Now owned by Pierre Lequeux
May 2011 – Pierre has recently found and purchased this project Sprite having searched for sometime for a historic standard-bodied Sebring. He is trying to unravel its past history. He says:
“It definitively has all the appendages of a racing car and an early one … probably Speedwell … I thought I would include you in the puzzle …. I went to see the car and after a quick inspection I could not help but buy it…now the question is how am I going to break the news to Finale ….anyhow I think this is a real early one that has been off the road for a while (January 1974…) . I think it used to be raced in the south of England in the early sixties…the car has a lot of aluminium panels and a 9000 RPM tachometer, central console and original seats + Leston steering wheel, adjustable Armstrongs at the back , anti-roll bar and all the body is grp – bonnet , doors etc…all the brakes are finned drums…the doors have some leather covering where the sidescreens would have been…the petrol filler is a roll-catch type and the bonnet has some vents. It seems to have been driven by someone called Starley… unfortunately there is no engine or gearbox…though I have the exhaust manifold as well as the clutch pressure plate and cover….and a lot of scrutinisers tickets still attached to the dashboard. Unfortunately I couldn’t take them away as I didn’t want to damage them, so they are still with the car…
What do you think ? ever seen this car ? It was registered in May 1959 with the same color blue and white…so I assume the livery has not changed through time …..the registration 2080 PO….any clues, pictures etc about the car would be fantastic…. Pierre Lequeux”.
Racing background?
Alfin brake drums all round
Front suspension with Alfin drum brakes
Period photos come to light
Gaisberg Hill 1967
1967, in Austria
Brighton Speed Trials
Work in progress – May 2012
Fitting the new special bonnet
April 2013: Pierre has discovered that the mechanics who worked on his car in the 1960’s were George Arnold (a well-known character in Sussex who also used to dive, and discovered the wreck of HMS Hazardous…) and his colleagues Steve Taunton and Reg Styles. Steve has told him that the car was lightened a lot, which of course he has already discovered, and that it raced at Goodwood against a car prepared by the Alexander company – and on that day 2080 PO apparently won the race. Later the mechanics were invited by the chaps from Alexander to exchange notes….all exciting stuff! Pierre has decided that as the Alfin front drum brakes were not in good order and the engine is now to be of 1330cc he will fit a later disc brake set-up. Andrew, at Archers, is making progress with the car’s rebuild.
Front corner assembled
New paint looks great during fitting up
Spring 2014 – Pierre took PO to her first competitive event for many years, a sprint at Goodwood. His best standing lap was 130.83 secs. He also drive his 82 year old Dad round the circuit for 4 enjoyable convoy laps:
Photo left
by John Baggott
Many more pictures and further information on Pierre’s website: www.cyberspot.co.uk
