Identifying A Sprite ~ HAN6L 122 * * (last 2 numbers omitted for…

IDENTIFYING A SPRITE ~ HAN6L 122 * * (last 2 numbers omitted for security/privacy)
US-based Kendall Cortese wanted confirmation that his VIN number was correct so I replied as follows:

“HAN6 tells us the car was a Healey with A series engine, N tells us it was a 2-seater and HAN6 cars were built from May 1961 to November 1962. The “L” tells us it was a Left-hand-drive export model. Engine capacity for that period would have been 948cc. So this was a Sprite Mark 2. Chassis numbers for Mark 2 to Mark 4 were 101 to 87824. In January 1962 chassis numbers had reached HAN6 -12247 so it looks like yours was built around that time. So, as to authenticity, yes, if you have a 1962 948c Austin-Healey Sprite Mark 2 the chassis number appears to be authentic. Engine number would be 9CG-DA-H followed by a long number and it would be fitted with 1¼” SU carburettors”.
I was greatly aided by Anders Clausager’s book ‘Sprites & Midgets’ in answering this question.

WESTON SPEEDWELL REV COUNTERS FROM MARK WILSON
See his website

……and news that XOH is currently in Robert Visser’s paint shop. lThe car sometimes ran as XOH 276 and at others XOH 277]

MORE OF JONATHAN’S PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK:
Left, Stirling Moss, in 9254 WD, kicks up the spray as he blasts down the rain soaked main straight, at the end of the first lap, during the 3 Hour race at Sebring in 1962. And right, thw works rally car XOH 277 slides through the corners on the 1959 Sestriere Rally.

PHIL ZAMLYNSKI
has been cleaning up and documenting some of the things done to his Sebring in terms of mods and new items. He is now working on the hood (bonnet), having completed his side windows with natty little door handles and has seen me these pictures, left.

ROGER FRIEND’S
Frogeye has been out

testing at Brands with his son Oliver driving., “Towards the end of the day he got down to some reasonable lap times, not bad first time out, Lotus Elites watch out!”

Spot Bob Blayden’s Sebring in this drone film from Hunter Valley in Australia, courtesy of Paul Vanderkooi

LWD 959E – TFR 5
photos kindly suppled by Paul Taylor (don’t ask me to translate the captions!)

I have not fitted (Wolseley) 1500 brakes, but this is essentially what is fitted to the Falcon Sprite – see no problems at all, since the complete assembly must be fitted. The backing plate, shoes, wheel cylinder and drums must all be included in the installation. [ROGER SIELING]

Purposeful little Sprite
seen at the Zandvoort Oldtimer Festival last month.

Jack Wheeler’s, Peel bodied, alloy coupe Sprite – 7080 AC – displaying a few battle scars following the 1967 Targa Florio.
[JW-B]

ANDY CHAFFEY’S SEBRING REP IS FOR SALE
Beautufully finished in Jaguar Gun Metal Grey with a 1380cc engine, straight cut gears, and fitted with all the right bits.
Offered on car and classic at £27,995.

FROM ROGER FRIEND:
“Interesting piece on Facebook, readers be aware criminals are targeting cars at local Classic car shows, they are placing tracking transmitters under selected Classics, once they have tracked the car to your home or garage they will wait until the opportune moment comes to steal it, they only go for the best, be aware and check under your car”.

John Harris in his ex-works Healey Mk.II Sprite on the front row of the grid at Mallory Park during 1964. Mike Garton in the Healey ex-works 1961 Le Mans Sprite – 1411 WD – sits behind John on the second row. [JW-B]

Left: “The original Healey “Frogeye” prototype Q1 – now registered YNX 684, racing at Mallory Park during 1964. The eagle-eyed will also spot the well known registration (401 COA) from the Wisdom/Hay 1961 Monte Carlo Rally (Mk.I) Sprite, now attached to a Mk.II”. [JW-B]

“BLEEDIN’ CLUTCH” ~ Alan Anstead

Four weeks ‘till I am on a Tour and inspection shows that the Clutch Master cylinder is leaking. Not a lot as the fluid in the reservoir has not dropped at any appreciable rate, the purple silicon has changed to a somewhat muddy colour, but if left unattended it will only get worse and probably fail on some high peak abroad.

A new cylinder was obtained and the nearside front web trimmed so that it could be fitted alongside the brake master cylinder in the twin cylinder Sebring pedal box. The lower nut and bolt that hold the cylinder in the pedal box is difficult to access so I turned a custom bolt (picture 1) from some stainless steel. The bolt has a plain head that will pull on the rear of the cylinder web when the thread is tightened, a plain shank that is a push fit (reinforced with Loctite) then a 3/16 UNF thread to accept a suitable lock-washer and nut. No more struggling blind with hard to reach fixings.

My car is already fitted with a remote bleed under the bonnet made up of a ‘Goodridge’ type hose from the slave cylinder fitted to a three way junction with one port blanked off and a bleed valve in the other. Last time I attended to this I had sealing problems as the three way was old and tired when I fitted it so I turned a new two way on the lathe.

Everything was ready for bleeding. I have an Eezi-bleed, which is a good bit of kit, but get a poor seal and fluid goes everywhere. I might be retired but everyone else was at work so the old ‘pump the pedal’ way of bleeding was ‘out’.as I could not find an assistant. Or was it?

The Sebring pedals have two holes vertically in line at its very tip. One hole is for the actuating arm clevis pin and the other for attaching the return spring. I used a piece of steel to make an under-bonnetpedal extension. I drilled two holes to correspond with the two holes in the pedal. The lower hole was sized to fit over the projecting clevis pin and the upper hole drilled to clear a 2BA bolt that was projected into the upper pedal hole. (picture 2). I highlighted the extension with some masking tape.

Everything was now within my reach for bleeding. With spanner on the bleed valve, fluid catch tank connected to the bleed valve nipple I could slacken the bleed valve; pump pedal; watch the fluid pass through the clear hose from the valve nipple to the catch tank; lock the bleed valve; release pedal; top up the master cylinder and start all over again like some automaton.

Bleedin’ simple!

WOLSELEY 1500 REAR BRAKES
Can some kind person who has fitted a set of these to a Sprite give some advice to Stuart Lane as to what is involved and how to go about it, please. Contact him via email (with copy to me please).

ANOTHER SPECIAL SPRITE COMES OUT OF THE WOODWORK!
READ HOW BEN TYER BOUGHT THIS ‘BARN FIND’ STANDARD-BODIED SEBRING SPRITE ON EBAY AND DISCOVERED IT HAD QUITE A HISTORY.

Due to change of plan Bryn Rossiter has for disposal an expertly re-manufactered pair of H4 carbs, mounted on a modified MG1100 manifold and set up for a hot 1000cc Sprite. They have not been fitted since overhaul and come with a pr of new Swiftune bellmouths. He needs £795 (firm) plus carriage at cost or collection from Wilts or Lincs (by arrangement). Contact him by email if interested.

The Healeysport guys have been out enjoying the hills again: Steve Casson, Dave Abram, Joe Mackrell and Rafe Hayward at Harewood last weekend (7 Aug).

Steve Schmidt put this shot on Facebook with the caption: “Not often you see a Sprite competing on a dirt speedway oval, but they actually handle the situation very well 🙂
Three Peaks Rally, Murtleford Speedway 1980s”

Croft Nostalgia Festival –
Peter Chappell Mk1

888 CZ ~ JOHN WATSON’S FROGEYE
In John Baggott’s book “Mighty Midgets & Special Sprites” the foreword was written by ex-Formula 1 driver John Watson who said “In 1963 I acquired a Frogeye which was to be my everyday transport until the end of 1963, when I decided that I wanted to go motor racing. As I already had the Sprite and enjoyed driving it, it was the natural choice as my competition car. After suitable modifications, I campaigned it in my maiden season of circuit racing in 1964″. He won his first ever race at Kirkistown, see photo right. The car is believed to have been sold at the end of that year’s season. But where is it now – if it still exists? In “Frogeye Sprite” John (Baggott) again mentions the car: “This was the car previously owned by Adrian Boyd’s brother Derek, who ran it with the original aluminium Monza bonnet from 505 BZ. Apparently the registration is still ‘live’ and the car has an MOT.

BRABHAM PRESS CAR
nears completion. David Bruzas’ rebuild is now coming to fruition and he is hoping the Brabham Midget will be on display at the Goodwood Revival as part of the Jack Brabham tribute.

Steuart Crofts has this Ashley hardtop for sale on ebay, for a Sprite Mark 2 or Midget Mk 1. Unusually it comes with a metal parcel shelf which replaces the original bootlid. Currently at £600, ends on 19th August.

IAN HULETT’S immaculate
W & P Sebring GT2 seen at the Old Timer Festival at Zandvoort on 30-31 July

BARN-FIND SEBRING WITH STAR SPRITE BONNET
I am awaiting more info about this car, recently acquired on ebay by Ben Tyer. Apparently it was supplied new with disc brake conversion, larger rear drums, wire wheels and a (now rare) Star Sprite bonnet. Photos coming shortly.

RACE MIDGET FOR SALE
in Suffolk with HTPapers for race or rally. Ian McDonald is looking for £6,500
See Car & Classic

THE EX-MIKE COCKAYNE SEBRING
is now owned by Mike’s friend of 45 years or so, Will Dick. As Bob said he is rebuilding his Alfa Guilia “which was rolled at Classic Silverstone, so time is valuable” but intends to get on with the Sprite as soon as possible.

THE WARWICK HEALEY MOTOR COMPANY ARCHIVE PROJECT
The Warwickshire County Record Office has recently purchased the remaining part of the Healey archive from the Healey family, and has raised in the order of £95,000 towards its target £120,000 “to support the purchase, cataloguing and conservation of the material”. The team is currently seeking oral history in order to create 60 hours of interview material so if you are, or know of someone, who worked for the DHMC or who has a knowledge of the history of the Healey, Austin-Healey and Jensen Healey cars they would be pleased to hear from you. I attended yesterday the 2nd of 3 meetings being held at the Record Office to help identify photos and other documents in the archive. They are holding an Open Day for members of the public on Sunday 4th September (10 am – 4 pm). See attached leaflet.

THE EX-MIKE COCKAYNE SPRINZEL SEBRING REPLICA (Archers No.101)

When Bob Hinchliffe was at the Le Mans Classic he camped next to two guys who took an interest in his Sebring. One of them owns no. 101, the late Mike Cockayne’s car. He was told that the build is not complete and it is a long term project as the owner has other cars to work on and his main interest is building and racing Alfa Romeos. Bob was shown photos of the car in its present state and he says it looks very nice indeed. He did not find out the gentleman’s name or his contact details but I’m sure we’d all be interested in progress towards the car’s completion.

Bryn Rossiter tells me “that Honeybourne Mouldings are now able to offer hardtops for Mk11 Sprite/Mk1 Midget in similar style to the BMC originals. I think they are using the Frogeye style front fixings and are claimed to fit Mk1 Sprite as well. These are not yet on their website or in their catalogue but I understand they will retail at under £400 inc. VAT”.

Mark Boldry: “Can anyone help me with a picture showing the location and size of the clutch hose bracket on the drivers footwell of the Sebring cars please…”

Bill Emerson says “Driving WSM 403 is always a pleasure. After winning the award for “Best British Sports Car” at a recent Concors de Elegance in Cincinnati Ohio, I had the fun of DRIVING just over 900 miles from Ohio to Florida with the trophy as my passenger”.

THE BRIDGEHAMPTON MARK 2 NOW REDUCED TO US$ 14000 (£10500) See the ‘FOR SALE’ PAGE

THE PIERRE LEQUEUX
STABLE
[borrowed from Facebook]

9253 WD at Cultra hill climb 2016… Steve Nash said “I take it you aren’t using the original tyres?” to which Jonathan replies “On the contrary Steve, it’s still on the original 500 x 13 Dunlop’s from when it was last raced in 1968”.

John Tewson out racing his 1098cc Sprite in the Fiscar series. Fiscar like to keep things original and won’t allow Sprites with 1380cc engines.

LENHAM LE MANS FOR SALE
[VCA 88]
part restored ex-race car in Weybridge, Surrrey, asking price £11,500
on car & classic

BOB BLAYDEN’S Little Green Car was spotted at a meet in Australia’s Hunter Region recently. He is certainly making good use of his Sebring.

ANOTHER SCAM PERHAPS – DON’T GET CAUGHT!
Mark Wilson has spotted another Frogeye for sale on ebay about which he says: “this £7,500 Frogeye has all the hallmarks of that scammer trying it on again – in fact I’d take a wager on it – ‘leave your mobile via ebay’and diverse multiple listings!!!!(Ferrari Dino yours for £8,000, 911SC for just £8,200, 1966 Mustang £8,200). Could you spread the word to be careful – of course it could be genuine but if it looks just a bit too good to be true then!!! “

Left: Sven with

Luiza, his “long suffering better half”.

SVEN GOES TO THE BLACK FOREST

Sven Eckhardt “returned from Schluchsee, luckily in one piece, the engine firing on all four cylinders (most of the time). The rebuilt 948 was a pleasant surprise powerwise. It did not seem to run out of steam even beyond 6500 rpm which was the limit I put on it. Probably half the teeth went missing on the tired straight cut box´s first gear. Occasionally the car will only make grinding noises with the engaged first gear but refuses to move. But as JS says in his book ‘one got used to finishing a rallye without first and reverse’. It was not quite as bad as that. The runs were spectacular as well as demanding and we met up with a great crowd of people ours being one of four Sprites and obviously being the only Sebring”.

CHATEAU IMPNEY HIGHLIGHTS
Channel 4 at 7.05 a.m. on Sunday 7th August

FOR SALE PAGE UPDATED
today

SHORROCK enthusiasts may like to see Keith Luck’s installation in his 1949 “lowlight Morris (Minor), which has an overhead valve conversion and Shorrock c75b kit., It goes rather well for a sidevalve”.

WILLIAMS & PRITCHARD ~ TIM SAUNDERS
Can anyone help Dave Hughes who is trying to contact Tim Saunders former webmaster of the Williams & Pritchard Register website as he has a query about a Lotus? Feedback please. NOW SORTED – THANK YOU ALL

Graham Hill driving what was, I believe, Richard Melville’s Speedwell GT during the 4 Hr. race at Sebring in 1961. [JWB]

Keith Luck (Shorrock specialist) tells me: “VVB193 used to belong to the late Ian Bishop, and has a c75b kit fitted.

Bob Hinchliffe re: the shots below: “In Graham’s photo taken from the rear of my car (USU 607) I am in standing in front of the car, wearing a blue shirt, so it’s a pity I didn’t meet him. I was talking to Brian Morland from whom I bought my MG Ashley Midget. He now has a lovely MGB Sebring Replica so we formed a ‘Sebring Corner’.”

GRAHAM BISH went to “CLASSICS ON THE COMMON” at Harpenden on a recent Wednesday and spotted USU607 there. “Unfortunately there was nobody by the car despite me going back several times. I understand it is owned by Mike Pragnell according to your records. [No, it is now with Bob Hinchliffe] Also there was VVB193 a standard bodied car with a ‘supercharged’ bonnet badge. Again no driver present”.

This month’s contributors – to whom I send my grateful thanks: Graham Bish; Bob Hinchliffe; Keith Luck; Dave Hughes; Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird; James Thacker; Sven Eckhardt; Mark Wilson; Steve Nash; Pierre Lequeux; Mark Boldry; Bill Emerson; Bryn Rossiter; will Dick; Ian McDonald; Ben Tyer; Steuart Crofts; David Bruzas; David Scothorn; Steve Schmidt; Stuart Lane; Alan Anstead; Mike Wood; Roger Friend; Roger Sieling; Paul Taylor;