Sebring Sprite Dilemma
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- Опубліковано 28 сер 2024
- Ivan bought a very special Healey Sprite in 2016, which needs a fair amount of love and attention - finally the restoration is underway and he is figuring out what will work best.
Thanks to Zac for help with filming.
Ivan don't overthink it. It's your car do it up how you want it. If the next owner wants it different it fairly easy to change it. Be happy
I agree. What ever you do with it Ivan, it will be a top quality job and it will be the only Sebring Sprite Ivan Dutton Special.
Build the car you know it could be Ivan, keep the historic bits to tell the story.
As the line goes..."Just do it". If Ivan Dutton says its a Sebring it's a Sebring..and that's that.
Interviewer: Well Mr. Best, how did you manage to spend all the money you made in Football?
George Best: I spent most of it on women and fast cars. The rest I squandered.
Ivan: "And if you'd like to come through with me Suzie, I'll show you a pretty desperate carpet."
Suzie: "I can't refuse that offer."
Sharp as a blade 🤣.
Love your chanel Ivan keep up the good work and hello to suzie and john
I rebuilt a "bugeye" back in the mid-1970's. Painted it British Racing Green. The motor was line bored to install bearings on all the camshaft journals, fitted with Duplex double row timing chain, 0.040" overbore flat top racing pistons and fully ported and polished head. I fitted a 45mm sidedraught Weber as a 40mm was not available at the time. When dynotuned the Weber was sleeved to 28mm and all the jets were replaced to suit the small capacity of the motor. The flywheel was lightened. The car was amazing for what was effectively just a 960cc capacity. I am over 1.8 metres tall but found the car to be the most comfortable car that I ever had and such a joy to drive.
Susie could barely conceal her excitement at the offer to see the "desperate " carpet. Must of made her day.😂
All joking aside, it looks like it's going to be a great project. I, for one, will be following the 'Sebring' resurrection religiously.
Good luck.
Its a no brainer Ivan. Buy the Sebring parts and build it as it would have been. Save the other parts for their historical value and all together it would make a very interesting package for any future owners.
Love your channel.
Thank you all for letting us in....
Love the 3 ceramic ducks up on the wall, very nostalgic indeed. Another great video as always.
Noticed them before, nice touch for the workshop!
I remember the three ducks, too.
Long ago in the distant past. They were almost mandatory for every house to have a set hanging on the wall. 😂
Perhaps they're there so he can say, ' he has them all in a row'... ;)
I vote for the Star Sprite bonnet. Anyone can buy a replica Sebring bonnet as you said, but this car has had the Star Sprite for so long, plus it would be a unique Sebring Sprite and instantly recognizable.
Ivan... could watch and listen to you all day!! Totally inspiring and informative no matter which car you are working on.
Keep them coming....
Ivan it is your car. Period. You do what you want with it an maybe the person who had it wanted the convertible top for fresh air. You have been right on so many other things, go for it. Do it however you want. It is going to look great. Looking forward to seeing it progress to a road worthy car.
Ive always considered the Sprite to be the quintersential British working mans affordable sportscar it has loads of charm..and it goes
Great new project with a lot of history! I feel sure that as you progress through this you will do the right thing making it a very unique "Ivan Sprite"!!! Looking forward to more Spritely episodes! Cheers, Paul.🤓
Another wonderful Ivan episode, he is a national treasure and the Sebring is ok too 😁. Gooday from AUS 🇦🇺🦘
It was modded very early in it's life and did all its racing with the mods so I'd be tempted to restore it to its modded self rather than a vanilla Sebring. You know it makes sense!
Ivan, do it how you want to do it, I know you will make a brilliant job . I modified an MG Midget to a Frogeye Sprite using some many Sprite parts, trick suspension, uprated engine, Ford gearbox , lots of trick parts. Some loved it others not so, but it ALWAYS drew big crowds at car shows. We are only here once so do not worry about the purists, they are the ones who talk a lot but never do anything themselves .
Dear Ivan just you go for it , do the car as it deserves to be with all the right bits on it , love the line i hope i have wasted all the money by the time i pop off , do what makes you happy just keep making the videos
I rebuilt my highly modified Series One Frogeye and obtained a fibreglass bonnet for it. The question was where to hinge it. After considerable thought and mock up the only practical way was for it to hinge forward. For anyone who is under the bonnet a fair bit that is the only way to go.
Always great to see another "Shed Racing" video and have Ivan explain all of the differences no matter what the subject is! Great that Susie guilds Ivan through to stay on track. Wishing you all all the best. Alberta Canada Cheers!
Anything Ivan touches in the shed will ultimately add to its value. 😎
In 1965 /66 a friend of mine when I lived in Streatham ,London made a mould for Sebring sprite bonnets.he and I used to one every week. He had it stolen in June 66 .never saw it again
👍🇦🇺. You’re car mate, do what YOU want
I’m in favor of your last idea Ivan. Buy a new front bonnet that is hinged at the front and a hard top. Make it a Sebring Sprite. Either way I look forward to your next video!😃
Hi from Hervey Bay Australia, love you videos.
Don’t stress about spending the kids inheritance enjoy yourself now
I like that StarSprite front end. It really gives the car a different look and I suppose since it was "original" would be of some value. However, it's your car, whatever you do with it will be great and I look forward to watching the progress. As for what happens to all your stuff after you pass on to the Great Race in the Sky, that's what family and friends are for! Cheers!
Fabulous Ivan, it looks like a "Sebring Sprite" to me. From memory the original bonnet on a Mk1 lifted from the front, a couple of my old mates had them. I had a 1964 Mk2 and it's bonnet was set up the same, from memory, but that was 60 year ago. 🤔.
The original lifted from the front with the handle down low there where you could bump it on something and snap it off. the racer guys later made them tilt forward and also easy to remove to get access to the full bay. With the mk2 they just made the whole thing lift off with the fenders rather than having it tilt in any direction.
@@danielboughton3624 my memory isn't too good, I just had a look at some old photos, it's plain that my MK2 I had has just a conventional type of bonnet, hinged up near the windscreen and lifted from the front. I should have remembered that , I spent enough time working on that little engine. I remembered that it didn't have wind-up door windows but it had side curtains like the Mk1.
What national treasure, he sits down and waits his time and comes up with treasure.
It seems to me, the main thing that makes a mk1 so iconic is the frog eye bonnet. In particular, for any sort of a racing car, having the front end out of the way to work on it is huge. That speedway or whatever front end isn't really original anyway, it's aftermarket and frankly looks kind of fugly and heavy. As for the hardtop, oh yes absolutely. I think the value of the car, given its provenance and the documentation, will suffer very little if at all. And at the end of it, it will be the car you want and not the car you wish you had.
u do do ur thing entertainingly …. venue to watch
, listen and learn. good fun
Always a pleasure to watch and learn and see more of Ivan's pile.
Keep the bonnet, looks nice and is part of the history. Don't overthink the roof. Your choice on what you want it to be. You have all the paperwork to show is a Sebring and is on the list. Better an individual car with history than another clone
Do what you want Ivan, nothings right or wrong, it’s up to you, make your own rules. It will be great either way. If it was me, I’d probably use the original bonnet. Well done Suzie, great memory!
My vote goes for making an original Sebring Sprite as that's how it started life. You'll only regret it if you don't. 😂👍
Lovely to see another interesting project for you gents to tackle. Excellent.
I saw a Sebring Sprite or replica on Facebook Marketplace a few months back (I am in Norfolk) it seems to have gone now but it had the hardtop and the nose. It was definitely a project.
Been in love with the Sprites since I first rode in one. Closest I could afford was an MG Midget. My kids still talk about that little car. So much fun to drive. Top down, loud exhaust, Just awesome!!
Build it how you want it Ivan. In years to come they probably won't refer to it as a Sebring Sprite anyway, it'll simply be 'the Ivan Dutton Sprite'
Great stuff, Ivan. As a 30-year Midget owner, I’ve read “The Spritely Years” and have a pretty good idea what you’re working on there. I’m very much looking forward to seeing it come together.
Another education on Sprites i thinking is let Team Shed Racing just ignore the Duffle coats and get on with the job please ,Love the video thanks Team.
I love your twin choke SU carbs, just casually sitting on the shelf. I used to work for SU, both in the factory and at the Service Dept at Ashold Farm Road, Erdington. Wonderful memories.
In my experience there's always someone who will mutter "it's not genuine" even with the Moto-build parts because it didn't leave the factory like that. I have both a standard Frogeye and a supercharged '72 Midget with an Ashley bonnet and other mods. - both nice but the Midget is just wonderful! - I say build it with the supercharger and Star Sprite bonnet and have fun incorporating your own ideas - not being a slave to what other 'experts' will think! 🙂
Not only that, but people who have a Sebring Sprite, or a Frogeye, or anything else will try to convince people that the others are not genuine. That's simply because the less genutones are around, the more their's will be worth.
You do what you want to do give it the ole "Dutton touch "
Once again the brain fires into action. Would it be possible to get it registered as historic Sebring with the FIA to conclude it's authenticity? That would surely settle the debate. Looking forward to this.
Page 127 of Geoffrey Healey's book"The story of the Big Healeys" shows the factory cars being off loaded from a Pan Am transport...the stock looking bodies...fibre glass, front and rear...bonnet hinging forward...
It's your car, do the modifications that you want to 👍👍
For what it’s worth Ivan I think you should buy the parts and make it a “FullSebring “ thanks for the video ❤
To me it's a no brainer - buy all the Sebring bits and make it look how everyone expects it to look. But only if that's what you really want to do of course!
IVAN .. Trust your own judgement Cobber - If YOU want a 'pukka' Sebring hardtop - then get one mate .. but if you prefer it "open" then retain that. Moi, I'd go with the hardtop.
Love your videos.
superb suzi just superb, I got the same moccasins, made in UK, yes?
I thought I spotted those rear wings as I have just fitted a new rear end complete on my frogeye, have to say a pig of a job getting in the boot to do it. I would like to have seen John doing yours! regards what to do fix it up whatever way you want it to look as it will not matter a jot, personally I would keep it the way it is as you have all the history and provenance which is better! like to see more of the restoration please as most previously are American content.
I was having a horrid day until- Desperate carpet...I can't refuse that offer. haha
Fit it with an original style bonnet that is easy to open/close and provides good access. Keep the plastic bonnet in storage as part of the car’s history.
A standard frogeye has the front lift up at the front, hinged on the bulk head. Git of a thing to work on, unless you like bashing yer head.
I think you should build it any way that makes you happy.
Making some alloy rear drums will make some interesting content using part of the originals for the inserts, if there's enough material left. Super vid as always
Brake Discs you can I think modify from a Triumph spitfire disc. Great you are keeping the bonnet and the seats etc.
Original Sprinzel Sebrings had an alloy roof. However the sebring sprite could also be std frogeye shape. There are homolgation papers 🙂
The hardtop and bonnet were only on the 6 Sprinzel cars not all Sebrings
What makes a Sebring sprite is the brakes etc not the body shape
If it was my car I'd restore the old bonnet but that's because it's a historic car
(I'm not opposed to modifying cars as I have a heavily modified Midget with a Rover K series in it)
Back in the 80's I had half a dozen Spridgets... some good. Some for parts... You definitely have a Sebring Sprite. I really like the look of the bonnet. But it sounds like it's a goner... stay safe Ivan... you have a lot of friends all over the World!
Which option will make you happier and more likely to use it when it’s done? If you’re going to all that effort, go with your heart. It’s your car!
I used to have a Sebring Coupe (known as 96RPE) and had many letters from John Sprinzel who was the last UK owner of the car. We discussed Sebrings and he made the comment that many folks called their car a Sebring when we (he ran the Healey competition department when the cars were new) had nothing to do with them except a front sway bar and some disc brakes!
Speedwell in Golders Green was a Mecca for enthusiasts.
Brilliant
You might like to look at Bugeye Guy in the US to see what they know and what they may have available to replace some of the trim that's past it.
Add a hardtop - keep the bonnet: then it's not just a Sebring Sprite, it's Ivan's' Sebring Sprite (£150k o.v.n.o.). Looking forward to the build. And thank you!
You have to leave everything to John!
I might go through this again to count how many times Ivan says "Sebring Sprite" lol
It's a Sebring Sprite, don't listen to the "Experts" who usually have their heads where the sun don't shine.
If you do it like a Sebring people will only assume it is a replica anyway. I would renovate that old bonnet as it is so unusual. It will be the only one like it.
Top video as always. Who was the young chap filming around you in the navy blue overalls?
I think you should do whatever the hell you like:)
That bonnet looks "right" esp the perspex light shrouds
I seem to recall them fitting a Coventry Climax engine to frogeyes in the 60s
The Healeys wanted to do a “Super Sprite” with the Coventry Climax engine and disc brakes all round and they built at least one prototype (project code XQHS), which still exists, but BMC wouldn’t sanction it for production as it would have outperformed their bigger MGA (and used an external supplier’s engine). Jack Brabham later converted some customers’ Spridgets in a similar vein, but I don’t think he sold very many.
Sebring it Ivan
Take it back to original Ivan.
Either keep the bonnet for an option or offer it up for sale as its rare.
Double Sebring please Ivan 👍
Oh I love it, It will forever be Ivan's Fake Sebring Sprite ha ha ! Is that a real Sebring Sprite ? Dad had a real Cobra and that was the question, Is it a real one ? Ha ha ! Keep the great stories coming and you knew the guy that was at the race factory, you can get him to sign it somewhere when your done like Shelby he he !
Sprites are a dime a dozen. You can never go wrong with as it was ordered from factory. Personally I prefer the Bugeye front
My frogeye bonnet was hinged at the scuttle and lifted from the front. Not a Seebring alas.
Question: Bollocks man, what ever Shed Racing does to their Sebring Sprite will only increase its value.
PS what are the brackets bolted to the rear light aperture a spit roast?
It's a no brainer. Build a Speedwell GT. Speedwell front end from Motobuild, as designed by Frank Costin - together with the Speedwell GT rear end. Correct in period as 585 MY. Essentially a quicker, track focused version of your A35, with baby Ferrari GTO bodywork. Simply delightful. BTW I too have a tweaked A35, Frogeye, 289 and a 308.
Ivan’s already got a Frogeye with a Speedwell Monza front: ua-cam.com/video/76S1PXG89SM/v-deo.html
Use an iPhone as a second video camera they are fantastic
Bu
geye Guys have new rubber floor coverings.
I noticed that when you were looking for the rubber tunnel mat.....there was an Alfa Romeo at the back of the work shop.......will that car be appearing any time soon?
That lovely 750 Sprint needs some Ivan tlc soon. ❤
I thought that Sebring Sprites had discs all round.
I'm all for originality but I think you really dislike the cars current bonnet.
Options are, make the current bonnet hinge at the front which might improve it for you.
Go the whole hog and put a roof and new bonnet on it
Can we have a moped video some time please
I'm probably going to buck the trend here and say keep it original.... in my mind that's more authentic.... and clearly rarer!
Being in construction I do not subscribe to the 'preservation' ideology. Cars like buildings evolve and change and that is part of their history. If you want a Sebring Sprite build one with what you have and I bet the racers back in the era of the Sebring Sprite would have no qualms of adding modifications. I imagine that the engine you intend to use was not an original offering, so that kinda sets the tone for the rebuild, which answers your own question.
As a yoof, my first road car was a Mk1 Midget, essentially a Frogeye Sprite with standard Midget front. It had the 948cc engine and the quarter elliptics on the rear. A great fun car to drive especially on crossplies. The only concession to modification was the 1100 cylinder head and 1 1/4" SUs
If it is a sebring then it makes a difference in terms of collector value and the ability to race in certain races. If you keep it original those are the benefits. If he keeps the hood that was added later it might still qualify but if he goes hog wild then it will exclude the car until brought back to original form. Adding a hard top isn't going to do anything to enhance or add value unless it came from the factory that way and then it would have to be an original or a damn good replica. It's all emotional and a bit high brow to me but that's the way it goes. I have a first 6mos of the mk3 which is rare but even though I bought it in 82 the original motor was long gone and with it a good bit of the value. Racers have long since used up all those motors so it will never be in original form again.
@@danielboughton3624 This is not going to be a Concours car, where originality is vital, its a race car and like any race car they will have been modified many times during its life and probably the day after it left the factory. So long as it keeps within the rule book, which tends to recognise the modifications that could have been made, that will be OK. If its to compete in historic racing then no-one is going to allow a Zetec engine to be fitted but a period A series even with modern engineering practice will be allowable.
yes Ivan buy them bits fix it up let Suzie buy it lol
Needs disk wheels
Did i spy a nice Alpha during the workshop tour?
Sounds like you'll always have different opinions on wether its a true sebring or not so I'd build it how you'd most enjoy it. You're opinion is the only one that matters while you own it. It's not like you're going to sell it off.
🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁
I gave you a fumsup
I always thought a Sebring Sprite was a hard top coupe with an aerodynamic front on it……I think you ought to put the panels on and keep all the old bodywork……
Ivan…..I see Hampsons have got a fibre glass 308 in their next sale. Metallic blue…..estimated at £90,000 to £110,000. I don’t know whether that’s good news to you or not……..
ahead4healeys do a ribbed rubber liner set in black.
Come on be a Rebel keep it as it is and give people some thing talk about
Don’t turn it in one of those boring sebring reps. Just keep the interesting and quirky bits