My Existing AutoSprite. Why won't it stop snowing?

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

It's not really shiteworthy. No car with a 240 page Moss catalogue could be. But the first old car I ever wanted was an MG Midget, so when this Austin Healey Sprite turned up locally I seized the opportunity to realise a dream.

 

Here's a photo of it in its native habitat, since it hasn't stopped raining since I collected it.

 

The previous owner had it for over twenty years, and in that time covered 617 miles. It came with loads of old MOTs to verify this, but only four old bills. However, from those alone this car cost him an eye watering seven pounds per mile excluding petrol and insurance. The total cost including all the other bills over the years must be well into double figures.

 

 

It drives beautifully, although I've been very gentle and not exceeded 40mph yet because the tyres don't inspire confidence. The ones with date codes are mid 80s vintage, the ones without... who knows? I had considered ditching the wire wheels for some nice plain steels to avoid the hassle of the wires but it turns out it's not as simple as changing the hubs. The wire wheel cars have an different length axle housing and use different brake discs too. It amazes me that the factory would stock two different axles for the sake of optional wheels, but there you go.

 

Everyone who's seen the car has complimented the wires, even though they're filthy with ruined spinners. This convinced me to order new tyres and inner tubes, even though replacing an axle would probably be easier and quieter than the wire wheel knock off procedure.

 

 

It doesn't need much doing to it, which is nice. All its faults are minor - broken fuel gauge and rev counter from the negative earth conversion, poorly fitting fibreglass bonnet is slowly having a hole eroded in it by the carburettors and the front wings are rust free only because filler doesn't rust. It would benefit from a respray, but I'm not even going to entertain the idea.

 

 

Nice work Jon.

 

 

And finally, here's a picture of a very familiar engine.

[dollywobbler]

Nice one. Surely a Sprite is a Shite Midget? People pay more for one with an Octagon on it, so the Austin-Healey is the shite-ist choice! They are huge fun, though all the Midgets I've driven have (for some reason) been 1500s. Just drawn to utter shite...

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I could have picked up a much better 1500 for the same price, but I didn't want to buy something with what is considered an inferior version of the Herald's engine.

 

Oh I just remembered a few more 'minor faults'... neither of the windows wind up properly, one of the doors doesn't lock, and the hood has a whopping great tear in it (but is otherwise good). Also I took the heater motor out because it was doing nothing except getting in the way. I can't decide whether to fix the heater motor or remove the unit entirely.

[michiel]

Nice, and all those issues surely make it a shite Sprite.

[bigstraight6]

That's nice, you made the right choice with an earlier A series powered car as the later rubber bumper cars look fairly awful and the Triumph sourced 1500 engine is rather fragile!

[AeroNautiCal]

The answer is clear, it won't stop raining because you've just got a car with a torn hood, iffy windows and tyres and no heater/demister... That apart, it's lovely, I've always liked their simplicity and that there's actually room in the engine bay to do stuff (unlike my Mini) and they look 'right'.

[HillmanImp]

I can understand that it can be annoying for people when you see thousands of MGs clogging up every car show, which are all owned by middle aged men with v-neck sweatshirts and blinkered vision but I do appreciate them in their own right, I just like to go and severly out-geek the owners of any that are for sale at unrealistically high prices and mock their repair work.

 

I would happily own one myself, they are certainly cheap and cheerful enough. I am surprised more people on here dont have them at the prices they can be got for. Budget summer hooners.

 

I have never had the pleasure of one but am sure they will be a hoot to drive.

[Pete-M]

First car I bought with my own money was one of these.

 

I've still got three (now rusty) hubcaps for it in the garage, and possibly the Sprite badge off the boot somewhere.

[jonny69]

What are the differences between a Midget and a Sprite then?

[Caffiend]

^ that - they're both just sprog-eyed frights to me (I like 'em).

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

What are the differences between a Midget and a Sprite then?

 

Badges. When the Midget was introduced (immediately after the MK2 Sprite) it was slightly more expensive than the Sprite and for that you got some extra chrome trim and a better interior (better how, I don't know). That was the extent of any differences.

[HMC]

That looks lovely, quite a texty number plate. My neighbour just bought a triumph GT6 that begins OMG

[pompei]

Could you get away with calling a car a Midget these days?

[Morgan84]

Very nice little 'Spridget' ,but yes,the summer's running out fast

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Thanks. No progress to report though!

 

Don't know where my new tyres are because the order tracker is 404ing. Not a delivery I want going to the neighbours.

Will see if I can get 'rim tape' from a local motorcycle shop. Thought I'd pop the flat tyre off the spare to see what they've got now, but my method of lowering the car onto the tyre to break the bead didn't work. At least I know they won't fall off the wheels!

 

Fuel gauge appeared to momentarily fix itself before rocketing back to 110% as usual.

 

But it has stopped raining.

[scruff]

Fab car Peter and in a condition where you won't be afraid to use it. Lovely!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Update. I sent off a V888 last month and got its history back today. It's interesting reading - the V5 says I'm the 9th owner, but it turns out I'm actually the 15th. Looks like the counter was reset when the records were computerised. The car was first registered in Jan 68 on a Birmingham plate (OL) but the first owner is listed as a car dealership in Hyde (whose name returns a lot of gay porn when Googled) registering it in their name for two months in 1972 (why?).

 

So the first four years of its life are a mystery but from Hyde it went to Merseyside, where it was passed about between Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead and West Kirby back and forth until coming to Manchester in the early 90s.

 

The longest and shortest period of ownership is the same person. The guy I bought it from owned it for two days (?!) and then later for two decades.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Update. I sent off a V888 last month and got its history back today. It's interesting reading - the V5 says I'm the 9th owner, but it turns out I'm actually the 15th. Looks like the counter was reset when the records were computerised. The car was first registered in Jan 68 on a Birmingham plate (OL) but the first owner is listed as a car dealership in Hyde (whose name returns a lot of gay porn when Googled) registering it in their name for two months in 1972 (why?).

 

So the first four years of its life are a mystery but from Hyde it went to Merseyside, where it was passed about between Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead and West Kirby back and forth until coming to Manchester in the early 90s.

 

The longest and shortest period of ownership is the same person. The guy I bought it from owned it for two days (?!) and then later for two decades.

[Minimad5]

Have a growing desire to own one of these (or the MG counterpart)

Good luck with it, and please do keep us updated

[Baz]

Back when I restored cars for a living, I did a round-arch Sprite for a customer, and he had us "transform" it into a Midget (Grille/Badges/Black Sills/Rostyles etc)....I never could understand why he wanted his car to appear LESS interesting!

[Morgan84]

I could understand making a Midget into a Sprite,but not the other way about. I call them Spridget's anyhow !

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Back when I restored cars for a living, I did a round-arch Sprite for a customer, and he had us "transform" it into a Midget (Grille/Badges/Black Sills/Rostyles etc)....I never could understand why he wanted his car to appear LESS interesting!

Mine's got black sills... it's not often an underseal tidemark makes your car look newer.

 

 

What's the name of the car dealer, Hyde Austin, Morris and anal fucking motors?

Lex Cockshoots

[Morgan84]

I MOT a 1970 Sprite,and thats on wire wheels,and has gloss black sills

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Update

 

 

While this is hardly a diary thread, I've had the Sprite for six months now, so here's an update. It was supposed to be a temporary affair to sate my desire for a convertible, but six months on I've become hopelessly attached to this noisy little thing. If you've ever wanted to drive a car full of snow, or feel really conspicuous in a town centre at night, then you might enjoy one too.

 

I've even come to see the benefit of the knock off wire wheels. They are quicker and easier to fit and remove than studs and nuts once you get the hang of them. I'd still prefer a set of steels tbh, but people seem to like the wires, and they do look good.

 

It'd barely turned a wheel in 20 years, so I was expecting lots of niggles, but they never materialised. The brakes went soft, but a £7 master cylinder rebuild kit sorted that, and the back box fell off but it just needed the bracket re-welding. Honestly, that's the complete list of faults.

 

Over the summer I might try and sort some of the faults with the bodywork. The wings are terrible (not rusty, just crinkly) and I wouldn't mind painting the sills red. Alternatively I might do absolutely nothing and just continue to enjoy this wonderful little car

[brickwall]

Woo!

 

Looks like a wee gem. More pics please

[Spiny Norman]

Hadn't spotted this thread before, that looks smart. Nice simple wee cars the 'Spridgets', nicer looking than the MGBs too IMO.

[HillmanImp]

It'd barely turned a wheel in 20 years, so I was expecting lots of niggles, but they never materialised. The brakes went soft, but a £7 master cylinder rebuild kit sorted that, and the back box fell off but it just needed the bracket re-welding. Honestly, that's the complete list of faults.

 

Over the summer I might try and sort some of the faults with the bodywork. The wings are terrible (not rusty, just crinkly) and I wouldn't mind painting the sills red. Alternatively I might do absolutely nothing and just continue to enjoy this wonderful little car

 

It might be short and sweet but thats a sodding great update. Cheered me up no end. Nice positive story. 10/10

[michiel]

I wish you nothing but sun for the coming months.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Thanks guys

 

Woo!

 

Looks like a wee gem. More pics please

 

Why of course!

 

In the autumn, gathering leaves. I know the roof is folded incorrectly!

 

1275cc A-series, best A-series.

 

Look at the state of these remove with a copper and hide hammer, or a brick, or whatever.

[barrett]

This thing is great man, I love Spridgets though it's probably not cool to admit that round these parts. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put the proper bumper on the back and paint the sills red though, it will make it QUITER LITERALLY one million per cent betterer and I might even give you a 'virtual hug' or summat.