AUSTIN HEALEY SPRINZEL ALLOY COUPE SEBRING SPRITE BMC  

Built as a standard ‘Frogeye’ at Abingdon on 12th July 1960, this Sprite was originally painted Iris Blue and registered on 18th July 1960 as GUY 603, for its first owner Thomas ‘Guy’ Wilson, a solicitor from Carlisle, Cumbria.  It was then dispatched to the Donald Healey Motor Co. at Grosvenor Street, London, and converted to Sebring specification i.e. Girling disc brakes, wire wheels, etc.,  for Guy to compete in motorsport activities at club level.

The following year, Guy Wilson sold the Sprite through John Sprinzel Ltd., Lancaster Mews, London and retained his personal registration.  On 12th April 1961, the car was re-registered 410 EAO and purchased by Andrew Hedges.  The sale included converting the car into a full alloy-bodied coupe - one of only six such models marketed by John Sprinzel with bodywork produced by the renowned Williams & Pritchard Ltd.

When completed, EAO was painted metallic Healey Ice Blue with an additional dark blue stripe, echoing that of a small number of other race cars competing under the Scuderia Light Blue banner.  Expert engine builder Don Moore provided the highly tuned A-series unit.

EAO’s competition debut in alloy coupe form, was the 1000 km race at the Nurburgring in May 1961.  With Andrew Hedges sharing the driving with fellow Scuderia Light Blue team mate Bill McCowen, it finished 4th in class and 32nd overall.

Other appearances during 1961 included:

Snetterton 100 Trophy Meeting

Silverstone BRDC 23rd British Empire Trophy Meeting

Aintree RAC British Grand Prix Meeting

Snetterton Autosport Championship Race

Brands Hatch BRSCC Peco Trophy Race

Nurburgring 500 km

Urcy Hillclimb (Nr, Dijon)

Snetterton BRSCC Autosport 3 Hours

Montlhery Autodrome, Coupe de Salon Meeting

Montlhery Autodrome, 1000 km de Paris

At the end of a very full and successful 1961 season, EAO was overhauled by Abingdon’s Competitions Dept. (where it had also received regular servicing).  It was again advertised by John Sprinzel Ltd. during October 1961.  However, EAO was purchased by its next owner - Les Arnold, when he saw the car being trailered across London by Andrew Hedges.  He followed it for several miles back to Andrew’s home, before enquiring about its purchase.

Les Arnold was the owner of a fleet of London taxis, who competed with EAO during 1962 and 1963, mainly in club events.  He achieved great success with the car which resulted in the offer of a drive with the Healey Motor Co. (sharing with Clive Baker), for Le Mans in 1964.  Sadly, he declined the offer.

In 1964, the car passed into the hands of Michael Barnett from Cheshire.  He continued to race EAO in club events, but had the misfortune early in the season, of rolling the car while practising for a race at Oulton Park.  The accident, at Lodge Corner, crushed the alloy roof and damaged the bonnet and rear alloy panelling.  The roof was deemed to be beyond economic repair and sadly scrapped, but the rear alloy bodywork was fortunately saved.  

The repair work included a replacement glass fibre Sebring bonnet and the addition of a Williams & Pritchard Ltd. glass fibre hardtop combined with a standard Sprite windscreen.  The car was repainted Healey Ice Blue, but without the dark blue stripe. 

EAO was subsequently sold to Michael Barnett’s brother-in-law - John Dorey.

The following year - 1965, EAO was purchased by Chris Milner from Plymouth.  He competed with the car at various club races and hillclimbs during the latter part of the season.  Sadly, the crankshaft broke during an event at Castle Coombe while co-driver Derek Sluman was at the wheel.  Unable to afford repairs, EAO was sold.

By 1967, EAO had made its way north to Sutton Coldfield, in the West Midlands.  Owner Warwick Edgington, used it only occasionally, on the road, as a “fun, second car”.  EAO then passed through the hands of the Jacques family; first to Alan in 1968, then his wife Maureen (1971) and finally to Alan’s brother, Graham (1975).  It’s past race history long forgotten, Graham employed EAO as daily transport until the winter of 1975, when he lost control on ‘black ice’ and EAO struck a lamppost.  A damaged bonnet resulted in the car sitting in the owners garden - exposed to the elements - for 12 years, before being moved indoors.

EAO was eventually discovered by the current owner, being stored in a semi-derelict warehouse, when Graham Jacques offered the car for sale during 1990.  A meticulous 19 year rebuild followed, during which the car was returned to its exact 1961 specification.

For a more detailed account of EAO's restoration, please visit:

http://www.spritespot.com/gallery/sprinzelsebringsprite

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a unique piece of British motor racing history.  The car has a current V5, along with a 'Continuation' Green Logbook, dating from 1967 onwards, a Heritage Certificate from BMIHT (obtained by former owner Graham Jacques), an agreed valuation from the Austin Healey Club and an M.O.T. which expires in December 2011.  Although EAO is tax-exempt, a road fund license has still to be obtained.  A CD containing 50+ period photographs (digitally remastered) of EAO is also included in the sale. 

The black and white period photographs shown on this listing (captioned in the order they appear) are:

1.  Andrew Hedges with EAO before the start of the 1961, 1,000 km Nurburgring event.

2.  Seconds after the start - 1961, 1,000 km Nurburgring race (EAO on the far right of the photo).

3.  Andrew Hedges at speed during the early stages of the 1961, 1,000 km Nurburgring race.

4.  EAO at Copse Corner - BRDC 23rd British Empire Trophy Meeting, Silverstone.

5.  The Don Moore prepared and highly-tuned A-series engine unit, 1961.

6.  Andrew Hedges three-wheeling EAO during the 1961, 500 km Nurburgring race.

7.  EAO on the front cover of Autosport magazine during the BRSCC 'Autosport 3 Hours', Snetterton.

8.  Andrew Hedges' final race with EAO - the 1961, 1,000 km de Paris at Montlhery Autodrome.

9.  EAO undergoing maintenance in the far corner of Abingdon's Competitions Dept. during 1961.

*  N.B. In order to obtain an M.O.T., an additional small warning light panel was added to the car, which isn't dipicted in the colour interior photograph shown on this listing. The panel is approx. 5" x 3", mounted centrally under the interior rear view mirror, painted matt-black and contains three small warning lights (green indicator/blue main-beam/red ignition).  I can email photographs if required.     

International enquiries are welcome, but shipping/export costs, etc. will need to be arranged/met by the buyer.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have; I will respond to them as soon as possible.  If you telephone (01922 458429) and I'm not available, please leave a message with your contact details and I will return your call.  

An immediate deposit of £500 (Paypal) will be required upon purchase. 

Thank you.