Description
This fabulous and well known recreation was commissioned by Andy Chaffey using a 1965 Austin Healey Sprite as a basis. Chaffey purchased a new bodyshell from specialist Wheeler & Davies, mated to an Archers’ fibreglass rear body section, with a Sebring Coupé roof, bonnet and roll-cage. The bodywork was finished in gun-metal grey by John Brooker of Leeds in Kent, in the same vein as Paul Woolmer’s original Sebring Sprite PMO200.
The chosen motor was a 1380cc fast road engine built by the famous Bill Richards with a single Weber DCOE45 carburettor. The engine was offered up to a straight-cut gearbox by Hardy engineering via a fast road clutch, and delivers power through a 3.9 Limited Slip Differential and Peter May halfshafts. The brakes were upgraded with 9” drums to the rear, also 4 pot calipers and discs to the front, which stop the new MWS spoked wheels with ease. The suspension was uprated with Peter Caldwell adjustable shock absorbers at the front and Armstrong ‘22’ adjustable lever shock absorbers at the rear. The final jobs were to fit the rechromed handbrake, the brake and fuel lines inside the car (as per Sebring Sprite 410EAO), the gauges were refurbished and a wiring loom supplied by Autosparks was fitted.
No expense was spared in the build of this magnificent historic car, and indeed the level of detail is impressive. Extensive research was carried out to bring this example into line with the period versions of the Sebring Sprites, such as the battery and twin fuel pumps mounted in the rear of the car, and the twin ignition coils mounted under the bonnet.
Built at an estimated cost of £35,000, and having covered only 800 miles since completion, this fantastic Sebring Sprite would make a highly entertaining fast road or competitive race car. The Sprite will be offered with a UK V5 and new MOT certificate.
