55 year Frogeye Sprite Ownership

[Flying Phil]

....and it has gone.







Whilst I would have liked to have achieved at least the reserve price, I am quite happy with the outcome.
I purchased the car for £150 in 1970, I did virtually all the work on it to keep it running and resprayed it Metalflake Fuscia, Metalflake turquoise, flat BR Green, and a "paid for" spray into Metallic BRG. In total, over the 55 years, I spent around £3K on parts and paint. So I made a profit from classic car ownership!
I sprinted it, drag raced it, holidayed in it, met my "to be" wife with it, never had to be trailored home - but I did have to change a broken crankshaft in Cornwall!..and bump start throughout a business trip to Scotland.
Goodbye WCR 699, we had a great time together - may your next owner have as much fun.

[Mr Tidy]

Wow, 55 years is seriously long term ownership!

You must have some fantastic memories.

[I-am-the-reverend]

I bet there was a tear shed when it went.

Hopefully it will stay exactly as it is and isn't restored to 'original'. I don't think I could bear to part with a car after so long.

[200Plus Club]

Wow that's a long time. Great story. What's next though?

[Huzzah]

I remember watching you at the pod mid to late 70s.

[Flying Phil]

200Plus Club said:

Wow that's a long time. Great story. What's next though?

Well the V8 Sprite that I've also owned for over 50 years...... but that has gone through several changes....but is also for sale.

[Flying Phil]

Huzzah said:

I remember watching you at the pod mid to late 70s.

Well remembered!

Edited by Flying Phil on Saturday 20th September 20:30

[dandarez]

Hello Phil, that is really some ownership!
Santa Pod eh?
Remember fond times going there... Custom Car mag, probably be banned today!

We conferred on here some time (years?) back. Where does time go?
It was re your Cosmic Mk 1 alloys you have fitted (I had them on my first of several Imps and G15s).


Mk 1's looked good at speed (same car after paint job), not me at the wheel, I took the snap and more than pleased how it turned out (luck!).


I'll probably think of Muscle Sprout now every time I look at my Frogeye over-riders, fitted to the front of my B-engined Ginetta G11 (al la this monster V8 G10)

[Flying Phil]

Well the saga continues as the sprite has returned.... The buyer was not happy and after a lot of "back and forth" the car was returned and the money refunded.
I will be doing a bit more work on it then putting it up for sale again....

[PRO5T]

Crikey what happened?

[Sardonicus]

Knew I recognised that name and that Sprite from the Rover V8 challenge in the late 80's IIRC Phil Herrick along with Steve Green and his Cortina Kevin Jenkins etc the list is long , great times

[dandarez]

Phil, have you checked to see if there is any value in your registration WCR 699 ?

People are nuts what they pay for regs today.
WCR are common initials for example


reg WCR 69 is currently for sale at just under £5k

[T697JVS]

What’s the spec?

[Flying Phil]

T697JVS said:

What s the spec?

Specification
The current engine is a 1098cc BMC “A” Series with 2” main bearings, 731 camshaft and a ported head. Two 1 ½ ” S.U. carburettors supply the fuel and a tubular Long Centre Branch exhaust manifold leads to a straight pipe and stainless steel, straight through, silencer.
Braking has been improved by the use of A 40 front drums which are larger than the Sprite originals. The std SU fuel pump has been re located to the underbonnet area where the access is better.

Bodywork
I then needed a larger car for my work and I had bought another Sprite for drag racing, WCR was put into dry storage and just used for odd outings. In 1987 I completed some extensive repairs to the rear floor area, replaced the sill structures. 1997 saw the car being resprayed with a straight British Racing Green. In 2006 I again resprayed it with, a metallic BRG, as I had re-attached the wing beading to regain that classic appearance.

For the NEC Show, as the paintwork was looking “patinated”…... I stripped the car down and have had it resprayed, again in metallic BRG.

[Skyedriver]

Flying Phil said:

Well the saga continues as the sprite has returned.... The buyer was not happy and after a lot of "back and forth" the car was returned and the money refunded.
I will be doing a bit more work on it then putting it up for sale again....

Veery honest thing to do. Without knowing the particular circumstances, a private seller won't usually do a refund. Buyer beware etc.

Just revisited, that V8 Sprite, it has keep fit windows rather than slidy ones.

When I was 17, seems like a decade or two ago but actually 1970, I wanted a Frogeye as a first car. They were around 20 years old then and all rotten to the core. Still look at ads for them now but not sure it's the car for me at the age of 72.

Edited by Skyedriver on Tuesday 21st October 18:59

[Flying Phil]

Hi Skyediver
Well in 1970 the oldest Sprite was 12....and many were rotten....Still back to mine.
I finished the other side rear brakes, then set about removing the vinyl lettering. A quick wipe with petrol - and a polish, saw it all completely gone so it is back to a more standard appearance.
I then dropped the float chambers to clean them out and put the new grommets on. In fact they were fairly clean inside and the old grommets were still effective, but I now know they are good. I also replaced the old flexible (not!) fuel lines with new braided lines, I still need a couple of hose clips.
I put a bit more fuel in the tank and started the engine. After a few minutes it is revving and idling nicely with only a slight misfire - probably as the old fuel works through.

Edited by Flying Phil on Tuesday 21st October 21:34