wheelsmithy's Austin-Healey Sprite: Readers Rides: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Readers’ Rides:
1960 Austin-Healey Sprite
Added on March 11 by wheelsmithy

The rustiest, Michigan State residing, Locked up, hinges not working, wrecked, almost gone example I could find. That way, zero guilt about cutting it up. Lifelong dream, starting to come to fruition. Tube framed, Japanese engined, Home-built British convertible. Getting a Toyota space van rearend, front suspension pieces(Uprights, bearings, rotors, ball joints), 4AGE from an ‘85 Mr2, trans , motor mounts,& column, from an ‘86 Corolla SR5, a Detroit TRUTRAC, Wilwood calipers, pedals, and Master cylinder. The body was in such lousy shape, I had to replace the A-pillars, Weld the doors shut, and build a new frame. Kind of doing a resto rod kind of thing on it-Webers, smoothed valve covers, original antique white paint (actually, International Harvester white tractor paint), red seats resurrected from the bones of the stockers. Hoping from 10 ft away, with a couple of beers in you, it could pass as a car that could have been built in the 60’s.

3 updates
6 comments

Updates

Comments

nocones:: I'm building the same thing as you! Except mine is a midget. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/reader-rides/591/ What motor/running gear are you going to use? Keep this up to date. I LOVE seeing people do silly things to old british iron.
Mar 11, 2009 9:04 p.m.
wheelsmithy:: Dragging my feet really bad on this. Acquiring parts, waiting for rearend to get Trutrac, and come back from narrowing. Bottom A-arms done, now for tops, and upper frame rails.
Oct 16, 2009 9:56 p.m.
wheelsmithy:: Late October”09 Been caught up in other projects, but got the rearend back yesterday. Housing narrowed, along with 2 axles, Tru Trac installed, new bearings, all for $884.87! Local 4X4 shop Essentially Off Road, Thanks. Looks great. Now, having flanges turned down to fit rear AE86 rotors.
Oct 23, 2009 9:23 a.m.
nocones:: SWEET. Good progress. What engine is going in?
Dec 15, 2009 12:58 p.m.
wheelsmithy:: 4AGE with webbers, doing a mild disguise to make it look like a lotus. Kind of natural, since this engine is supposed to be a reverse engineered english Ford.
Dec 16, 2009 9:10 a.m.
ae86andkp61:: Cool project…sounds like a great combo of classic style and ultra lightweight with more modern mechanicals! Kudos for rescuing a car in such condition, you are braver than many of us!
Dec 18, 2009 12:25 a.m.