And Lew McAllan says: “May have originaly been an Aleaxander (bonnet), but looks a lot like this “Walker” front avaibale through Speedwell Engineering here in the US”.
Available from:
Speedwell Engineering
508 B Glenoaks Blvd.,
San Fernando, CA 91340
David Scothorn points out: “that registration 1770 PQ has never existed. It is most likely to have been 1770 PO, issued in West Sussex between March 1959 and December 1960. Correlation puts it around July 1959. There is no current registration at DVLA. An enquiry to the West Sussex Records Office in Chichester might reveal the name of the first registered keeper”.
THAT FILM CLIP:
Both David Morys and Derek Stewart have pointed out that during the chase there is a shot of a Jaguar dashboard instead of one from an MG Magnette!
BONNET
Anyone know who made this bonnet (right). Was it Alexander? Feedback please.
MANY THANKS
to all those who found the YouTube clip of that film “Shadow of Fear” for me.
Click the photo.
Gary Lazarus thinks it might be a Peasmarsh bonnet but I thought they had full 7″ headlights?
A NEW ARTICLE
is published in the current (March 2016) issue of ‘Classic Cars’ magazine. It’s a slight pity it is described as modelled on WJB 707 as this one is a Fastback and has a Speedwell Monza bonnet!
[Kindly supplied by Nigel Whitty]
DAVID WHITWORTH
tells me that he recently watched a film entitled ‘Shadow of Fear’ starring Paul Maxwell on Sky Talking Pictures Channel. A Sprite: registered 1770 PQ, features throughout the 1963 film with good shots from various angles. I have looked it up and it seems to have been shown on Jan 16th. Anyone know how we can all get to view it?
Manchester-based Alan Oakes put his Sebring Coupe build on hold when his wife died, but is now hoping to move it forward this year. Right – note the battery box as per the originals.
Here you Alan’s project car displayed on a club stand at one of the Manchester shows.
GORDON MURRAY & HIS FROGEYE ~ FROM JOE ARMOUR (See Your Comments 2016)
AND MORE TYRES
Hi Martin, In relation to Femi’s question on tyres, on my Sebring I have Avon CR6-ZZ 175/70R13 82H on 4-1/2” wire wheels, fill the guards nicely and perform really well. Cheers Neil (Blaney)
TYRES ~ CONCLUSION
Thanks alot for the responses. I will be ordering a set of 175/70/13 during the week. Femi
TYRES (in reply to Femi Odutolu’s enquiry)
Dear Martin, the 185/60R13 is 11% smaller in diameter than the ‘standard’ 145R13 so no wonder it looks empty between tyre and body. Most Sprites are said to do best on max. size of 155R13, unless you only use it on a dry road. Remember the weight of a Sprite is only approx. 650 kg, compared to at least double that number for the cars the 185/60R13 was designed for! Good news is that looking at the dials gives you really the idea that you improved engine performance significantly…..
Seriously: look at this website http://tiresize.com/comparison/ for all conversion tables of tyres.
Kees van Beijmerwerdte (NL)
SEBRING PEDAL BOXES & SIDE-SCREENS
I understand that 24 newly-made and powder-coated pedal boxes are finished so that Andrew will now be able to assemble and despatch them very shortly. I am awaiting further news on progress with the 10 pairs of side-screens currently on order.
& MORE ON TYRES
Hello Martin, I use Avon ZZR 185/70/13 at the rear and 175/70/13 at the front on my Lenham GT and on my Lenham Le Mans. Both are on knock-on alloy wheels. We also have fitted these to Rene Bloemen’s car on 5″ wire wheels. Kind regards
Ton Blankespoor. (NL)
(click on photo to open the PDF)
JOE ARMOUR HAS BEEN BUSY….
going through his extensive archive to find these 3 interesting items. The first on the left is of ENX 416C when Denis Welch put it up for sale – it is today living in Japan. The 2nd is this picture of XNB 712 from 
Dave Matthews’ 1987 WWAH Calendar incorrectly labelled as one of the 6 W & P cars but actually the Douglas Wilson Spratt (Peel-built) body on another car. And the 3rd item is an interesting article from 1998 when Bill McDonnough and Dave Grove uncovered 585 MY (now for sale with Brian Classic.
(Again click to open)
HOW ABOUT THIS FOR AN IDEA? A 948SL?
Spotted on Facebook – is it real or just a bit of Photoshop? Said to be designed by Vau-Teh Tuning.
I’m not sure I would find it easy to get my 6’2″ frame into it.
CAN ANYONE IDENTIFY
these air filters belonging to a guy in the USA? Feedback
[Dave Matthews]
LENHAM LE MANS PROJECT
FOR SALE ON EBAY
Assembled on a Heritage 1500 bodyshell by Lenham SC
Asking price £4,000
COLIN BARNETT
found this wonderful Sprinzel advert from the 1960’s (left)
1411 WD at SEBRING
[Courtesy of Karsten Stelk]
TYRES:
My own response to Femi’s query would be…first, let the car settle a bit as that gap will probably change once the car is occupied and in regular use. I presume he has 5 or 5.5″ rims and it will depend on the intended use as to what tyre is best. For general road use and light competition I would recommend the Uniroyal Rain Expert which is available in various sizes (mine are 175/70) but for serious motorsport there are other options like the Yokohama AO range (though check legality for the road and for various competition classes and they will look even smaller in the wheel arch). MEI
FROM FEMI ODUTOLU:
Offers are invited for this Peter May top link arm kit which cost Femi £120. He is also looking for advice on tyres. He currently has a set 185/60/13 tyres but says there is still a gap over the rear tyre despite fitting a Moss lowering kit. What sizes/brand tyres do people use? Feedback please
AND THEN AGAIN…
Looks likethat Sprite hardtop is from a Lotus Elite after all. “The giveaway is the line of the top of the passenger’s window aperture which is much flatter on the Elan. Who realised that the tops themselves were so alike?” My informant sent this interesting shot of John Frayling’s one-fifth scale clay model beside the first full-size Elite body at W&P’s premises in Edmonton by way of an apology. Many thanks.
I am reliably informed that’s an Elan top, below (not Elite) – not surprising it looks so like a Sebring as both were by W&P …
ELITE TOP FITTED TO A FROGEYE
During Alistair Ross’s research into Speedwell GT’s and their owners he was sent these two pictures by Alan Wood who once owned Speedwell GT, 60 XMX. This Sprite GT was built by Alan using the GRP top recovered from a crashed Lotus Elite. The car was also fitted with a Monza bonnet and Alan remembered that, with a bit of fettling, the Lotus top fitted very well. I wonder what he did for side windows and where the car is now.
Photos courtesy of Alan Wood
ALEXANDER GT ~ RWV 661
As featured in John Baggott’s book “Frogeye Sprite” this car was initially owned by Geoff Williamson and won its class at Monthlery. Nicolas Billion-Rey wonders if it is still alive?
LENHAM HEADLAMP COWLS
A pair of these, from CCK and for the Lenham streamlined bonnet, are currently being offered on ebay.
Bids are now at £80.
Expires 26 Jan
E700, here in the hands of Eric Davies in 1962 – with Mark 2 Sprite rear lights.
[Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird]
BRIGHTON SPEED TRIALS
A video which includes a glimpse of Pierre Lequeux in 2080 PO
MYSTERY SEBRING COUPE
is not 410 EAO says Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird as it always had a dark blue stripe. Nor is it Gabriel Konig’s E700 – wrong rear lights.
SEBRING 1961
Walt Hansgen (works Sprite) leading Stirling or Pat Moss in one of the Sprinzel cars
[Photo: Karsten Stelk]
JASON ELLIOTT recently posted this, and other photos of another Sebring being built by Halls Garage [on Facebook] N.B. lack of gutters
COMPETITION HALF SHAFTS (Peter May Eng)
on ebay, currently at £280 Expires 23 Jan
SPEEDWELL SLIDING DOOR HANDLES
Another pair of new repro ones from New Zealand on ebay, currently at £280
Expires 23rd Jan
RESTORED SPEEDWELL SEATS being offered on ebay by Moto-Build Racing at ‘Buy Now’ price of £495!!
Mike Curtis on Steering Columns See “Your Comments”
PRICE CHANGE
Bridgehampton Sprite NOW $19,000 (£13,250)
See For Sale page
DAVID SCOTHORN confirms the Ashley Sprite 3758 UE was originally registered to Donald Healey.
BRABHAM MIDGET PROJECT FOR SALE
Ash Ward is selling his 62 Mk1 Midget touched by the hands of Sir Jack during a few conversions he did many years ago.
“At present it has been garaged for 4 years since gearbox failed but due to divorce I am losing my storage. I only know of two others in existance, both of which are replica/remakes? This car currently has a Mk2 engine but I have sourced the required Climax unit to install, but not the gearbox. I am aware of the cars potential value and open to sensible offers for someone to complete the work in maintaining the former historic glory of this car. Please contact me to discuss further if interested.
Ash Ward, Leicestershire, United Kingdom, ashward45@hotmail.com “. Believed to be 4736 PL
Comparison – Frogeye (top)
Collapsible lower section
Comparing the 2
Different splines, etc.
COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMNS
Following Jonas Lindquist’s enquiry and a suggestion from Steve Nash I took a look at a later Spridget steering column in my collection. The first thing I realised is it’s 1¼” longer than a Frogeye one. Also it has a steering lock which needs to be removed by drilling out the bolts. A metal bracket is welded on to the outer sleeve so I ground off the welds and removed it. The inner column comes in three sections with two pairs of nylon shear pins. The top section can only slide down about 1″ before it stops while it is the lower section which can move 8″ or 9″ so you could substitute the top section with part of a Frogeye column and fix it in solidly without shear pins. By cutting the Frogeye inner column and machining 2 flats on its sides you could make the column the right length and end up with a collapsible column with correct steering wheel splines, taper and nut. Care needs to be taken with the bottom section as once the shear pins are broken they could be difficult to re-create. N.B failure of the shear pins would not mean loss of steering merely allow the column to slide up/down. [PLEASE CHECK ALL THIS WITH A QUALIFIED ENGINEER FOR SAFETY ISSUES]
Dismantled later column showing steering lock and fixing bracket.
The top collapsible joint with steering lock boss and loose plastic lower tube bearing.
Top tube after removal of lock and bracket. I don’t think you can use the Frogeye outer tube as it will not pass over the lock boss.
ALAN ANSTEAD
on AUSTIN/AUSTIN-HEALEY
in “Your Comments”.
THAT POSSIBLE 61 WORKS SPRITE BELOW
Mark Snowden tells me he is offering the car for sale for an elderly friend in the USA. He does not think there is a chassis number which would have helped identify it, but it has a fibreglass rear end and he thinks there may be a body number. I await hearing more.
LEIGH GROVE suggests the car below might be 410 EAO Andrew Hedges Sprinzel Coupe. Any other suggestions?
AUSTIN OR AUSTIN-HEALEY
– THE ANSWERS.
See “Your Comments”
CAN ANYONE IDENTIFY the Sprite Coupe in the background of this Marcos shot (taken in about 1963), sent in by Maarten Krikken? Feedback
COULD THIS BE ONE OF THE ‘WORKS’ SEBRING CARS FROM 1961?
Currently being offered for sale on Car & Classic the seller of this much-modifed Frog claims: “More information has come to surface that this Frog Eye was either 3rd or 5th car in PanAm plane due to location of gas cap filler. It raced Sebring in 1961 then came back to England (all 5 cars) to have the RHD converted to LHD for American Use. Then shipped back to America”.
AUSTIN OR AUSTIN-HEALEY?
Bob Hinchliffe mentions that he has “been in correspondence with Terry Horler of MASC regarding the DVLA registration of Austin Healeys. He wrote an article about DVLA activities in Mascot magazine. The car that I have just bought is registered as an ‘Austin’ and the model is designated as ‘Healey Sprite’. I thought that this might be wrong and used the DVLA website to run a random check of 20 cars from your website and 15 of them were registered as Austins and 5 as Austin Healeys! Terry thinks that this is wrong but I’m not so sure. Do you have an opinion on this. I don’t want to approach the DVLA unnecessarily! Your website is a constant source of interest to me and it rekindled my passion for Sebring Sprites which first started when I saw one at the Racing Car show in the early 1960’s. Finally I have one of my own and I look forward to enjoying it for many years to come”.
Ralph Whitmarsh was in Cornwall over the New Year and happened to be there when ex-BXN racer Peter Jackson’s newly acquired supercharged Sprite arrived after having some work carried out. Note the Allard and Oselli-tuned badges.
Pierre Lequeux sent me these photos of his DHMC sidescreen made of steel, now rusty, and with a PVC covering. He has also obtained a brand new pair of standard side-screens (AHA 5414) – note the difference in size.
Pierre also has an original BMC deep sump kit (C-AJJ 3424) – it takes an extra 3.3 pints (it must hang down quite low!)
and another of Pierre’s little surprises: a very unusual flat Weber inlet manifold made by Lynx Engineering Australia.
JOHN SPRINZEL HAS THE ANSWER!
“We used to get those BMC badges shown on Ray’s photo with some special result engraved in the space at the bottom. I might even have one somewhere, though I doubt if I could find it quickly. That was in the days when you didn’t get paid a lot for results….”
SPEEDWELL ALLOY HEAD
for sale on ebay
at US $ 2,500
expires Friday 15th Jan
{At that price I’d better sell mine!]
LYNDON THORNE’S FROGEYE
Regarding Alistair Emson’s search for the Sprite raced by Lynden Thorne, (lower down the page) it appears in John Baggott’s book “Mighty Midgets & Special Sprites”. John describes the car as a beige 1961 car but to which Thorne fitted fibreglass Midget front and rear. Thorne went on to race Aldon’s sports-racing AL2 (1975) and was last heard of Lyndon was running a gliding club in Warwickshire. But what became of his Sprite?
MYSTERY BMC BADGE
This B.M.C. badge was recently purchased on ebay by Ray English for the Sprite Room from a seller in the UK. It seems to be something that might have been awarded for long service, but he is hoping it might be connected to competition in some way. It came in its original packet, which it is very fragile, though the maker’s label is quite good for its age. The badge itself is in perfect condition, the seller said it was in the sealed bag when he got it, however he opened it up to check the badge’s condition. Any information would be appreciated. The badge measures 1⅝” X 2⅛” high.
Feedback please.
2 NEW PHOTOS OF DD-55-33 COME TO LIGHT
Posted on Facebook by owner Robert Visser and recently obtained from Zandvoort Historic are these images of his Speedwell/Ashley bodied car at the Netherlands race track back when?
603 MUY ~ SPRINZEL SEBRING SPRITE REPLICA FOR SALE
Full details or at CarandClassic
Asking Price £30,000
Contact: Steve Norton by email
or by UK Mobile – 07860 520682
FROGEYE SPRITE RACED
BY LYNDEN THORNE
INFORMATION SOUGHT [via Bob Kemp, Sprite Registrar, AHC] ALISTAIR EMSON has been searching for a Frogeye Sprite for a few months now. It was once owned by Lynden Thorne who raced it and Alistair has many trophies awarded for 1st place at several tracks. He obtained the registration number 772DOH from friends, but does anybody know if this car is still around, please? Use Feedback for your reply.
OUR OWN PERSONAL REGISTRATION SLEUTH, DAVID SCOTHORN, REPORTS:
“An enquiry to DVLA shows 3758 UE untaxed since November 1994. If Ian (Grainger)’s photo was in 1999 it would be interesting if you could see the expiry date of the tax disc. It looks nicely restored, but no other apparent clues in the photos. Of course, it could be on private land. The DVLA will have details of the most recent keeper, but they may not divulge it. Next time I’m in Warwick I will try to find out who it was registered to”.
SHORROCK SUPERCHARGER
KIT FOR SALE
Asking Price £1,000
Contact Nikolaj Mortensen
by email if interested.
A nice photo of USU 607, Bob Hinchliffe’s SSR (Sprinzel Sebring Replica) recently acquired from Mike Prangnell.
COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMN
Anyone having experience in modifying the steering column for safety reasons by installing a “collapsible” steering column?
What parts should be used? Photos would be appreciated!
Thanks! Jonas Lindquist
KEITH BRADING OFFERS HIS
ISLE-OF-WIGHT FROGEYE BUSINESS FOR SALE
[Classic & SportsCar magazine, Feb 2016 edition]
ACCOMPANY EX-WORKS DRIVER CLIVE BAKER IN A RACE AT EAGLES CANYON RACEWAY IN DECATUR, TEXAS, USA IN THE TARGA FLORIO PROTOTYPE TFR 7. YouTube
AS KEN GRASING SAYS:
Here’s where all the hardtops are! Link
FROGEYE TACHOMETER OR FACE WANTED
Keith Newitt is looking for a Frogeye Sprite Tachometer with HIGH BEAM printed at the bottom of the face by the warning light. His has IGNITION printed on it (Mark 2 I think). Does anyone have a “HIGH BEAM” face to swop for his “IGNITION” face? Contact Keith on 01327 843262 or via email if you can help.
TYRES FOR ROAD-GOING FROGEYE
David Bruzas has asked my advice as to a suitable 145/70 X 13 road tyre for his Frogeye. I have suggested the Uniroyal Rain Expert which I have on JJO, admittedly in a wider size and have found they have great adhesion in wet or dry. Any other suggestions would be welcome. Feedback please.
“Hi Martin, All good wishes for the coming year and to all the other readers of the site. It is really nice to have a website that is constantly being updated thanks to your diligence and the contributions of the readers Kind regards David Morys.
