Rapidly developing a thing for Spridgets

[NdPlume]

I pass a very nice looking Midget (or Sprite, I'm not quite sure) on my way to work every day and with each passing commute I get more tempted. I think they look superb with the hard top and a few mods - like they took a wrong turning on the 1965 Targa Florio. Can't help wondering how if it'd be feasible to maintain one as a retro track car.

Anyone else a secret Spridget admirer?

[chard]

Brilliant little cars (just sold one). Get one with a good shell everything else is childs play.

Go to www.mgcars.org.uk forum loads of really enthusiastic sprigiteers and modifiers there.

Chard

[goodwoodweirdo]

Everything is available either new or second hand. Projects and basket cases can be picked up for a few hundred quid. People are asking crazy money for old worn 1275 engines… same story for gearboxes.

The spridget racers are a very friendly bunch and happy to share technical tuning info …

Pity they are not worth more… you see the day I sell mine the prices will climb…

Matt
’68 AH sprite..

[a8hex]

Or if you just want a retro look mad car their are people who drop modern lumps into them and they then go like the proverbial st of a shovel.

[Nick_F]

Round arches only, please.

[chard]

I've just sold a RWA and like them but I think the SWA suits the car (kinda looks more original) a 1275 is more important and if you can find a 5 speed conversion ........................close to driving perfection.

[Edmundo2]

Noticed the front cover of this months "Retro" cars magazine, ( or similar publication ), on the shelf today featuring lovely looking Suzuki engined frogeye with mods. Cover says done by the guy from so-cal in the states, ( didn't open the mag but guess it's Jimmy Shine?. If you like craftsmenship try googling his name - some nice projects). I'm not that up on them but like you have always loved tweaked ones and fairly sure a company called Frontline, ( costello? ), are tuners and do k-series engine swaps etc..

Edited by Edmundo2 on Friday 17th July 23:49

[chard]

Just about every mod and engine swap concivable has been done to these cars. So cheap and simple to work on. Plenty ok K serise about (frontline are the specialists) Even a V8 rover engined car in the Midlands with a sierra 4x4 system.

I prefer to keep them light (only 665kg as std) a bike engine would be great.

Chard

[BMWChris]

My mildly modified 1500 (bumpers removed, suspension lowered, mild engine work) is brilliant. It is very competitve at sprinting, hillclimbing, autotests and rallying.

1500s are the cheapest, fastest and most compfortable over long journeys. I regularly drive for 3 hours to an event, compete sucessfully and drive home.

[NdPlume]

BMWChris said:

My mildly modified 1500 (bumpers removed, suspension lowered, mild engine work) is brilliant. It is very competitve at sprinting, hillclimbing, autotests and rallying.

1500s are the cheapest, fastest and most compfortable over long journeys. I regularly drive for 3 hours to an event, compete sucessfully and drive home.

I was wondering what level of tuning you could take them to and still drive relatively comfortably. I think if I ever had something like that being a classsic a large part would be owning a nice 'thing' if that makes sense, so I'd probably go for something that I could covet as well as throw around!

[williamp]

Great. I had a 69 MG which was tuned- loud exhaust and chromed air filters, with racing harness. Great fun, very chuckable but as cramped as you'd imagine!

[chard]

Plenty of people get 100bhp out of an a series engine ok (does not sound like mutch but a very very light car so goes like stink)
You need to be carefull of 1/2 shafts with this power and a ford tyupe 9 gearbox conversion helps.

Even std they feel quick and dont struggle with modern traffic up to 80MPH, then they get a bit noisy.

Go to the www.mgcars.org.uk forum and you will see what I mean.

Chard

[rufusruffcutt]

Nick_F said:

Round arches only, please.

They look so much better. Much rarer though?

[Ranger 6]

....git - just went off to look in the classifieds

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1071316.htm

Just like my old one but with 3 times the power.....

[chard]

a lot of dough!! You could get........................lets see now.......................Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......................a nice peugeot hatch back or something for that.