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YankeeTR

YankeeTR

Luke Skywalker
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IMG_2251-1.jpg
 
My first thought was Sabra, but on closer inspection, I think not! Intermeccanica?? A Speedwell variant?
 
Bugimike gets an A+ on this one...

It was shown at the British Car Field Days in Sussex, WI on Sunday. A Bugeye Sprite with a Speedwell conversion. I heard it told that this is one of two that made it to the States and only 20 were produced.

An interesting variant on a neat car.
 
Clearly, Spridget-based.

You can tell by the "upcurve" on the front of the sill....this was put on to allow the Bugeye hood to clear as it was lifted. And they never changed it, even with the last rubber-bumper Midgets.

May be real or a Sprintzel replica.

Here is a video of a real Sebring Sprite that I followed around the track at Summit Point. It was formerly owned by Stirling Moss:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5xjOTvRh5w

FTI: As well as the orginal and replica Speedwell/Spritzel Sebring Sprites, there are a variety of similar-type cars such as the Ashley, Lenham, and WSM and other "specials". There are five pages of "Spridget Specials" on this BCF thread:
https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/31693/page/0/fpart/1
 
A group of us talked to John Sprinzel at Road America this past May and he told us that there were only 25 Speedwell Sprites made out of which 75 are still around. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
Is this the Speedwell in your video Nial?

1647977_6405129275.jpg


I saw the Speedwell above at Mosport a few years back when I still lived out east, as I recall this was a fully authenticated Speedwell (with some photos to prove it), I note that the one in the first photo has a slightly different front end
 
Sherlock said:
Is this the Speedwell in your video Nial?
I saw the Speedwell above at Mosport a few years back when I still lived out east, as I recall this was a fully authenticated Speedwell (with some photos to prove it).
Click to expand...

Yes, James. That is exactly the same car in my video.

I had a great chat with the owner after the event....a nice gent well into his seventies, I'd guess.
When I saw it, he had it fitted with a newer, modded 1275 instead of the original 948.
Some of the LeMans Sprites actually had fuel injection and could do over 140 mph.

By the way, I'm pretty sure I've also raced against the #833 in the background. It looks like a Morgan ,but I think it's actually a Turner.

Another snap of the Sebring Sprite
IMG_0979.intermediate.jpg
 
Those Turner's were there at every Mosport event that I went to... The Speedwell only came once that I ever saw, I did talk to the owner between races and I also remember him as being very friendly, there are some good guys out there still... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
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