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FirstCoastSprite

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Hello folks,

Figured I'd re-introduce myself after quite the hiatus. I think I joined back in 2005/2006 (just checked my account and it shows 2003!) when I first got into LBCs. Back then, I was stationed in Monterey, CA when I purchased my first (and only) LBC: a 1965 Sprite. I bought it for $1,000 from a guy up in the Mountainview/Sunnyvale area who had an entire flock of Spridgets at his property. Anyhow, I got orders from the Army to go to Georgia and figured I might not be able to bring the Sprite with me. So, I towed it up to Oregon and gave it to my Dad who had a 1969 MGB back in college. He sold that MG but always wanted another LBC. So, I gifted it to him and he took care of it for the past 20+ years. He did a mostly cosmetic restoration and kept it in running shape. Well, this past Christmas I got a message saying an autohauler was showing up at our house here in Florida. There it was. The Sprite. My Dad is getting on in years and said it was just too difficult to get in and out of these days. Understandable. So, I'm now getting back into the LBC swing of things. In the intervening years I've had a stable of hot rods and sports cars come and go but very few of those cars are as enjoyable and meaningful as the Sprite. Now I have two little girls who get to enjoy it and think it is the coolest racecar they've ever seen.

Photos below: cream color as purchased, red livery as "restored."
 

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Beautiful Sprite! It’s nice that it remained in the family and that your dad took care of it.
Welcome back to the British Car Forum.
 
AngliaGT said:
Welcome (back)!
Thanks for the story.
Click to expand...

Gliderman8 said:
Beautiful Sprite! It’s nice that it remained in the family and that your dad took care of it.
Welcome back to the British Car Forum.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the welcome back gents! I'm glad it stayed in the family too. Now it's my money pit once again...
 
FirstCoastSprite said:
Hello folks,

Figured I'd re-introduce myself after quite the hiatus. I think I joined back in 2005/2006 (just checked my account and it shows 2003!) when I first got into LBCs. Back then, I was stationed in Monterey, CA when I purchased my first (and only) LBC: a 1965 Sprite. I bought it for $1,000 from a guy up in the Mountainview/Sunnyvale area who had an entire flock of Spridgets at his property. Anyhow, I got orders from the Army to go to Georgia and figured I might not be able to bring the Sprite with me. So, I towed it up to Oregon and gave it to my Dad who had a 1969 MGB back in college. He sold that MG but always wanted another LBC. So, I gifted it to him and he took care of it for the past 20+ years. He did a mostly cosmetic restoration and kept it in running shape. Well, this past Christmas I got a message saying an autohauler was showing up at our house here in Florida. There it was. The Sprite. My Dad is getting on in years and said it was just too difficult to get in and out of these days. Understandable. So, I'm now getting back into the LBC swing of things. In the intervening years I've had a stable of hot rods and sports cars come and go but very few of those cars are as enjoyable and meaningful as the Sprite. Now I have two little girls who get to enjoy it and think it is the coolest racecar they've ever seen.

Photos below: cream color as purchased, red livery as "restored."
Click to expand...
I bought one from a coworker back in around 1980.
It ran great except it stalled when I pressed on the clutch pedal.
Back then I was not at all mechanically inclined so I brought it to a shop.
They wanted more than the car cost me, for a rebuild.
When I ran into the coworker on the next Monday he asked how it was going.
I didn't suggest he do anything, but he offered to buy it back, nice guy.
Over that weekend I had a blast and I regretting having to sell it back.
I never lost that desire for such a fun car.
Two decades later I fell into a 1994 XJS, V12 coupe.
It was one of those 'free' cars that eventually cost me $15K just to keep it running.
Yes, I still miss it.
 
equiprx said:
I bought one from a coworker back in around 1980.
It ran great except it stalled when I pressed on the clutch pedal.
Back then I was not at all mechanically inclined so I brought it to a shop.
They wanted more than the car cost me, for a rebuild.
When I ran into the coworker on the next Monday he asked how it was going.
I didn't suggest he do anything, but he offered to buy it back, nice guy.
Over that weekend I had a blast and I regretting having to sell it back.
I never lost that desire for such a fun car.
Two decades later I fell into a 1994 XJS, V12 coupe.
It was one of those 'free' cars that eventually cost me $15K just to keep it running.
Yes, I still miss it.
Click to expand...

Funny how that goes, right? I have a laundry list of vehicles that I wished I had held onto:

-1967 VW Bug (I was the third owner in 2000!)
-1988 BMW 535is
-1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport (4.0 w/ 5 speed manual)
-1998 BMW M3/4/5
-2002 Corvette Z06

Oh well. At least I got the Sprite back. I'm sure those other vehicles are giving someone else their own glory day memories as I type. (y)
 
Welcome back to the fold, Joel! You have definitely been a long-time member. We had only been online since December 2000. Anyway, glad to have you back and that's a beautiful Sprite!
 
Basil said:
Welcome back to the fold, Joel! You have definitely been a long-time member. We had only been online since December 2000. Anyway, glad to have you back and that's a beautiful Sprite!
Click to expand...

Thanks Basil! Can’t believe it has been that long.
 
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