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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1971 Austin Sprite

The VIN of my car suggests that it is one of the last (and therefore non-Healey) Sprites from 1971. Consistent with many cars over the years it has been subject to modification / updates / restoration so I'd like to establish a couple of points on originality:

1. Dashboard - Would my car have have had toggle or rocker switches when new?

2. Colour - What shade of (darkish, BRG?) green would have been used at the time & what is the relavent paint code?

Any help & particularly images of similar cars would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Paul

P R Clark

Paul,

I also have a '71 Austin Sprite. The dashboard has toggle switches. My car also has the ignition switch on the steering column and the original ignition switch position now has the choke knob. The original choke position has a control for the heater valve at the back of the cylinder head. I don't know how much of that was original or added by a PO.
I can't help with paint colours as mine was originally white but is now BRG similar to GN29 (Richard Boobier has had his sprayed this colour recently).

Steve
Steve Church

Mine is another one. Now Teal Blue, its original factory colour was green. It has toggle switches on the dash

Guy
Guy Weller

Paul,

If yours is a '71 Austin Sprite SWA and green it should be New Racing Green BLVC25 - its a bit lighter than my GN29.

BLVC25 was Jun 70 on according to Horler.

GN29 is not actualy correct for RWA - but i like it !

I am taking a camera to the factory and will look out for a shell without R/Lights for you.

Richard.

richard boobier

Hi

My 71 Austin Sprite is VIN AAN10-87292 in Teal Blue. It has toggle switches with the ignition switch on the steering column - the hole in the dash used for the ignition switch on earlier models has a chrome blanking plug. I think this was how they came from the factory.
I must admit I've been surprised how many of this last batch of Sprites have survived - there are even a couple on ebay at the moment

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1971-AUSTIN-SPRITE-MK4-1275cc_W0QQitemZ110229671788QQihZ001QQcategoryZ29753QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1971-Austin-Sprite_W0QQitemZ110229829535QQihZ001QQcategoryZ29753QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Harvey '71 Sprite

Richard is right. New Racing Green (BLVC 25); toggle switches.
Steve Clark

How many still have the original boot badge?
Dave O'Neill 2

Not mine. But I do have the original grill badge.
Steve Chutch

Hmmm suprised at that?

My midget 71/72 has (had) a toggle switch dashboard and a dash mounted ignition switch. I naturally assumed the 2 went together so that sorts my theory!! Do all those cars have dynamos?
Bob (robert) Midget Turbo

they should all have dynamos Bob - even the early RWA cars had them, alternator only came on home market cars from some time in '73
David Smith(davidDOTsmithATstonesDOTcom

No boot badge on mine either, but I do have an original grill with badge in the garage. My car was 'restored' to look like a 1970 model in the mid 90's so has a plain aluminium grill at the moment. Having had to do a fair bit of work on the car since I got it last year I use the term restored very loosely!
Mine is a dynamo model - I think they all were.
Harvey '71 Sprite

I also have a green Austin Sprite, won't expel detailed hot air but I agree with the above consensus based on my car. Re. badges, a lot of the cars (mine included) seem to have the grille badge (one even went on Ebay last week) but the boot badges seem to have disappeared completely, with cars for sale sporting either no badge, an Austin-Healey Sprite badge, or the simple 'Austin' script from an early mini. I have looked into having a badge manufactured and have found a company that will do it... but for £160-180. Haven't taken the plunge, yet, but happy to dig out the details and post on here if anyone else wants to! And it has been said on here previously but a heritage certificate will give build date down to a few days' accuracy as well as original colour combination/options selected. Interesting as well as helpful if you're wanting to restore the original spec. Mine was supposed to be green with biscuit, apparently, but is now green with red. I prefer it!

Piers
PG Colver

My Midget was one of the first with an alt; made 9-11 Jan 73. It still has the plastic inserts on the bulkhead for the regulator mounting screws.

IIRC a friend's J-reg Midget has rocker switches...

A
Anthony

Thank you all who responded. As ever this forum is a great source of information.

The conclusions I draw is that I should have a toggle dash (which I don't) and BLVC25 paint, which I could have.

I'll look to incorporate this info in my rebuild.

Thanks again.
P R Clark

Paul,

If you want photos of mine in correct New Racing Green BLVC25, whizz me an email.

Steve
Steve Clark

I am currently restoring my '71 Sprite. Toggle switches on dash, key on column, dynamo and original boot and grill badges. Whats the story with the badges then, can you no longer get them? I had hoped to get new ones as mine are slightly crazed!
simes

There were only just over 1000 of this model made so not worth making badges for so few. Some people have looked at having some made. I know of one guy in Australia who was looking at having this done. Also someone here also (see further up this thread). I've never seen any aftermarket ones.

Steve
Steve Church

Simes or anyone else with a '71 Midget / Sprite, please post images if you can. Shots of the interior especially useful.

I'll post some of my beloved mongrel tomorrow.

Thanks


P R Clark

Here's a shot of an Austin Sprite I had a few years ago.

You can just make out the toggle switches. Also, someone had fitted a cigar lighter in the hole where the ignitin switch or blanking plug should be.


Dave O'Neill 2

Also, from a Sprite brochure dated 9/70, the steering column lock was listed as 'optional equipment at extra cost'.

This was an AH Sprite brochure. I'm sure I have an Austin version somewhere, but I couldn't find it immediately.


Dave O'Neill 2

Dave O'Neill, thanks those are very useful.
P R Clark

Here's a pic of a Boot Badge that I saved from a car that was sold last year on ebay in need of complete restoration (reg GLP 902J). I think that the car went for around £200 - at £180 for a new badge I should have bought it for the badge alone!


Harvey '71 Sprite

here's a dash pic of an Austin Sprite that I saved from another ebay auction - another one for restoration!
The chrome blanking plug on this one looks like it's been replaced by an inner tube patch, but you can see the toggle switches and the push type windscreen washer button. Might be the original type steering wheel as well.
Ebay is a good source for pics - most auctions let you right click and save the picture. I've got quite a collection of Austin Sprite pics - sad isn't it!


Harvey '71 Sprite

I'm not sure if any pictures of my Sprite would be of any use at the moment as its a bare shell and boxes of bits! If you need anything specific though, let me know and I'll see what I can do.
simes


Here's another '71 Sprite on ebay at the moment - it looks very original so there are some good reference pictures here. It has the boot & grill badges, dash light, even the ashtray! Just non std air filters

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RARE-AUSTIN-SPRITE-MG-MIDGET_W0QQitemZ120232843920QQihZ002QQcategoryZ29753QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Harvey '71 Sprite

Harvey, Thanks.

What a nice example, complete with "Austin Sprite" rear badge.

Thanks for the info.
P R Clark

Looks a lot better than "Condition 2/3". The seller seems to have been very frank.
Nick

Looks very nice.

Interesting number, too 'XOX240J'

...well, it is for me. My father had a Morris 1300 in 1971, which he collected from Longbridge one Saturday morning - 'XOK240J'

According to DVLA, not on the road since 1985 :o(
Dave O'Neill 2

The sprite probably has new suspension too atleast at the front because it looks like its ready for 4x4 fun.
The wheels look very small in these arches although 145-70-13 is normal spridgetsize.
Arie de Best

70 profile is not normal, which is why they look small.
Dave O'Neill 2

This thread was discussed between 07/03/2008 and 13/03/2008

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