Roy McKnight is looking for a pair of Aldon negative camber trunnions which take the standard rubber bushes. Anyone got any they would part with? Email.
That “Wheeler Dealers” programme about the restoration of a Frogeye can now be viewed on
YouTube
ARMSTRONG ADJUSTABLES
are being offered by Colin Dodds in NSW Australia starting at A$1200 (£570) on ebay
The DVLA debate continues under “Your Comments”
Lockheed Thin Disc
article, (right), courtesy of
Ray English & Marque One
More from Steve Nash on DVLA Rules
Portuguese Sprite still hasn’t found a permanent home:
49,000 Euros (£34,500)
Car and Classic
On 14th July there was a peak of 100 clicks on the website (currently running at just under 2000 a month)
Another question on DVLA
rules, from Alan Anstead
– see Your Comments
and my reply.
Bob Blayden’s Sebring Rep is now on its way from Aus to the UK. Anyone else fancy joining us for a visit to the Healey Museum in October? Feedback
MORE ON
CASTER ANGLES
DVLA CONCLUSIONS
I have set out my conclusions from the various contributions you guys have kindly made to assist anyone planning a new Sebring, Lenham or other project.
STEVE NASH: “The bonnet recently sold on eBay is exactly the same as what was on my Mk2 Midget when I bought it back in 1983 (upper left). When it was damaged in a crash, I found they were manufactured by Fibresports in Basildon. I now believe they make them for Ashley. I see you list it as a W&P one. Did they use the same one as Ashley? It used Triumph Herald/Spitfire latches on the sides. In the end, I chose to fit a standard shaped one instead. Rgds Steve”
[The bonnet on Steve’s car and that sold on ebay, lower down this page, were originally designed and marketed by Williams & Pritchard as their GT2. Subsequently Fibresports sold copies but I believe all their moulds were destroyed in a fire. More recently MotoBuild have fitted them on their Ashley GTs, instead of the correct Ashley Mk2 type, seen lower left on the SS1800 Rep]
FROM ROGER FRIEND:
“Just a bit of info for you, the pictures Joe sent to you of the rear brake caliper is a Girling NR; these are still available from your local Lotus specialist as they where fitted on many of the Lotus cars i.e. Elite, Eleven , 23, and repro ones have been made and they are not that expensive”.
1962 OSELLI-TUNED
MG MIDGET MK 1 FOR SALE.
1098 Oselli engine, works hardtop, rare Speedwell door handles, Smiths tacho servo assisted brakes, Aeroquip hoses, anti roll bar, wide steel wheels, flared arches, nice interior with re-covered seats Moto Lita steering wheel, correct floorpans, tonneau cover and two piece hood frame, strong running engine and good mechanicals but front wheel cylinders seized so will need hydraulic overhaul to return to road. No welding required.Tartan red paintwork in good order, V5 in my name and on Sorn. Would make a good rally replica or historic racer. Contact Steve by email or 0208 517 4635. Offers on £4500.00
DISC BRAKES FITTED TO THE REAR OF THE ‘WORKS’ LE MANS CAR OF 1967-8
Joe Armour sent me these photos showing one of the dismantled rear disc brake assemblies fitted to HAN9-R-237 and other cars by the Donald Healey Motor Co back in the 60’s when they were competing at Sebring, Le Mans and in the Targa Florio.
Hub assembly ready to receive the wheel
A LENHAM LE MANS COUPE WITH A.J.THORPE BONNET FOR SALE – 21,900 Euros (£15,200 approx) Rebuilt in 2007 as a rally car with fast road 1275engine fitted Marina block with tuned cylinder head, 40 Weber, electronic ignition (1-2-3 ignition), Ford 5-speed-gearbox, and Peter May brakes. Rollcage, 6-point -safety belts, Tripmaster, headset-system, and electronic speedometer.
DAVID WYLIE takes 505 BZ up the Chateau Impney Hill last weekend. Watch it on YouTube “…wasn’t entirely convinced I wasn’t going to go through the finish backwards… or worse. 2nd in class in the end. The ex-Poole car was there too in a different class – fail on the last run, first run was wet. And a late finish on Saturday may not have helped the performance…” DW
SEBRING BADGE (right)
for sale on ebay, SOLD FOR £32.56 on 20 July
For more on Caster Angles see “Your Comments”
W & P Bonnet (right) has been sold on ebay for £160
FROM JOE ARMOUR IN NSW AUSTRALIA:
” This (car) was built in Australia using UK parts. Gearbox was a 4 speed MGA unit so this had to be related to the LeMans/Sebring cars like mine that had 4 speed MG gearboxes with overdrive for 1966 and then were modified to include a 5th gear for 1967 & 68. I I had a ride in this Midget at the Albany Around the Houses Race meeting back in 199? I believe it is now in Queensland “.
Read the Article
from Sports Car World, December 1967
CASTOR ANGLES ON JUERGEN SCHAEFER’S SEBRING REPLICA (No.89)
… seen here on trade plates prior to taking its TUEV/MOT test. He says: “The car goes like stink, the T9 gears click sweetly and fit perfectly; I’ve managed to modify the seats to give reasonably (easy) access despite my stiff bones and, thanks to Maniflow and MED, the noise is great when I press the loud pedal. But, I have a problem, called CASTOR, which requires expert help. Having replaced the steering rack and refurbished the column, now turning the steering wheel is
easy and gives the car clear direction, however there is little feedback and noself-return and straightening the line, once I leave the wheel alone. According to all my wisdom, clever books and wise advisors, this is obviously due to lack of castor. Unfortunately, in none of the manuals for the Spridget did I find any hint, where and how to adjust this. I had fitted adjustable and upgraded lever dampers with an additional top link from Peter May and upon my inquiry, Peter called it a “chassis issue” and we agreed then, that very long term sagging or very frequent jumping of heavy persons onto the front chassis legs might help to give the kingpin a more favourable angle”.
My response: Well, to my knowledge the castor angle on a Sprite or Midget is created by the slight upward tilt of the front end of the chassis. On occasions the front ‘H’ frame has been welded into a shell in such a way that the underside of the car is completely flat destroying the castor angle required. Could this be Juergen’s proble? Any other advice out there. Feedback
4646 UE
Paul Tarry is making some progress with his alloy-bodied Sebring Rep, the suspensions and transmission now rebuilt and the body prepared for painting. More soon.
HISTORIC ROADSPORTS RACE AT THE HSCC MEETING – BRANDS HATCH 11/12 JULY
The long ‘Grand Prix’ circuit was in use and among a large field of cars were several Sprites plus Tony Wilson-Spratt’s WSM MGB. Morgan Sparrow (Ashley Sprite) in his first outing practiced out of session so brought up the tail of the field. Unfortunately his engine lost all its water when a core plug blew. Then oil on the track brought the race to a halt after numerous cars went off and a further incident at the restart brought the race to an early close….and Paul Woolmer was having tyre problems with his transporter.
Chateay Impney Hill Climb this weekend (11/12 July) – in which David Wylie is taking part in the family’s Speedwell GT, 505 BZ
A NEAR-COMPLETE KIT OF SHORROCK C75B SUPERCHARGER FOR SPRITE/MIDGET ON EBAY
Asking £1000
Expired – NO BIDS
SPECIAL BONNET FOR SALE
Jonathan Peck is offering the restored bonnet from PMO 200, during its time registered 248 DXN, together with a mould to enable further copies to be produced.
He is looking for offers around £2,200 for the lot.
Due to their size the buyer will need to collect them.
You can contact Jon via email
Alan Anstead tells me it is his green Frogeye which appears in the opening sequences of Wheeler Dealers.
WHEELER DEALERS & RESTORING A FROGEYE
From Cynthia Longhurst, 10 July: “I am not sure if it is of any interest to anyone but on the Quest TV channel (I am led to believe this channel is available on Freeview as well as Sky) there is a programme called Wheeler Dealers about restoring the Frogeye. I missed today’s showing of this programme but it is being shown again on Monday at 1.00pm on Quest or 2.00pm on Quest +1”.
Chris Pass’s Cars
This presentation (left) was sent in by Rob Clubbe and shows Chris’s Midget, his Lenham GT racer and his Le Mans streamliner project which still has a long way to go.
Alistair Ross informs me that 7140 RO, left and below right, was some 10 years ago owned by Brian Kenyon who lived near Sheffield and was involved in running the Harewood Hill Climb. “The car itself had a tough life having been rebuilt a number of times and had been owned by J Mathe, T Pick and I think Gerry Marshall. It was Bill Graham who got me onto the trail of this car as he had also owned it along with 137 VMX and raced it under his Flintstone Racing name. I understood he still has the side screens for the car although these may have by now been reunited with it. Attached is I believe a picture of 7140 RO in one of its racing incarnations later in its life and its livery was then a striking purple and gold, with Bill Graham at the wheel”.
Mike Wylie passed me these pictures featuring Mike Reid’s 2214 UE and a Speedwell GT at Castle Combe in 1962. He thinks 7140 RO was driven by either Matthews or Fielden. Looks like another Speedwell leading them on the extreme right.
[By kind permission of Ted Walker © Ferret Fotographics]
A nice shot of David Wylie in the Speedwell GT at Goodwood for the Members Meeting back in March. Ctsy: Gunter Biener
A REPLY FROM STEVE NASH
re: DVLA and IVA
in “Your Comments”
I am now putting all this correspondence on a new web page.
REPRO SPEEDWELL HANDLES
Being offered on ebay sold for £510 and may well be superior in quality to the originals. Expired 14 July
EARLY FROGEYE SIDESCREEN
AHA 5414 on ebay at £20
Exp 12 July SOLD at £42
EXAMPLES OF DOCUMENTS SENT BY THE DVLA TO OWNERS OF RE-CONSTRUCTED VEHICLES
FOR SALE AT THE H & H AUCTION ON 29th JULY
is this (?) MG Midget mascarading as a 1971 Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite!! With Tifosi Rana rear end, Speedwell bonnet and a very tall Pride & Clark (Dan Dare) style hardtop. Well, we all like our cars to be a little different. £15-18K guide price
David Morys on the DVLA and “radically altered cars”. As David’s letter is quite long please go to the “Your Comments” page.
& MORE ON THE SUBJECT
Steve Nash says Re: IVA test. ” Having spent a lot of time on this with modified Land Rovers, I can be confident that a new replacement shell will not require a vehicle to have an IVA test. It is actually quite clear on the DVLA web site, but the basics are…. You can use a new, unmodified, replacement chassis or monocoque. This is deemed a replacement part like any other. However, if you were to use a second hand chassis or monocoque, it would officially take the identity of that vehicle, not the one you are building. If that identity has been lost (e.g. scrapped), it would force it into requiring an IVA test. It is quite clearly defined by the DVLA. I’ve always been amazed by the ‘debating’ that goes on!
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/radically-altered-vehicles
As to the Sebring Sprite issue too: The definition for the body is based on it’s structural members. A ‘chassis’ is well defined. A monocoque is also well defined in that it is the entire shell, less any non-stressed outer panels. A Spridget is neither of these as it is of unitary construction. It’s stressed members are formed by the front chassis rails, bulkhead assembly, floor, sills and rear arch assemblies. This can be driven around without needing the outer skins attached. Therefore, adding Sebring or similar bodywork doesn’t (or shouldn’t!) require an IVA test”.
MORE ON REBUILDS & RESTORATIONS
A constructor (name withheld) tells me that in conversation ‘with VOSA Tech, it came to light that any arch where the outer skin is welded to an inner bowl would be classed as part of a monocoque, and therefore removal would lose the vehicles identity in the eyes of DVLA (on VOSAs tech advice)’. However, he goes on ‘Having talked to VOSA and DVLA and the Department of Transport’s Transport Technology and Standards division, it is apparent there is no change in legislation. There should be no issues to prevent registration, MOT or road use if the materials used are the same as those used in period though this is not the case with others supplying new bodies in fibreglass when aluminium was used in period.’
RETRO WARWICK EVENT ON 9th AUGUST & HEALEY ARCHIVES
Matt Philips is organising this annual event and is highlighting Warwick Council’s attempt to purchase 20 boxes of Healey archives. For more information visit the event website . Matt is hoping to get some Healey cars along and Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird has already offered to display 9253 WD.
A SENSITIVE SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Two of my regular subscribers have recently brought to my attention the fact that the DVLA (or should that be DVLC) are going through a process of verifying that so-called ‘historic’ cars are what they are claimed to be i.e. genuine pre-74 cars. In one case, when the new owner of a very original 1969 MGB GT sent in the necessary paperwork to make a change of ownership he was bombarded by a stream of paperwork requesting details of chassis no., engine no., and numbers for other major components. They wished to know whether the chassis was original and apparently allocate points for each item, which points need to total a certain level (?) for the car to retain its original status and reg. no. plate. It would appear there is a danger that some cars might need to display a “Q” plate and go through the stringent ‘Kit Car’ MOT. Those of you who are restoring/rebuilding Sprites or Midgets in a revised form i.e. as a Sebring or Lenham, etc would do well to ensure you begin with a genuine car with all its numbers and endeavour to retain that continuity if the original identity is to be retained. The use of a Heritage or Wheeler body-shell as a replacement might prove problematical. It is quite a thought that Frontline’s Limited Edition MGB GTs which use Heritage shells and Mazda engines might end up with a ‘Q’ plate! I hasten to point out I am not very knowledgable, as yet, on this subject and am setting out this text in the hope it will generate more informed debate on the subject which I will be happy to display on the site (with or without names as you may stipulate). Thank you for your time. Feedback
ORSON EQUIPMENT are about to begin making 10 pairs of splined Sebring hubs for both front and rear. 2 pairs of each are not yet spoken for so if you are interested contact Dave Wood now before this rare opportunity is gone.
Tel: 01902 906290
MG LIVE again
Dennis Wharf contributed this photo of 9253 WD with Jonathan and Ian Turner in the background.
Ian Grainger points out that 7048 NX, the supercharged Sprite featured in the Autocar road test last month, is still around and owned by Paul Mead. I also hadn’t noticed that the jacking plugs in the photos have been air-brushed out. Wonder why!!
HOLLAND in October. Anyone else fancy joining us for a 2nd visit to the Healey Museum?
Feedback if you do.
Those of us who are members of Midget & Sprite Club and lucky enough to live in Kent have an area rep in Alan Anstead who will turn his hand to making all sorts of items like this special clutch roller bearing for a 1275. Alan now plans to develop one for the Ron Edwards’ 1098.
2 more photos of Dave Pratt’s V8 powered Sebring. Lovely neat transmission tunnel uses original gearlever surround. He says the noise is epic!
WINDOW WINDERS
I’m looking for a pair of early Spridget (1964/68) window winding mechanisms that use the chrome handle. Anyone got any? FOUND thanks
