Peter Westcott writes:
“Back in the day, in remote Australia, the standard race and rally grist to which UK readers were accustomed just wasn’t around, and we didn’t have the racing car shows where you might see a Sprinzel or Speedwell. In the local mags you might get a report of an Alpine or Monte and a list of awards, but photos were few and far between. Only those that stumped up for an expensive subscription to Autocar or Motor Sport got to see all the latest kit and event reports. But, even if you knew what you wanted, actually buying and shipping anything was expensive, slow and risky so lots of stuff was produced locally based on what info was about, or maybe there was one DHMC hard top or W&P bonnet that was copied and copied and copied. I’ve attached a period advertisement showing the Sprite options by J&S (a whole story in themselves), one a fast back GT and the other a standardish ’notch back’ shape which, very practically, used a VW Beetle rear window. I’ve had both types in the past. The GT, with moulded-in gutters, is similar to the Ashley but plainer, less ‘humpy’ and extends further down to just above the number plate where it’s secured by the number plate light plinth. In the day it wasn’t uncommon to cut the rear deck right back when a GT was fitted. J&S also did bonnets (by the look of the axle deflection in that racing Sprite in the ad he’s really committed!) and the bonnet on the car in the ad is a familiar style but the head lamps are slightly recessed back into the guards. This image of Seb Petralia’s car shows the pleasing, very neat combination of bonnet and GT top. I’ve also added a couple of shots of my (long gone) Bugeye GT*. You used to see a few of the GT tops around but now in Australia there are probably more ‘Sebringesque’ recreations than J&S GTs! Thanks and keep up the good work!
*[Chassis 49812 so very, very late production, probably ’61, and it still had its original factory paint and interior. I used to rally it, with some success, complete with its original, standard engine and gearbox. Yes, the rear window is missing in one of the shots, the front screen had been shattered and removed so the rear screen was popped out to stop it from being blown out.] “
