The ex-David Townsend 142 FBH now owned by Simon Agnew

Simon Agnew is currently building a Sebring Coupé replica supplied by Brian Archer, and is finishing it using only 'period' parts, i.e. genuine 60's fittings and features all carefully restored. However, he has recently happened upon the remains of a genuine standard-bodied Sebring in a field, registered 142 FBH and, having now purchased the car, he has discovered that it is one which was raced in its day, fitted with a Star Sprite bonnet which had faired-in headlights. The actual car is pictured on Page 62 of Anders Clausager's book "Sprites & Midgets, the Complete Story" and I have taken the liberty of re-producing the photo here. John Baggott has discovered that Star Sprite bonnets were produced in Leeds by a firm called G & R Fibrications  (yes, not fabrications) though the firm is no longer believed to be in business. The bonnet is not with the project and Simon would love to find one, or the moulds, or one he can copy. Can you help?  The car has a number of interesting features including a Healey 100 anti-roll bar mounted above the front chassis rails, which is what John Sprinzel used to do, so that the mountings didn't get torn off over rough ground when rallying.  There is no engine or gearbox, however.  Another car which had a Star Sprite bonnet for a while is 96 RPE, the Bob Snow Coupé now owned by Terry Cowan in the US, and which had earlier born Sprinzel's personal registration plate PMO 200. The car is pictured in "Spritely Years".

Feedback from Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird (21May2007):-

Hi Martin,
Interested to hear of 142 FBH's survival - do you have photos of the 'whole' car?   The glimpse of the disc brake set-up in one of the photos you have on your site, looks like the Lockheed 'Thin Disc' set-up used by the Healeys from 1961 onwards. This had dust shields as shown (somewhat different to the standard/later Lockheed production units), used in conjunction with a slightly larger diameter disc.  The 'Thin Disc' brake conversion also allowed the use of steel wheels (as shown in the black and white period shot), rather than the wire wheels.  If this is the case then it  sadly, doesn't fall into the 'Sebring' category as described in your text.  Nice that it's survived though - hope he gets a bonnet!
Cheers,
Jonathan.

& Response from Simon:

Hi Martin

I like the page on your website!   Jonathans comments are interesting.  The rear drums are 7", the shockers have yet to be examined... And the pedal box is missing. On the passenger side pedal box blanking plate, there is a bracket that looks like it may have supported a servo? - see picture. I have attached an advert for the bonnet, from 1963, also an advert from G A Glassfibrications, in 1962, and later that year an advert for Assiduous Engineers, similar advert and location. Note also the (M) in the title?  Other pictures show the special instruments - at least whats left of them, and the chassis  at the front, being an early car.  The chassis number is AN5 3515 and the original engine was 2973.  I will get some more detailed pictures soon, and hopefully have the history updated, by the DVLA.  I will examine the brakes and shockers in detail this week, and let you know of my findings.blanking plate, there is a bracket that looks like it may have supported a servo? - see picture.

Simon

which has prompted a further response from Jonathan (23May2007):

Hi Martin,
Great to see the extra photos of 142 FBH on your website.  Looks like the remains of a Healey Speed Equipment 120mph speedo - rare!
I've attached a shot of the Lockheed 'Thin Disc' set-up to assist Simon with any possible identification.
Take care,  Jonathan.

And more information, this time from Ian Grainger owner of 2341UE (10 July 2007):

Regarding the photo of the anti-roll bar on 142 FBH:  I am sure that this 'set-up' is because of the use of the Healey 100 anti-roll bar. It must have made the front very 'stiff'! 2341 UE has always had the anti-roll bar fitted with links to the wishbone pointing downwards as fitted at "The Cape". My other 'Sebring' 5038 NX has the anti-roll bar fitted with the links pointing upwards as it has lowered suspension.

George MacMurray has sent some pictures of his Star Sprite bonnet: (June 2007):

Hi Martin,  I read with interest on your web site about a Star Sprite bonnet, I am in the process of restoring a 1959 Mark 1 Sprite which has such a bonnet. I live in Northern Ireland, twenty miles outside Belfast in County Down. I'm sure some arrangement could be made with Simon to get a copy made. 

March 2025 Update

"Hello Martin,
I’ve sat down with my father (David Townsend) and we’ve put together a little snapshot of the history of the car (some of which has already been guessed in your article). When Dad saw that Austin were launching the new model sprite Mk1, he put in an order with a local garage in Willesden.  Unfortunately the local garage could not fulfill the order but put him in contact with another garage in Buckinghamshire who agreed to take Dad’s Morris Minor in part exchange. Dad bought the car in early summer of 1958 (he recalls a figure of approximately £700+ less the trade in value of the Moggy).
However, the car ran very unevenly and SU (the carburettor manufacturer) were unable to rectify the problem so Dad turned to a mechanic who had worked for police garages and subsequently set up his own business next to Finchley Road Underground Station. The mechanic, Les Marshall, was able to fix the problem and he and Dad became very good friends.
The first modification that Dad made was to fit an anti roll torsion bar (which he immediately recognised in one of the photos on your webpage). Dad changed the brakes to the Mk 2 disc brakes and added a competition camshaft and crankshaft and close ratio gears. He also replaced the original bonnet with a Star Sprite fibreglass bonnet.
Dad raced the sprite in Club races organised by a club he belonged to (he cannot currently recall the name) and the BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club).  The 3 venues that Dad and the sprite raced at were:-Brands Hatch before the circuit was modified; Silverstone and Snetterton (the latter only once).
My parents drove to Bavaria in the sprite for their honeymoon and travelled all along the Rhein.
My Dad eventually sold the car when we were living in Worcestershire to the nephew of a local garage for the sum of £70.  By that time the sprite had been garaged and not driven for some years as a growing family meant the car was too small and there were few opportunities for Dad to either work on it or drive it. The new owner got the sprite running again and painted it orange.
Dad is now 91 years old and still has a photo of his sprite. I’ve been told by Mum and Dad that I was driven in it as a baby and my own memories of the sprite are of using it as a great place to hide in games of hide and seek.
We hope this is of some interest to you and your members and should the current owner be interested in getting in contact with Dad, please do let me know.
With kind regards, Julia Collins." 

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