Happy new year to all who regularly visit the website & many thanks for all…

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL WHO REGULARLY VISIT THE WEBSITE & MANY THANKS FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

2988 PX
Howard Cowley tells me: ” Many years ago, 1961 to 1964, I owned what I believed at the time to be a Sebring Sprite: Reg. No. was 2988 PX, green, mark 1 Sprite with a glass fibre bonnet and hard top. I raced it in 1962 with little succes. I sold it around 1964 to a friend in Bognor Regis. Does anyone know if this car is still in existance or have any history concerning this particular car?”

Paul Johnson (see below) has received a number of enquiries for his Sebring Rep which have now resulted in a sale being arranged.

Sven’s badly bent shell – see News for Nov 2012 below

“Back to Square One” for Sven Eckhardt who has now dismantled his wrecked Sebring. He has ordered a new bodyshell from Brian Wheeler but still hopes to repair the original.

Another picture of Bob Blayden’s Sebring which is now on the road in Australia

Paul Johnson’s Sebring Rep is for sale, price £12,500 ovno. Based on a 1959 Frogeye it has bodywork by CCK (not Archers). 1293 motor is mated to a Datsun 5-speed. Located in N.E.England. Now SOLD

Paul Webb has completed his Brabham Sprite Climax with a session on the rolling road to do the last tweaks on the carbs and timing, but as the weather has been rubbish since then he’s not had the chance to enjoy her. However, he plans to run her over to the New Years Day meet at Barrington near Cambridge if the weather is not too bad.

He has also kindly sent me a couple of scans from a Donald Healey Motor Co brochure that he came across. Thanks Paul. See also under “Your Comments”.

Tony Giordano sent me these photos of an exhaust system he purchased and “had jet hotted, along with a race engine a year ago from an old Sprite National Champion in Michigan; while the engine is of very high output, the exhaust is Huffaker design with a split in the center for the Siamese porting”. Tony also sent the engine plate photo, right:

This engine plate is on a 948cc engine with wire ties on the crank and is supposed to be an old race motor. Any comments from readers?

Thanks to all those who kindly sent in their ideas as to the identity of Tony Wilson-Spratt’s car NGP 50 which turned out to be a Lancia Aprilia with special bodywork and a Nardy 1486cc motor

Latest news of Pierre Lequeux’ 2080 PO rebuild

Tony Giordano’s wheels are for sale

Jonas Lindquist is seeking offers for his
HALDA SPEEDPILOT and
HALDA TWINMASTER,
boxed and unused (NOS).
Visit his Website

Another pair of
ARMSTRONG ADJUSTABLE SHOCKERS FOR SALE
for 900 US dollars
(Thanks Jonathan W-B)

Jonathan Peck has completed the restoration of his bonnet once fitted to 248 DXN (now PMO 200) and, having made a mould, is now offering copies (with light inserts) for sale.
I seem to recall this style of bonnet being offered with the description “E-type Style” years ago. Anyone know its origins?

Tony Wilson-Spratt set us the task of identifying this car. It turns out it is a 1950 Lancia Aprilia with a 1486cc Nardi engine. (Thanks to Brian Arculus & David Markham)

David Marriot thought it might be “a 1947 ish Cisitalia (Pininfarina)??” and Philip Harris-Bland suggested “a late fifties Simca 8 Coupe Sport”

Original steering wheel for sale on ebay (1 day to go)

Ulster-based XXC 818 lifts a wheel at the September Kirkistown sprint in the hands of owner, Trevor McIlroy, and right at the Cultra hill climb earlier this year. The little car has now been rested up after a successful first season’s competition.

(Speedwell) Sprite wins Frazer Nash Autotest! – in the hands of David Wylie (505 BZ)
See it on youtube.
Scroll down to 6th/7th shots

Shorrock supercharged motor on display at Earls Court in 1959 – how about that exhaust system! (Courtesy of Autosport magazine)

Ken Grasing is looking for a Shorrock supercharger for his Sebring. Can anyone help find him one? Email He also has a pair of adjustable rear shocks for an MGB which he would swap for a similar pair for a Sprite.

A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS
TO ALL MY LOYAL
FOLLOWERS OF THIS
WEBSITE

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
MAKE IT WHAT IT IS TODAY – THANKS TO ALL

Maarten Krikken has come up with this page from a Club magazine (1995) when I took part in the Tulpen Rallye (Tulip Rally) in JJO with Andy Gibson. Unfortunately we were rammed from behind by a Jeep when lying 9th. The car was re-built at Archers.

Peter Ecury is sending me some interesting photos.
On the left can be seen RTL 304 leading a group of cars at Montlhery in about 1984 and, right, is one of the ‘works’ Sprite Coupes at a ‘course de côte’ (hill climb) in France in 1962.

Tony Giordano sent me these 5 pages from an old copy of P.Olyslager’s Sprite Mk1 & 2 Manual (click on each to enlarge)

Graeme Henderson’s very high spec fastback is for sale

Susan Wylie took this suitably festive shot of brother David driving 505 BZ through Stratford-on-Avon en route to a Frazer Nash CC Autotest.

Aussie-based Bob Blayden has just taken his newly completed Sebring out for its first drive. Lots of “What is it mate?” from locals!

This photo (left) of a smart Sebring replica was sent in by Neil Anderson (USA) who tells me it belongs to Mike Pragnell (name from David Nutland)

Maarten Krikken has spotted a Sprite for sale with a very unusual bonnet – looks similar to the Dama Plastics one from the USA reported in Dec 2011

Film taken at the opening of the Healey Museum at Vreeland in the Netherlands
Also on Facebook: link

photo courtesy of
‘Spritely Years’

Peter Ecury (Holland) used to own the former Brian Culcheth Sprite 7357AC (shown left) and thinks he may know where it is today. He briefly owned XOH 276, and raced RTL 304 at Montlhery and Le Mans. He still has the unusual-looking English-bodied Sprite above, which has a huge alloy petrol tank for long distance racing, and a wrap-around windscreen. It had an 1100cc XSP engine and now needs total restoration. Peter also owns a special-bodied MG Midget with body by Mazzotti of Turin (photos to come shortly).