Circa early 1970s my dad was looking for a sports car - something to tinker with and enjoy- at this time dad was working full time and raising 4 boys later 6 boys. He definitely needed something to unwind on. I was with him when he looked at an early 911 not sure why he didn’t buy, too much money, more work than he wanted to jump into? A little while later a 64 Austin Healey Sprite came up for sale I was with him again when bought. He drove this car a lot - rain, snow sunshine it didn’t matter he enjoyed the car. 1976 the front end steering and suspension was in need of repair. Dad had me remove steering knuckles and front suspension for repair. One thing lead to another. The car sat in the corner of the garage in the mean time I graduated from high school and off to Junior College, then I got a job in Wyoming , got married ……
Life happened, moved back to Eastern Iowa in late 1998. Dad and I discussed the sprite a few time even talked about installing a SBC or SBF , my regret is we didn’t do anything. Mom and Dad passed in the early 2000s. We settled the estate. My brother Jeff took the Sprite with him to Colorado which upset my kids, they wanted Grandpas car I explained to them that at that time we didn’t have a place to work in the car My garage wasn’t built yet. Long story short the car went View attachment 6052922 from my brother Jeff to my brother Chris, also in Colorado to my sons in Wyoming. My boys had a good plan - they were going to fix up the Sprite and give it me for fathers day or birthday, life happened again boys got married kids etc. Life happens I get a phone call hey you need to come the Sprite it’s sitting outside etc etc. take a trip out west with trailer bring home and put Sprite in garageCirca 2021 I start collecting needed parts Circa 2023 I start working on car.
Rebuilt engine, gen, starter, steering wheel rack and pinion now working on the body Man am I slow More pics to come. Not sure how to add video The little BMC A series engine is Britain’s SBC Dan
Good story with a long term family connection. Your Dad would no doubt be happy to see this. Looking forward to seeing it finished.
Thanks, Dad would’ve appreciated HAMB he had a good background in flat heads and bangers he was a car guy loved most cars Dan
Nice. Many years ago when I lived in the UK I used to do race support for a team who road raced a Sprinzel Sprite in the Historic Sports Car Club championship there, so this brings fond memories. I also worked on road versions. I suppose those can be termed as an English equivalent of the American hot rod - sort of. As I'm sure you know if you decide to modify it later the sky is the limit - personally I'd consider changing to a 5sp box as they were geared for English country roads, not American highways, and the A-Series does not like operating at high revs for continuous periods. The engine can be punched up to 1340 cc I believe - if you can, find an A+ block which is stronger. Above that, well people have been stuffing all manner of engines into them but if you're not going for 1/4 mile racing I'd avoid a V8 as it will mess up the handling on what is a very light car with a short wheelbase, plus there would be tons of structural work to fit it in AND make the car rigid enough to deal with the power. Back then things like the Fiat TC or the Ford Zetec were popular for swaps but nowadays I would not know...
I’ll probably just live with the 1098 I did the American er English hot Rodding thing with it: Bored .020, decked block for piston .004 down the hole , milled the head, built a long center branch header, and stepped up to richer jets, Had Schnieder regrind cam 230 @ .050 and . 290 lift at cam with Isky lightened lifters also have a later 295 head with bigger valves, sounds good I’ll post a video when I figure out how to do so. The gears are perfect for where I live Twisty hilling two lane roads are the norm. The sprite is not a hot rod although it is similar to the early roadsters Hot Rodders built. Dan
This caused flashbacks! 2 Minis, both with British water soluble steel! Like you, lots of metal replaced. Don't feel bad about the A-series engine. I built a 1300 Austin America engine and transmission up for the 1st Mini, essentially the same as a Mini engine. Dimo Elgin cam, mostly stock bottom end, good heads (I changed them frequently just because...) last one being an alloy head from Mini Mania. Weber 45 DCOE on a long manifold, long center branch exhaust. It routinely was turned to 8200 rpm, no problems. And it's the basis for the new engine for the 2nd one, if I EVER get it done!
I had a Bugeye/Frogey/MkI Sprite when I was young. Pulled the 998cc engine and dropped in an MGB 1800cc unit and transmission. Couldn't keep axles in it, maybe something to do with the driver. I still have fond memories of that car.
The A engines are fun, if I ever see a mini for a good price I’ll probably buy it, I always thought they were cool, I like your water soluble steel comment - ain’t that the truth, although driving it in the Midwest salt bath I mean winter didn’t help. Do you use a lot of salt up your way? Upstate NY is neat country a lot like the upper Midwest. Perfect for small British sports cars. Dan
Since ot vehicles are allowed in this section, here's the 1st Mini, June 30th, 1996. Just got back from Mini Meet East, held that year in Dayton Ohio. The car had been finished for about a month, the trailer was 9 days old. I started on the fabrication on a Saturday, by Monday it was ready for paint. Wednesday I got it titled and registered, and weighed. Thursday night took it for a test run out Michigan 94 to Jackson from Ann Arbor and back. Friday headed to Dayton with it. And I still have about half of the Mini, and just recently redid the trailer to like new. Well, actually better than new. Replaced the suspension components to uprate it to 3500 pounds capacity and added more flooring to it. The S10 truck? Traded in the next year, 1997, for a new S10 Blazer. Had that one for 20 years. Good truck!
Well, I got the 1st one when I lived in Ann Arbor Michigan, but yes nys is salt heavy. Syracuse NY is called the Salt City, and the city sits on top of old salt mines. The 2nd one is a 74 shell, and it was probably brought in from Canada in the 80s gray market era. It's a lot more solid than the 1st, but that's not saying much.
Lots of metal work! One of those cars where every piece relies on the next to make a body. Cool dual carb setup.
Great story, Spridgets as we call them in the UK are terrific as is the A Series engine. Try Googling JLH motorsports here in England for some excellent Spridget stuff. Saw two excellent well modded examples at a show at the weekend. Keep us posted. Just bought a rebuilt overbored to 1380cc Midget engine for my Morris 1000.
We call them Spridgets also, but Austin Healey Sprite is more pure right ? Ha ha Seems like more Midgets have wire wheels, I would love wire wheels. Donald Healey was a genius, the sprites are well engineered and simple, not high performance sports cars but fun nonetheless. Dan
There were Austin Healey Sprites and MG Midgets. Identical cars save for bits and pieces of trim ( hence Spridgets). There was no Frog Eye Midget but after that a MK 2 Sprite and a MK1 Midget were identical. Great little cars with a huge following here in the UK where you can bury complete new heritage bodyshells as well as pretty much everything else.By the way wire wheels were a popular option on both Sprites and Midgets but both came with steels and hubcaps until the later sports steel wheels took over around 1969.
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