Sebring goes topless!
by Glenn Castle
This 1963 Mark 2 Austin-Healey Sprite – AMU135A - has been owned by Glenn for the last 28 years and was formerly used as his everyday runabout. He tells me:
"The original owner and a good friend of mine (Dave Jeal) raced it in the early 80’s in the 750 Motor Club Championship and came 3rd in class. The car and Jeal were part of a team which took part in the 1984 Birkett 6 Hour Relay race at Silverstone. It went into storage when I got married 22 years ago and stayed that way, merrily rusting away whilst many children were born.
 |
 |
 |
Wiscombe Park 1986 |
Dave Jeal's tired racer... |
|
 |
 |
 |
....needed a re-build |
After its 1st rebuild |
|
The original road-going rebuild was started around 12 years back and most of the spares where purchased from Archers Garage. Andrew then convinced me to perform a Sebring conversion when I told him I was going to fit a Sebring bonnet and replace the damaged rear quarter which was full of filler due to a race incident. It took around 18 months to cut the old rear end off and then bond on the new shroud and fit the bonnet….along with lots of other stuff.
Friends convinced me not to paint it myself this time, but to get a professional to finish the body and spray it
My daughter's friend’s father recommended a fantastic guy called Ray Donner (http://www.uniqueamericanautos.co.uk/about.html) based on the Essex border near Chingford. Ray helped choose the paint and interior colour and has done a wonderful job on the finishing.
I now have to complete the interior, engine bay and a few other bits and pieces.
The coupe top will happen when I am either tired of soft tops, or when I sell it".
Now, pretty in blue
Tail stripped off
New inner arches
Fibreglass rear shroud
New front/rear in place
Job done
