Austin healey sprite

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.

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.

Sounds like you have a good two car combo there

That repair looks like it will improve with a wet sand on the new paint (one fully hardened) and machine polishing. It's got a bit of an eggshell look to it in finish that will amplify a colour mismatch greatly.

Taking about midget/sprites and motorsport, last time I was at snetterton this was being thrown around.



It looked like a lot of fun and was surprisingly quick.

Looks like a lot of fun - think you might have a Cooper S Head there, to go with the cam; as it seems to have the extra head bolt next to the thermostat housing.

And a lot of non-standard pipe work

I suspect it may also have the close ratio version of the gearbox I used to have in mine. Great cars.

The David Vizard books were the A series tuning bible from memory.

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.

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.

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!!

Oh, and most importantly, roundels added!