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Austin Healey Sprite Restoration


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#1 MiniJosh92

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Posted 31 December 2018 - 04:08 PM

Got this little Sprite that we are currently restoring. Is  very genuine original little car, one owner and low mileage and hadn't ever been restored before.

 

Stripped to a bare shell, shell is in amazing shape, we had no panels to replace, just two very small local repairs, mainly caused by leaking battery acid.

 

Got the shell re-painted in it's original tartan red over the Christmas break and got the refurbed axle and suspension back on today and rolling again -

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#2 Homersimpson

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Posted 31 December 2018 - 05:49 PM

Thats a nice looking car, I have a 1962 MK2 Sprite in signal red which I restored in 2001, they are great little cars.



#3 Ben_O

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Posted 31 December 2018 - 10:47 PM

Exactly the same as the Midget I did.

 

Quite nice to work on actually.

 

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#4 MiniJosh92

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Posted 01 January 2019 - 09:47 AM

Yeah I am pleasantly surprised how nice and simple it is to do.



#5 johnR

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Posted 01 January 2019 - 06:19 PM

I've long had a hankering to do a Sebring Sprite replica with Archers Monza bodywork and a supercharger - one day!  This car is looking great - and the same colour as my mini!



#6 MiniJosh92

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Posted 08 January 2019 - 05:57 PM

Few bits starting to go back on - 

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#7 Ben_O

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Posted 08 January 2019 - 08:31 PM

Did you have fun with the windscreen?

 

Looking good!



#8 MiniJosh92

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Posted 08 January 2019 - 08:42 PM

Did you have fun with the windscreen?

 

Looking good!

 

I had been warned but, wasn't as bad as was expecting to be honest, had my old man pushing down and with a bit of effort got the bolts in okay. What I really am not looking forward to is fitting a new hood, might give it to the trimmers for that!


Edited by MiniJosh92, 08 January 2019 - 08:43 PM.


#9 Ben_O

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Posted 08 January 2019 - 09:30 PM

 

Did you have fun with the windscreen?

 

Looking good!

 

I had been warned but, wasn't as bad as was expecting to be honest, had my old man pushing down and with a bit of effort got the bolts in okay. What I really am not looking forward to is fitting a new hood, might give it to the trimmers for that!

 

You had more luck than me then.

The new bottom rubber just didn't want to sit the correct way so it was a constant battle to get it to twist back the other way, and hold it in position, and get the bolts started without cross threading.

 

I didn't fit a hood to the one I did, It had a hard top.

 

What route are you going with this one? The roll bar suits them really well IMO

gUAs0Xk.jpg


Edited by Ben_O, 08 January 2019 - 09:31 PM.


#10 MiniJosh92

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Posted 09 January 2019 - 08:07 AM

Yeah I would probably go with a roll bar but, this we are keeping 100% standard as it is low mileage, one family owned and so original.



#11 MiniJosh92

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Posted 28 January 2019 - 01:23 PM

Engine and gearbox have gone back in -

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#12 finch661

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Posted 30 January 2019 - 10:34 AM

looking great mate!  I have a 76 midget to restore (hasnt been touched before), its pretty crusty in places, not in as good shape as the sprite!



#13 JDImini

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Posted 16 February 2019 - 08:49 PM

 

 

Did you have fun with the windscreen?

 

Looking good!

 

I had been warned but, wasn't as bad as was expecting to be honest, had my old man pushing down and with a bit of effort got the bolts in okay. What I really am not looking forward to is fitting a new hood, might give it to the trimmers for that!

 

You had more luck than me then.

The new bottom rubber just didn't want to sit the correct way so it was a constant battle to get it to twist back the other way, and hold it in position, and get the bolts started without cross threading.

 

I didn't fit a hood to the one I did, It had a hard top.

 

What route are you going with this one? The roll bar suits them really well IMO

gUAs0Xk.jpg

 

Good to see my midget in another topic  :D



#14 JDImini

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Posted 16 February 2019 - 09:14 PM

Yeah I would probably go with a roll bar but, this we are keeping 100% standard as it is low mileage, one family owned and so original.

I've actually taken the roll bar off as it was too close to my head. It was likely to do more damage in an accident that the accident itself



#15 Shifty

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Posted 16 February 2019 - 10:02 PM

Don't be scared of the hood, I've done a few and they really aren't difficult at all. 

 

It's certainly not worth paying someone else to do.






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