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Spridget Specials

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aeronca65t

aeronca65t

Great Pumpkin
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Here's a "Jacobs MG Midget GT", a factory special that predated the MGBGT. Notice that it had a Sprite grill with an MG badge. The link below is another picture of the same car. I know there are many other Spridget "specials" out there. Seen any?

goodwood_16.jpg
 
Was that a removeable hardtop?
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by tony barnhill:
Was that a removeable hardtop?<hr></blockquote>

No. Apparently hand hammered from aluminum and riveted in place.
 
I almost bought a project Arkley when I was in high school. You know the one, looks like a shrunken Morgan, with those flowing separate fenders, and based around a Spridget shell/ Well, anyway, the shell was in great shape, and the engine bay contained what looked like a tuned 1275 motor. It was a project needing full restoration, so I passed. After all, the costs would've been the same as building up a Spridg in the same condition, but I would've had a car of somewhat questionable value and looks. I started kicking myself when I found a kit that converted a Spridg to a replica Speedwell Sprite.....that half finished Arkley would've been a perfect donor!
-William
 
Like an idiot, I walked on a pretty little yellow Arkley here in town last summer....sometimes we're our worst enemy!

[ 11-17-2003: Message edited by: tony barnhill ]</p>
 
I'm a huge fan of the Lotus Seven (which I imagine is the inspiration for the Arkley)...but somehow, the proportions of the Arkley seem a bit off, to my eye.
One of our evening students sold a nice one a few years ago for about $5000. I got a chance to look all over it. Not my cup of tea, but still, an interesting car....<p>
B26438.jpg
 
The Super Sprite. I saw 3 or 4 of these one night near Philly at a used car dealer. I stopped to look.
and I never heard of them again. I didn't think it was a dream.
There was also a BMC Sprint on the drawing board.
It was a front wheel drive Sprite with a Mini power plant. Never did make it into production.
The Speedwell/Sprinzel sprites, Lenham and Targa Florio Sprites were all factory "specials" too.
And let's not forget about the Sprite speed boat. Not to be confused with the Healey Sports boat which was MGA powered and wood, the Sprite was fiberglass.
 
Now, the Innocenti is a car I'd love to own!
 
aerog...is it available in the US?
 
aeronca-that's not a Sebring Sprite-it's a WSM Sprite. Designed and built by Douglas Wilson-Spratt, an Austin dealer and Sprite racer. The car pictured is actually one of the prototype WSMs.

Special bodied Sprites have always been a favorite of mine-if I had more moolah I'd probably start collecting Sprites and Midgets, starting with a Sprinzel, then a Speedwell, a Sprite with the Ashley fastback hardtop......and the Falcon bodied LeMans Sprite. That car's amazing-a Sprite with a Falcon fiberglass body cut and shut to fit the Sprite chassis. Sold in the US, and found in the early seventies in a field in Ohio. As yet unrestored.
-William
 
William:
I'm not an expert on Sprite history, so I was relying on the info on this page:
https://www.austin-healey-club.com/Pages/AH50-woolmer-series.html
As you can see, the page is part of The Austin Healey Club UK. Apparently the car is a re-bodied Sebring Sprite. I wonder if Peel was influenced by the WSM cars...It sure looks it! Here's what they say about the little yellow coupe:

The next acquisition was 46 BXN, an ex-works Sebring Sprite which following a successful career as a race car in the hands of Peter Jackson in America, Europe & Britain, had a major electrical fire whilst on the Welsh Rally. BXN was then re-bodied by Peel Coachworks into the attractive all alloy coupe you see today. BXN has been raced very successfully over the past 15 years, by a number of lucky drivers including yours truly. BXN will be seen racing at Thruxton on Saturday. The photo shows me racing at Silverstone in 1995.

Here's an actual WSM car...they do look alike:
smallwsmsprite.jpg
 
Funny...46BXN is shown as an example of the WSM in The Healey Book! That's the only reason I recongnized the car in the first place, as I'd just read about them in the book a few days ago.
-William
 
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