In very good condition apart from missing one piece of trim and requiring a small repair in one ares where it sits on the top of the windscreen. Otherwise it is unusually complete, including the fittings. £900

Smooth-case Gearbox

This is the correct gearbox for the 948cc cars. Checked and looks to be in good working order although I have no experience of running it in a car. £100 (buyer collects).

1275 Ribbed-case Gearbox

Correct late gearbox with 12G229 input shaft. In very good condition having been stripped and rebuilt.
£285. (buyer collects)

Rear Axle

Complete with 4.2:1 differential, later double acting rear backplates and new brakes.
The casing is particularly sound with good metal
£150. Collected

 

1275 Engine

 

Approximately 80% complete engine with standard bore block and standard journal crank, rods, 12g940 head with valves. It requires new pistons, rings, bearings, seals and gaskets, etc, plus some other items all freely available.
£675. Collection

Approximately 70% complete and includes standard bore block, standard journal crank, rods, backplate, flywheel, front plate and timing case cover. It requires pistons, rings, bearings, seals and gaskets plus other parts mostly available, and a cylinder head.
£525. Collection

A pair of Mk1/Mk2 seats for rebuild

The seat frames (correct left and right hand) are good and so are both the steel backs. The seat bases are brand new.
These seats will need re trimming to suit the year of choice. The type C seat backs as shown are not worth saving.
£450 the pair. Collection

Andrew also still has a good 3.7:1 diff and a good 3.9:1 diff, both at £290 collected.

Greetings and wishing you all a Happy New Year. I am hoping that by the time you read this I may have sorted the Feedback system so I can hear from you once again. In the meantime I have added some 'new' stuff which dates back to October/November last. Happy Spriting when the sun comes out.

"The Sebring Sprite Memorial Cup" or "Brian Archer Trophy"

For 2022 the trophy has been awarded to Rod Graham who now owns the ex-Ian Ashfield Sebring Fastback 5116 HN

Click for Rod's article

Rod told me "I am very proud of the car which not only “goes” but looks beautiful. I am attaching a copy of the article (left) I wrote about 5116HN, for “Headlines from Healey” magazine that it appeared in. [Rod is going to collect the trophy from last year's winners OUMF] By complete coincidence I, along with two other Witney friends, met with Ding and six of his Oxford University Motorsports Foundation (OUMF) students yesterday. We have donated some Sprite parts, including an engine of mine (for rebuild) and a gearbox - which I was given by Lyn Garton (Mike Garton’s widow). A friend and I had helped her to get started on sorting Mike’s garage after he died and she wanted us to have some of the parts – either for us to use or for us to make sure were used by someone else – so we were able to complete the circle - and OUMF have a current project in need of both of these. Attached is a photograph, which I took yesterday of Ding (left) with his students and my friend David (middle), in the garage, after loading up the OUMF van. We are going to go over to the OUMF premises, in our classics, at some stage, to compare. I’d love to get a pic of his and mine next to each other, with the Trophy".

You may like to view this
Video of 776 KNX out on test

Thanks to Dave Matthews for the link.

Peter Richings retires from racing after 51 continuous years

James Thacker reports: "Pete's wife Joy took this photo and called it 'TheThree Wise Men' - Robert Nettleton, James Thacker and Andrew Bailey, who managed to make it to Donington Park on 29th October for Pete's final race. An alternative title might be 'Last of the Summer wine'. All were originally drivers of Mk 1 Sprites, by coincidence." 

Peter Richings had, in 1971,  just left Loughborough University where he studied engineering and he started racing an ex- Peter Felix green Midget with his Dad helping him in the early days. He raced this for about four years on his own and then shared it with Mike Donovan for three years. Peter somehow managed to be a race reporter for Autosport as well as taking part in the meetings he was writing about. They changed the car into the white Heatherbourne Midget  [named after their  sponsors, a plastics company]  which in its  day was a state of the art racing Midget with its rear radiator and 1500 style Midget front made of fibreglass and 1460cc long stroke engine. and coil sprung back end etc. See photo in John Baggot's book Mighty Midgets and Special Sprites, page 139. They won a lot in Modsports in the quite new up to 1500cc class with some close races with friendly rival, Keith Ashby,  in his more conventional but well developed car. Peter and Mike then sold the car to Andrew Shilstone and eventually it was owned by Gill Duffy for a short while when I think his brother drove it a little and from memory it was red. Peter and Mike Donovan, both ex-Austin Longbridge and  Rover Solihull, shared a Mallock clubmans car in 1979 then had one each until then sharing a Class B F3 Ralt for a couple of years. Donovan retired for some while from racing now working in the USA  for Marconi and Peter went back to the Clubmans formula and being pretty successful too. He engineered the change from the Kent engine to the Rover 16 valve twin cam K series engine. Peter moved to JLR and was a Chassis Director amongst other later roles including being in charge of track testing facilities worldwide including the Nordschleife. Peter had his last circult race at Donington on 29th October afer 51 continuous years. He will compete in the standard class in his Yaris GR car [250bhp four wheel drive] and also do track days and instruct for JLR on their off road experience courses at Solihull and Eastnor Castle etc and to track days with his wife in the Yaris and her MG ZR.

By coincidence if you turn over a page (in John Baggott's book) on p 141 is a photo of Andrew Bailey in his Mk 1 Sprite 1897 VX.  Andrew is one of the three in the photo. His car was completely engineered by him [he was a refrigeration engineer]   including the engine/head and in line 1071 short stroke engine. Andrew raced for a relatively short period from 1972 to 1978 but was arguably the quickest of the up to 1150 cc Sprite drivers and most others too. For example , he beat Malcolm Beer and Ted Reeve a number of times  in their 1275cc well prepared cars especially at Brands Hatch. Andrew was rather quicker than a Mr Palmer in his Mk 1 Sprite in 1975/6 and from then their two careers took different courses. Andrew stopped racing soon after he married. Jonathon  Palmer went on to F1 and then owning a number of circuits in the UK under the name of his very successful company MSVR . For those who can remember the old club circuit at Silverstone, Andrew did a time in the 1 min 6 second bracket. Andrew's Mk 1 was sold and  raced by Richard Borthwick and then sold to a couple who shared it for hillclimbing, David Jeromes and David Edwards. One of them  hit a tree hard at Wiscombe in the early 1990's; and the shell was bought by Robert Netleton who, with his cousin, David Holmes, repaired it and got it as far as being a rolling shell for A/HCC  series racing but work stopped in about 1995.

Robert Nettlton needs no introduction having initially raced a Mk 1 Sprite in Modsports from the late 60's to 1975 and after a break of four years, then drove his well known multi -coloured Midgets and Sprites  in Class C from 1979 and later Class B of the Midget championship winning both and also in the Donington GT and a Prodsports championship and also in the A/H circuit series before it merged with the MGCC series.

Peter Felix also won a Class C championship  in a Nettleton multi-coloured car. All Robert's cars were 100% self prepared and he was a legal officer by trade and not an engineer.

Martin, I hope this is of some interest even it it is nothing to do with Sebring Sprites but it may be of interest to you and or John Baggott".