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Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look for

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62sprite

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I'm looking to buy my first Healey. It's a '62 Sprite. The engine is Red? Is that possibly original, or shouldn't it be green? How do I confirm that the engine and tranny are original to the car? Car is being represented as original.
Any help decoding the VIN would be appreciated.
Thanks!
VIN is listed as HAN6L1100S.
I know that HAN6 means it's a '62 sprite with the 948 engine, but don't know what the rest means.

Supposedly the car has an oil leak and the engine smokes "on start up" and "under full accelleration". I'm going to look at it this weekend. Any tips?
What does it cost to have a 948 professionally rebuilt? (partial or full)

Other than the engine smoke, the car is supposedly "show winner quality". What would a number 1 or 2 '62 sprite be worth? (Manheims and NADA differ from AHCA quite a bit on valuations? Who is the most accurate?)

Really looking forward to owning this starter roadster!(I'm sure it will get addicting, and next thing I know, I'll have a 3000!)
 
Well, so much to learn. Engine should be a nasty kind of OD green color. L in vin means Low Compression, was made in Nov. 1961, no clue on the S.

You need a copy of the "Original Sprite & Midget" by Terry Horler to check out what is what.

Show winner quality, don't think so with a red engine.

Check very close, for rust in all the usual places.

Price without pics is tough.
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

Hey! My car has won many show awards...but they are popular vote awards. Which means that people vote on the car that they like, not one that is correctly restored. So, I wouldn't put much stock in the awards. Without a Heritage Certificate there is no way of knowing if the engine/tranny are correct. However, you may be able to tell what range the engine number should be in by using the book that Jack mentioned. Most of these cars have had a fair amount of modification/replacement parts over the years. Where is the car located?
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

The engine really shouldn't smoke much - a little bit might be OK. How are the rest of her mechanicals?
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

Jack--I think the "L" in the VIN means Left Hand Drive (RHD cars had no letter). The low compression motor "L" might have been on the engine?

I'd second Jack's recommendation of that book, especially if you are looking for an original car. It's got the goods for that sort of thing. Otherwise, rust is always your enemy--mechanicals are robust and easy to work on, but rust gets expensive quick. These are uni-body cars (no frame) so be careful of structural rust.

When I bought my Bugeye, I used NADA, https://www.collectorcarmarket.com/, and online ads like eBay, Collector Car Trader, etc. to feel out prices. They made a lot of Sprites, so feel confident to walk away if this one isn't just right for you. This group is a great find, so you're on the right track.
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

Duhh, Droo you are of course correct, wonder what the S means.
 
""""""""Is that possibly original, """""

possibly in its past the lump was rebuilt and red was the only paint availiable?

"""""""""""How do I confirm that the engine and tranny are original to the car? """"""""

Compare the engine number with the matrix listing in the Moss or VB catalog. 948 will be in raised letters on a tag riveted to the case lower drivers left in front of the fuel pump boss.

Backplate (plate betwen the bellhousing of the trans and back of the motor will be .125" thick in defference to the later .270" thick cast plates on the 1098 and 1275cc lumps.

Trans will be a smooth case and not a ribcase. (smooth cases are somewhat NOT rebuildable...so beware if noisy/grindy etc).

chasis tag # riveted just in back of the front shock facing upward on a 1x frame member drivers left...(which U already found)??


"""""""has an oil leak and the engine smokes "on start up" and "under full accelleration".""""""""

Typical Brit car leaks, valve guides bad , ring seal bad. plan on a rebuild.

"""""""What does it cost to have a 948 professionally rebuilt? (partial or full)"""""

depends on your S.A. (scrounger ability) a bare minimum of $1500...prolly $2500. this is for a corrct and decent build. If you want a wash-off rebuild certainly it will be cheaper. You will also need a FUNNEL....a very large funnel to pour money into for things like drivetrain and others that you cannot see.

""""""""""""Other than the engine smoke, the car is supposedly "show winner quality""""""""

SURE IT IS...just remember ...beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Uhhhh...the engine is junk..BUT the rest of the car is show quality.....does that sound right to you ???

Short answer....if all the parts are there and the body is straight and no or very little rust ...offer him $1500. THERE ARE TOOO many nice cars for sale.

Good luck and keep us posted.
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

I'm with Jerry. These are wonderful little cars, but expect to drop a few pennies on deferred maintenance (DPO) and don't pay 'classic' car price up front!
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

WOW. Lots of info. I think I've got a bit of a handle on it. Car is in Evansville, In. Price is $6900, down from $9000. Everything I've seen on-line is selling in that range now. anything under $4000 seems like a pile of rust and parts? I've got 1 project car, not exactly looking for another. Looking for a sunny day roadster for the wife. Any specific recommendations for the most reliable years/models in the roadster category that can be had for under $7500 in solid condition. (I'm not afraid of a little mechanical work, but I don't do engines or trannies yet and I don't do bodywork. I'll do interior, trim, and engine accy stuff though.)
Thanks for all the comments. This is a GREAT forum. I hope to get a Spridget soon and become a regular.

Brian Clark
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

Here's some pictures
02_1.JPG

c7_1.JPG

3d_1.JPG

59_1.JPG

da_1.JPG

a9_1.JPG

51_1.JPG

5f_1.JPG


It's obvious that the car has been extensively detailed, or there would oil all over the place, right?

Assuming no rust and solid mechanically, value range?
Also, from my limited research it appears that not only is the engine the wrong color, but so is the carpet and the seats have been recovered. updated steering wheel, Front turn signal lights are wrong color. Anything else look out of place?
Tahnks for all the notes, I'll be taking them with me to study the car.
Any additional comments appreciated!
Thanks again!
If not this one, I'm sure another will come along.
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

"The seats have been recovered"... incorrectly, don't know what that pattern is, but it certainly isn't Sprite.

"Turn signals are the wrong colour"...I'm not sure if they are, in 62 cars commonly had white indicators, orange didn't become a requirement until 64? 65?

Someone else will have this at their fingertips, but I'm not sure that 9CG is the correct engine - shouldn't it be 9CUH? certainly was for Mk1, maybe Mk11 changed to 9CG?

As said earlier L in the chassis number is left hand drive, an L in the engine number would be low compression.

I think the S on the end of the chassis no should be a 5, I can't think of anything that has S on the end.

It looks in quite good condition, personally I wouldn't touch it as it's been messed about with so much and is so un-original, but it depends what you like.
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

Ah, OK. I've seen that car at a few car shows. Honestly, I've never looked at it closely, and only talked to the owner breifly. I seem to remember that the paint looked OK, but the car was a little rough on the finishing details. For example, the carpet edges were not bound, and some of the trim was notright. However, the real question here is whether the body work was done properly. It is very difficult to tell from pictures of the finished product. There is another list member on here that bought a shiney car, but found that there was notheing under the paint but an $800 rusted car with a bunch of bondo. I'm not saying they are all that way, but a personal inspection of the car might be needed. If the body work is of high standard, then it might be worth the money.
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

Seems a bit high to me. Not a lot but a bit. Come down a thousand and drive it home. Actually looks preaty good in the pics even with the small changes that no one but the folks here would notice and that all look correctable without major efforts.
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

looks nice unnless ur going for origonal....
if they can keep it that clean i wouldnt
worry about any oil leaks, as theyre probably
common leaks..9CG is a 61-62 AH motor....
make an offer, join the club ; )
...zzimmmy
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

Here's the price guide from CCM for a 62 Sprite:

https://www.collectorcarmarket.com/menus/ccmprcs/62ayspii.htm

Assuming the car is straight underneath that paint, I'd probably place it at a #3 on their scale from the pictures. (click on their "Condition Guide" to see descriptions). When I was shopping for my Bugeye, I found their prices to be in a reasonable range for what I saw in ads.

If it is as the pictures state, and runs strong, I'd say it's worth an offer. No offense to my square-Sprite brethren/sisteren here, but $6900 seems a little dear for an un-original Sprite. The Mark-II cars are a bit more rare, but slower than the later cars, with drum brakes all around. Maybe have a mechanic look at it, and magnet check that paint all around. If it all checks out, could be worth maybe a $5k offer? Just a gut feel there.

In the end, as long as you feel good about it, then it is a good deal. It's your (maybe) car, so you need to feel comfortable with your offer. As has been mentioned, they made a lot of Spridgets, so don't be afraid to walk if you can't hit a price you are comfortable.
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

I have to say...it looks..nice. But, it is, without a doubt, not orginal. The fact that the motor smokes, but the rest of the car looks so good is also a little disconcerning to me. If it did have a recent rebuild (and AFAIK, no sprites came with red engines) what went wrong, why isn't it perfect?

These attention to details things are what concern me. I personlly think it is WAY overpriced (I picked up mine for 40% of that price). You have to remember that the older the car, the smaller the engine. What kind of performance modifications were made to it?

Still alot of stuff and serious questions to ask when checking it out.

Ben
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

Seems really outrageou$$. Many items were done (& not original) - but they "forgot" to do the engine. Rebuild or replacement might be in order.

I have a 1964 -- white turn signals & 1275 (replaced). I kind of doubt I could get more than $5k. Email me for a name of a guy in Columbus who probably point you in the right direction (he's retired and doesn't take on new work).

Good Luck -

George Zeck
Spritey@comcast.net
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

I swear I've seen that car on Ebay before. The transmission tunnel has be gutted
5f_1.JPG

and the tranny almost looks like a Datsun conversion; does anyone else remember talking about this car and the tunnel on the forum in the past or am I thinking of a different car. There are obviously other issues like the aftermarket grill, steering wheel and bumpers when talking originality. Nice looking car, I’d just be leery about someone representing it as original.
 
Re: Looking at first Healey and tips/things 2 look

I do LIKE that fact that the bonnet badge is there!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I do NOT the the FACT that the thermostat housing IS a 1275 one!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif

Tag ON motor means absolutly NOTHING!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonono.gif

Be SURE to look at the numbers CAST in the block, Brian!!!

Have you joined Ohio Valley AHC?? Bigger resource than even this board. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angel.gif

If you need/want further info, please write direct to ed@justbrits.com .

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
Ed
 
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