The “FOR SALE” PAGE
has been UPDATED
Bill Emerson’s WSM Sanction 2 is currently on display in the BRITISH SPORTS CAR HALL of FAME in Virginia alongside a 1948 Healey Westland and 1955 Austin-Healey 100S.
It is worth getting the August edition of ‘Octane’ magazine which features Stephen Bowen’s ex-Ian Walker Sebring – the one all the replicas are modelled on.
DAC 952C on the road. Enjoy this little video posted by Bruno Verstraete
20 new shots of 138 DJB at MG Live, Silverstone taken by David Morys at jacobsmidget.com
THE EX-STEVE NORTON, EX-SIMON DURLING REP FOR SALE
at £28,500 through Paul Matty Sportscars
See Pistonheads
Bruce Small in Oz wanted to know the colour of Mike Haigh’s car so: ” ..on the paint colour for the Lenham Le Mans. It is one of the Aston Martin colours virtually, slightly amended but not much, as we were trying to match to the original paintwork we discovered under many layers of paint on the bulkhead! Please see the enclosed colour basis that was used. Good result at the Harewood Hillclimb Classic and Vintage Meeting 2 weeks ago I won the up to 2 litre class outright and had second fastest FTD overall for the meeting! All the best Mike”.
BRYN ROSSITER
has one of those MG things! and has installed my first Sebring engine in it:
Here are a few pics of your ex-rally engine in its new home. Replacing the 1098, it is 998 now to Sebring Sprite competition spec., apart from smaller carbs for throttle response and economy on the road. Gearbox is 1275, rebuilt with heavy duty clutch and roller release bearing. I have added a mild anti-roll bar with up-rated front dampers (ex-Roger Friend). The wheels are from my Sprite Mk1, refurbished. Other than the Les Leston steering wheel and an ammeter, the remainder of the car is standard. Cheers, Bryn
A PAIR OF SPEEDWELL DOOR HANDLES + DOORS on ebay
at £500!!!
BUY NOW OR OFFER
BARRY SIDERY-SMITH
I was very sorry to hear that one of the real characters of MG club racing known as Barry “Sideways” has died aged 81. See MGOC report
Barry with Sir Stirling Moss
LENHAM LE MANS COUPE PROJECT FOR SALE
Rod Allsworth is offering his Lenham project for sale with
W & P bonnet (see full specification on PDF)
£3,500 for the kit or £12,000 for complete project.
Rod can be contacted by email
Rallye Monte Carlo Classique 2018
Douglas Anderson sent me details of next winter’s event.
Click on Monte News Flash
ANYONE NEED SOME OF THESE?
Mark Boldry does and is thinking of getting some made. They are SU return spring mounts. If you are interested please let me know on Feedback.
The owner of this 1958 Sprite would be very interested to know who built its alloy bodywork, when and where. The car formerly resided in Lisbon, Portugal and is now in Belgium. Nothing is known of its history before 1982. Feedback please.
Mike Thompson (formerly of Speedwells) ~ where are you ?
Alistair Ross says “I am trying to retrace Mike Thompson who worked for Speedwells and went with the Streamliner to Belgium. Mike has moved from his house in Norwood and the new owners don’t have forwarding address”
IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE REPORT BACK TO ME VIA FEEDBACK .
1963 Austin-Healey Sprite Mk II – For Sale US$ 21,000 obo
The subject of a ground-up cost-no-object professional restoration using all factory parts costing roughly $30,000. A rust-free California car, stripped to bare metal and professionally repainted. Its 1275cc engine has been lightened and balanced with all new internals giving 85 to 90 estimated horsepower. Cast aluminum valve cover with quick release cap. New SU HS2 carburetors with Les Leston air horns and foam socks. Many parts under the bonnet are powder coated. Everything on this car was either new or rebuilt. Lowered 2″ and rides on new wire wheels. Stainless steel exhaust and Jet-Hot coated headers. New quarter elliptic leaf springs and shocks. Suspension and transmission completely rebuilt. This car drives and rides like new. Lucas PL headlamps, new cloth-braided wiring harness. NOS Les Leston steering wheel and shortened shifter. Robbins Everflex top and Robbins Everflex tonneau which was never installed. Custom made interior and Wilton wool carpets. Interior was professionally installed and is not a kit. Reproduction Donald Healey Motor Company baby seat. If anyone has any interest in a professionally restored Sprite MkII built to the highest standards, send me an email to discuss. Jay Fishbein, Wallingford, Connecicut, USA.
photo: Peter French
OLIVER FRIEND
“Picture from Silverstone MG Live – Oliver started from the back row of the grid (28th) and finished 6th overall, track temps exceeding 47 degrees !! Results sheet from race two on Sunday. Saturday’s race was a disaster as he was shunted off whilst lying in 3rd place dropping down to 20th and then on the 7th lap ran out of fuel , – my fault, didn’t allow enough for the hot track temperatures, Roger”.
SEBRING/SPEEDWELL GT REP FOR SALE
Steve Pye Cars of Lancashire are offering this kit of parts which appears to include a fibreglass Speedwell GT top and Monza bonnet. Offered on ebay at £5,490. Interesting!!! Looks like this lot has found a buyer (23/6/17)
EARLY MARK 2 SPRITE FOR SALE
Shaun Rainford has known this car since 1974 and remembers it being restored the first time in the 70’s by fellow Austin-Healey Club member, Ian Gowenlock who used it frequently in the 80’s. In 2005 Shaun noticed the car while clearing some others in Faversham and bought it as he didn’t want to see it broken for spares. He had intended to restore the car for one of his sons but they went the route of building Lenhams. Shaun would therefore like to offer it to someone who will restore it. The body is rusty but the car is complete. CCK are happy for people to book an appointment to view the car. The asking price is £2500. (Cobwebs are extra) Call Shaun or Daniel on 01825 733060
DAVID LOVEGROVE HAS FOR SALE:
Complete external bodywork of 1969 Mk IV Sprite painted white including front wings, rear end (in one piece), bonnet, boot lid, boot lining, luggage rack, dashboard, doors including glass and quarterlights, windscreen including glass, front grille and surround, frame for soft top, rear lights and bumbers. Surplus to requirements as re-bodying as Sebring Coupe. Would rather sell as one lot; buyer collects, near Stroud, Gloucestershire. All bits fit within my small van, Citroen Berlingo, (which is also for sale!) Email David if interested
PADDY GREENWOOD’S ALLOY COUPE
I spent a very pleasant hour or so the other evening with Paddy Greenwood who has several Sprites including this alloy coupe built on a new Frogeye Spares chassis by Craig Chapman. Paddy says: “My body chappie is very happy with it- everything fits and door shuts are all fine”. He is also building another car with a Shorrock C75 supercharger.
Hi Martin, A question from Oz if I may thanks? Just wondering if it is possible to determine what the paint colour is that Mike Haigh used on his wonderful restoration of his Lenham LM Rego HYL 838C. The paint colour just looks so striking on the Lenham body shape and my AH enthusiast friend here in OZ and I were debating if it was a Aston Martin colour.I look forward to your response. Kind regards, Bruce Small.
Anyone wanting to continue following the progress of Rob Clubbe’s Lenham GT Sprite build, keep an eye on either Corry Motorsport’s, or the Lenham GT group’s Facebook pages or Rob’s own website http://robslenhamgt.weebly.com
Seen here: “Basking in the sun and now back with Will Corry for the next stage – the fitting of its roll cage”.
AN APPEAL FOR PARTS – REAR MAIN CAP & LIGHTENED FLYWHEEL
Alex Robertson sent me this request: “Hi Martin, I am looking for a rear main bearing cap and a well lightened flywheel for my spare 1275 engine. Can anyone help out?
I have sent a photo of one of my Spridgets in action at Morgan Park Raceway in Queensland a couple of weeks ago. I also drove the same car on a 5300Km trip to Victoria & back to join a Sprite tour of the eastern Victorian highlands in company with another 24 cars. (20 of them were Spridgets.) Cheers from Alex Robertson. (Sprite Car Club of Queensland.) Email him if you can help, please.
KEN GRASING’S ALLOY SPRINZEL COUPE
Latest photos show the car fitted with its side-screens. Shortly to go back to CCK Historic for partial assembly prior to shipping across the pond. Beautiful work by Darren Welsh of Creative Classics
Track Days with MGs ON TRACK ~ 2017 Calendar
JJO’s SHUNT
on the Tulip Rally
back in 1995 (mentioned below). A rather sad sight after its shipment home from Metz in France. Partly my fault for braking suddenly when I misread a junction but largely due to the driver behind reading his map!
23rd JUNE:
26TH JUNE:
7TH JULY:
21ST AUGUST:
1ST SEPTEMBER:
2ND OCTOBER:
13TH OCTOBER:
31ST OCTOBER:
4TH DECEMBER
CROFT
CASTLE COMBE
NORTH WEALD
BLYTON PARK
CASTLE COMBE
DONINGTON PARK
ANGLESEY
GOODWOOD
BRANDS HATCH
SEBRING SPRITE COUPE
model on ebay at
BUY NOW price of £83.62
Ian Polley racing the ’68 Le Mans ‘works’ Sprite at Brands Hatch in the late 70’s
MAARTEN KRIKKEN’S PHOTOS
from the Tulip Rally in April 1995
(22 years later I receive some great photos of our rallying efforts which I had not seen before).
“I have just sent you the pictures I took of JJO and Stephen Bowen’s blue Sebring during the Tuliprally (1994 I believe). It was the first time I saw a Sebring Sprite. I was following the rally as a 17 year old photographer aboard an Alfa Romeo 164 which was organised by the Dutch Austin Healey club as a quick support vehicle with Mark Schmidt of LB Racing driving the car. For me it not only sparked my interested in special Sprites, but it also delivered my first publication of my pictures in a classic car magazine as I was introduced to Peter Ecury (yes, he of RTL 304) who used my pictures in his report on the rally (in Auto Motor Klassiek). As I was still learning a lot about photography at the time, these are not the greatest action shots, but nevertheless I hope you enjoy them. I have got no idea in what position both of you finished the rally…”
Well, sadly my rally, with Andy Gibson navigating, ended in quite a nasty accident when we were rammed from behind by a Jeep at a junction. The car was badly damaged and Andy spent a night in hospital. Brian Archer rebuilt the rear half of the car and it was soon as good as ever. Stephen’s car was newly built at the time and had been meticulously prepared by friends. He got a special mention at the end of the event as he and his co-driver dropped down the ranks after stopping to assist another Healey competitor and fitting a new fuel pump for him.
FROM BERNARD CARPENTER:
“You may be interested in seeing how this car (a Tifosi Rana) was produced from a dodgy MG Midget. It’s quite a lengthy story, but all inspired by my ownership of a Speedwell Sprite, 1526 UE, back in the early sixties. This was my attempt to recreate that car, with limited resources, but with an ability to ‘keep up with the traffic!”
ANDREW LOWIS NEEDS A DOOR SKIN
” Where can I obtain an aluminium door skin from? I have managed to damage the driver’s side door on my car and would prefer not to have the expense of buying a new complete aluminium door (are these still available)? Photos are of my completed Sebring following initial successful shakedown at Blyton Park a few weeks ago”.
PLEASE CONTACT ANDREW IF YOU CAN HELP
STAN ANNIS GUIDES SVEN ECKHARDT ON THE REBUILD OF HIS FORMER RALLY CAR, 4444 DA
“The Halda Speed Pilot looks like the Speedpilot Neuere Ausfuhrung in Black nothing to reflect light for the navigator, he also had a Magnified map reader with a plastic bottom with a miles & inches scale on it which he used on the 1 inch to a mile map. The speed pilot was used mostly on long sections so that we did not exceed the 40mph average over 20 miles on public roads. We did not use it on special stages. Most of the rallies in the UK were on Ordnance survey maps that were 1 inch to the mile; the navigator was given the map references of the controls & the direction to approach – he then had to plot his route, he was also given the times allowed. You were allowed 29 minutes lateness before you had a failed section so you could make up time between controls but 30min late at a control was a failed control The navigator also had a black curtain to stop reflected light on the screen so has not to effect the driver. Today it seems that it is one special stage after the other; this is because we could not average more than 30mph on the roads by law which soon became very easy. My navigator Richard Binns was the first to set a rally on Forestry roads where the 30mph did not apply & the special stage was born; it was The Express & Star Rally. Hope this of interest for you it has been a nostalgic trip for me.”
LENHAM ARTICLE
Rob Clubbe sent me this article first published in ‘Motorsport’ in June 1971.
Link
SVEN ON THAT ANTI-ROLL BAR: “Well whatever it is I´m pretty sure it ain´t Speedwell. TRV/UYU had an ARB fitted which looked like the one on Tommy Gold´s car 642GEH and the one in the big Speedwell catalogue and it looks different to that one. I shall send a picture. You can however make it out on the first picture of TRV202´s subpage. The other 2 are AH100 and ain´t looking like that one either though”.
Rob’s Lenham Day 6
Quick view of the outer arch taking shape. Some English wheel action and a LOT of hammering. Just a little dressing into the fibreglass required tomorrow.
Rob’s Lenham Day 7
It’s on, aligned and all welding complete and ready for bonding. . .
Mark also has A COMPLETE FROGEYE WINDSCREEN with glass to give away to a good home. It’s in rough shape and one of the tips of the alloy frame sides has broken off but it might be useful to someone. He is in Horley, Surrey. Email him if interested.
MARK MAGUIRE’S ANTI-ROLL BAR
Fitted to his Frogeye when he bought it, he wonders if it is a Speedwell one? Can anyone identify it please? Feedback
SVEN’S LATEST NEWS
“I´ve moved my first Sprite out of the shed at long last
and put it next to the big Healey in another place. These are the next 2 projects after completion of DA. Work on the shell of DA has been interupted the last three months because of my various engine issues. 
All cars are up and running at the moment. I have put together a 10CG engine out of a block and crank I had from Juergen Schaefer a while back which was on a +60 bore already. I had it bored to +80 and used the last set of +80 RE pistons Keith Calver had.
Head, front cover, and front plate from the 10CC, engine back plate from a 948, as well as the flywheel which has been modified to take a 1275 clutch and lightened. 
MG Metro cam and a pair of H4´s. All in all a very lively engine probably around 70 brake This one has gone into the Speedwell and I am in the process of getting it road legal over here. I shall put together another big 10CC engine using the block I had from Ian Hulett for the Sebring later in the year so I can use the Warwick 998 for DA. Sven (Eckhardt)”
GRAHAM BISH was at the Tatton Park (Cheshire) Classic Car Show on Sunday (4 June)……
He Says: “Spent a good day at the Tatton Classic car show yesterday on the Austin Healey Club stand. My car sat next to Emryn & Pauline’s Sebring. There was a suggestion that it was the first time that Sprites had out numbered their big brothers on the stand!”
ROB’S PROGRESS
More photos of Rob’s Lenham GT under construction
courtesy of Will Corry
FOLLOWING UP ON MICHAEL BERG’S ENQUIRY ABOUT SEBRING FRONT & REAR SCREENS…
I contacted Andrew Forster who still has both and can supply him…
Alan Anstead replied: “Pilkingtons at Queensborough will make a Sebring windscreen. I had contact with them, albeit 14 years ago, and was told that it would have to be cash and collect. I have the ‘part number’ if needed”. …
and Sven Eckhardt: “As far as I am aware there is still supply from Archer´s supplier, a screenglass manufacturer in Birmingham I can´t remember the name I´m sure Andrew would be willing to help. If there is no luck (there): The front screen of my Archer´s replica first time round is still there. It did not get damaged in the crash. Its a very early screen and Andrew told me even though it is safety glass it might not comply with Automotive regulations which is the reason I replaced it with one from the new suppliers when we did the rebuild in 2014. Sven”
FRONTLINE FROGEYE
An article by Simon Charlesworth published in Dep-O magazine back in 2012 but worth a read.
EARLY ASHLEY HARDTOP FOR SALE
Michael Berg is re-offering his hardtop on ebay. It has been renovated to a high standard, has no cracks, a fresh gel coat and paint . All the trim is present, incl rear glass, aluminium gutters and hinges . Buy Now at £840 or open bidding at £600. Expires 12 June. Located Aarhus, Denmark.
Michael is also looking for Sebring Front and Rear Screens. Any suggestions please via Feedback
STEPHEN BOWEN ON STEERING RACKS:
” Re: the steering racks for Sprite and Midget, a left hand drive Sprite rack is the same as a right hand drive for Morris Minor and ditto right hand drive Sprite rack is the same as left hand drive Morris Minor. This was intersting for me in the 70’s (as a dealer in parts for Belgium and the Netherlands) when people were reconditioning British Minors and Sprites and were swapping to LHD, and I always had exchange units”.
Rob Clubbe’s Lenham GT build
Will Corry and Pete Moorland-Moore is building this Lenham GT for Rob Clubbe in Northern Ireland based on a Mk 2 Sprite and is to be completed to HRDC spec with an engine used in Will’s Weslake Trophy entry at Goodwood earlier this year. It would appear that the bonnet is an Ashley Mk 2 type. The good Mk 2 rear bodywork is up for sale.
