Austin healey sprite
Discussion
When I bought my diesel a4 avant I told myself I knew it was the perfect car- economical for my commute, nice inside, looks nice enough outside...and dull
So as usually happens, I started looking on autotrader. I was looking at various ideas including a 640d, xj and even a A45 amg, trying to keep all the family happy, stick to a budget, and be economical enough on my longish commute and also either fun, or luxurious. I just wanted something nice to own, but it's hard to get one car to fit all those requirements.
And then I thought, no, il be selfish and do what I actually want. Keep the A4 and get a toy. I was in big trouble with the Mrs, but never mind. It also meant I bought the first car I'd seen.. and here she is..
The car used to do hill climbs in the 90s apparently. Its a 1275 a series, bored to 1300 and running a cooper s cam, apparently. I have no proof of that.
Other upgrades include weber carb, alloy radiator, stainless fuel tank in boot, electronic ignition, electric fuel pump and probably a few other things I can't recall now.
I actually got the car in June , and have mostly been learning about it and getting to know it over the summer.
It's been reliable so far and I've enjoyed using it at weekends. It's great fun to drive and handles surprisingly well. Goes well enough too, and feels quick when your bum is about 10 inches off the floor! Sounds good to, with the weber and stainless exhaust system.
The nice thing about is is that it's fun at all speeds.
So as usually happens, I started looking on autotrader. I was looking at various ideas including a 640d, xj and even a A45 amg, trying to keep all the family happy, stick to a budget, and be economical enough on my longish commute and also either fun, or luxurious. I just wanted something nice to own, but it's hard to get one car to fit all those requirements.
And then I thought, no, il be selfish and do what I actually want. Keep the A4 and get a toy. I was in big trouble with the Mrs, but never mind. It also meant I bought the first car I'd seen.. and here she is..
The car used to do hill climbs in the 90s apparently. Its a 1275 a series, bored to 1300 and running a cooper s cam, apparently. I have no proof of that.
Other upgrades include weber carb, alloy radiator, stainless fuel tank in boot, electronic ignition, electric fuel pump and probably a few other things I can't recall now.
I actually got the car in June , and have mostly been learning about it and getting to know it over the summer.
It's been reliable so far and I've enjoyed using it at weekends. It's great fun to drive and handles surprisingly well. Goes well enough too, and feels quick when your bum is about 10 inches off the floor! Sounds good to, with the weber and stainless exhaust system.
The nice thing about is is that it's fun at all speeds.
Edited by covmutley on Sunday 9th October 20:46
Edited by covmutley on Sunday 9th October 20:50
It did have a bit of rust on the rear wing, so this was one of my first job. The car is obviously not a pristine example, and its not what I really want it be be either. I like the more reto race car look. Long term, I'd like to get it back to doing some form of motorsport.
So I tackled the rust myself
I was pretty happy with the end result, although the paint match isn't great. A little disappointing, as I'd taken it to a paint shop and they used a spectrometer (I think that's its name?) To get a paint match. Still, my main aim was to stop any further rust, so it'll do for now. Maybe in a few years I will get a cheap paint job or even perhaps a wrap to tidy it up a bit.
It's off the road now from this week's and the plan is to service it, fix a few issues and refresh the front suspension and brakes.
So I tackled the rust myself
I was pretty happy with the end result, although the paint match isn't great. A little disappointing, as I'd taken it to a paint shop and they used a spectrometer (I think that's its name?) To get a paint match. Still, my main aim was to stop any further rust, so it'll do for now. Maybe in a few years I will get a cheap paint job or even perhaps a wrap to tidy it up a bit.
It's off the road now from this week's and the plan is to service it, fix a few issues and refresh the front suspension and brakes.
Edited by covmutley on Sunday 9th October 20:57
Good for you. I remember these well from my childhood. I sincerely hope you have great fun with it. The classic scene in the UK has never been stronger.
I similarly bought a TVR in 2012 and still have it. My daily drives are as boring as yours. Wife gave her approval on the basis I had earned it, but since then she has driven it once and had herself taken off the insurance, passengered on one track day and asked where the spare underwear was stored, been on one TVR tour to Scotland, and now refuses point blank to travel anywhere in it.
Reason is that she has become a more and more nervous passenger as the years have gone by, and now refuses to sit in any passenger seat from which she can read the maker's name off the diff of the truck in front. I was looking at buying a Boxster, bit more creature comfort, she said fine, but I would be on my own in it.
She is only moderately happy when passengering in our X Trail, caravan attached to ensure geriatric pace, and with her ipad to take her eyes off the road.
On the other side of the coin, she is happy for me to have fun with the TVR. I have been to about another 40-50 track days and have attended all sorts of car gatherings and countryside drives, made a whole host of new friends (all male) and loved every minute.
Glad you went for it - get out there and have some well earned fun.
I similarly bought a TVR in 2012 and still have it. My daily drives are as boring as yours. Wife gave her approval on the basis I had earned it, but since then she has driven it once and had herself taken off the insurance, passengered on one track day and asked where the spare underwear was stored, been on one TVR tour to Scotland, and now refuses point blank to travel anywhere in it.
Reason is that she has become a more and more nervous passenger as the years have gone by, and now refuses to sit in any passenger seat from which she can read the maker's name off the diff of the truck in front. I was looking at buying a Boxster, bit more creature comfort, she said fine, but I would be on my own in it.
She is only moderately happy when passengering in our X Trail, caravan attached to ensure geriatric pace, and with her ipad to take her eyes off the road.
On the other side of the coin, she is happy for me to have fun with the TVR. I have been to about another 40-50 track days and have attended all sorts of car gatherings and countryside drives, made a whole host of new friends (all male) and loved every minute.
Glad you went for it - get out there and have some well earned fun.
Edited by QBee on Sunday 9th October 20:46
Excellent little car to have some fun in !
A few years back I had a Mk1 Sprite with a 1275 and cooper head, was an absolute blast and sitting so low with such very direct steering it handled like a go-kart ! Was a total "bitsa" of a car though and would have taken a lot to get back to being a nice frogeye so ended up being replaced with a very original Mk2 sprite...complete with original 948cc engine, twin SU's and huge bakelite steering wheel all of which have been just a much fun *especially since the addition of an LSD, anti-roll bar and uprated dampers/springs.
A few years back I had a Mk1 Sprite with a 1275 and cooper head, was an absolute blast and sitting so low with such very direct steering it handled like a go-kart ! Was a total "bitsa" of a car though and would have taken a lot to get back to being a nice frogeye so ended up being replaced with a very original Mk2 sprite...complete with original 948cc engine, twin SU's and huge bakelite steering wheel all of which have been just a much fun *especially since the addition of an LSD, anti-roll bar and uprated dampers/springs.
First car I totally rebuilt, stripped body new sills A posts new front wings repair to bonnet edge bought second hand wings and oops there are two versions of wings only found out when I fitted the bumper to the painted car. The side lights were different location so had to cut, weld and repaint the wing.
Engine stripped down to last bolt and rebored, new pistons and bearings .
Fitted engine and keen to get it running so placed a plank of wood across the sills, no doors, boot windscreen or bonnet and was trying car up and down the drive onto the road to see what it was like. Next door neighbour returns from work in uniform, braid everywhere on his police uniform and just laughs.
Learned a lot from that car, last I heard it was up in Shetland so it will have rusted out by now, never, ever buy a car from the islands does not matter which direction the wind is blowing it will cover your car in salty water.
Engine stripped down to last bolt and rebored, new pistons and bearings .
Fitted engine and keen to get it running so placed a plank of wood across the sills, no doors, boot windscreen or bonnet and was trying car up and down the drive onto the road to see what it was like. Next door neighbour returns from work in uniform, braid everywhere on his police uniform and just laughs.
Learned a lot from that car, last I heard it was up in Shetland so it will have rusted out by now, never, ever buy a car from the islands does not matter which direction the wind is blowing it will cover your car in salty water.
Thanks for sharing your stories. Hopefully o van make some over my ownership. My plan is to do motorsport in it, even if just a few sprints at an uncompetitive pace.
But is probably a 10 year plan due to lack of funds and kids. My kids are all in double digits so I get time to do stuff with the car, although a lot of time at the weekend is spent ferrying kids to football and rugby.
But is probably a 10 year plan due to lack of funds and kids. My kids are all in double digits so I get time to do stuff with the car, although a lot of time at the weekend is spent ferrying kids to football and rugby.
covmutley said:
Thanks for sharing your stories. Hopefully o van make some over my ownership. My plan is to do motorsport in it, even if just a few sprints at an uncompetitive pace.
But is probably a 10 year plan due to lack of funds and kids. My kids are all in double digits so I get time to do stuff with the car, although a lot of time at the weekend is spent ferrying kids to football and rugby.
If your kids are anything like my grandkids (who lived with us for the last 10 years), then use the daily to take them to sports at the weekend, unless you can take them both and separately. The arguments if you favour one over the other make it not worth the hassle. But is probably a 10 year plan due to lack of funds and kids. My kids are all in double digits so I get time to do stuff with the car, although a lot of time at the weekend is spent ferrying kids to football and rugby.
The other clanger by my grandson (then aged 7) was "can we go for a drive in the TVR (all excited)?", Me "yes, ok". We get half a mile down the road and it's "can I play on your phone?". All further requests to go for a drive were ignored.
The winter project has begun. Part of the plan is to change the discs and pads, and possibly the calipers themselves, or rebuild them. I did think I might have to replace some of the suspension parts, but they've come up ok after lots of cleaning. Plus, all the rubber bits seem in good condition. It's clearly been done at some point. Plus, it's got the Peter May trunnion kit fitted, to add some negative camber.
I've tidied up the wheel arch too. Still on the first side.
Before
After
Wheelarch was rubbed down surface rust removed with deox gel, then last bits converted with kurust. Primed with bilt hamber zinc primer, rattle canned red and then sprayed bilt hamber wax protector. Should keep it good for a few years!!
I've tidied up the wheel arch too. Still on the first side.
Before
After
Wheelarch was rubbed down surface rust removed with deox gel, then last bits converted with kurust. Primed with bilt hamber zinc primer, rattle canned red and then sprayed bilt hamber wax protector. Should keep it good for a few years!!
Edited by covmutley on Friday 11th November 18:18
Cambs_Stuart said:
I had an MG midget, nearly 25 years ago. It was fantastic.
50mph felt like 100. Great noises, and very happy memories.
If i had a garage I'd be sorely tempted to get another.
Love to see you take this to a track/hill climb.
And excellent work on the rust!
This was mine...
S reg with chrome bumpers? Was that a retro fit?50mph felt like 100. Great noises, and very happy memories.
If i had a garage I'd be sorely tempted to get another.
Love to see you take this to a track/hill climb.
And excellent work on the rust!
This was mine...
I loved mine too
covmutley said:
It did have a bit of rust on the rear wing, so this was one of my first job. The car is obviously not a pristine example, and its not what I really want it be be either. I like the more reto race car look. Long term, I'd like to get it back to doing some form of motorsport.
So I tackled the rust myself
I was pretty happy with the end result, although the paint match isn't great. A little disappointing
Was the rust tackled in the normal way for the era of the car - chicken wire and boat loads of filler or was it cut out and new steel glued in with a welder?So I tackled the rust myself
I was pretty happy with the end result, although the paint match isn't great. A little disappointing
I have fond memories of my old MG Midget (1500 rubber bumpered version) not so much fond memories of speed at which it rusted
covmutley said:
Excellent 
Is it a Sprite or a Midget? (They were the same other than a few details, built on the same line).
Sprites finished production in '71 & I see yours is a '76 (ish) registration?
(although it's clearly not standard in any way with the Spitfire type bonnet
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