During this lockdown period it is a chance to Flashback and have a look at the some very Spritely Sprites!
When the 948cc Sprite appeared on the market during 1958 it’s performance was reasonable compared to the vehicles of the time. But as usual some people just wanted to go faster…..
While there was a thriving aftermarket industry with performance parts, some people performed engine transformations on their Sprites and Midgets. These included the Jack Brabham Coventry Climax engined Midgets, the fitment of Jaguar 3.8 litre engines, Australian’s Own Holden, and Valiant engines plus various other Japanese, English and American Iron of varying capacities.
A V8 engine has always been linked to power, and I guess a quite night in the shed, a few beers and soon V8’s appeared under the bonnet of Sprites and Midgets. Quite often these were intended for the drag strip. Here is a few of the examples from both Australia and around the World.
Australian Darren Veal’s 454 cubic inch Bugeye “Frrite” has over 600 bhp and has topped the time sheets at 9.1 seconds for the quarter mile at a speed of 148 mph and looks impressive on the track!
Englishman Philip Herrick’s Bugeye started with a 970cc A-Series, replace with a 2.6 litre Alfa Romeo engine and finally a Rover V8. The Sprite went faster from 15.1 to 13.1 to 11.6 seconds @ 125 mph. It was rebodied as a TR7 and went slower!! Phillip then wen to to build another V8 power Sprite road car.
Queenslander Jeff Watson’s Giant Killing Sprite Mk II was a sensation during the early 1990’s. Quite often lining up in semi and finals with Victor Bray and his ’57 Chev Super Stock/Door Slammer! As a lot of these were run under a handicap start the Sprite would get the jump on the Chev and still get to the finish line first.
With a turbo-charged Nissan FJ20 and about 520 bhp the little Sprite would stop the clock at 8.18 seconds @ 163 mph.
And when it comes to outright speed not many can compare to Gail Phillips and her 258 ci powered Bugeye Sprite Salt Lake Racer.
Gail and husband Al competed at both Bonneville and at Lake Gairdner in South Australia. Gail was able to reach a top speed of 205.538 mph on the salt lake during 2001- joining the famed 200 MPH Club and the first woman to reach this speed at both Bonneville and Lake Gairdner. The Sprite then, with a 350 ci engine, went on with Doug Odom at the wheel to reach 220.237 mph that same year.
Gail and husband also visited the South Australian Sprite Club stand at the Adelaide Motor Show during 2008, when they were visiting for another run with the Dry Lakes Racing Association. Unfortunately wet weather caused this event to be postponed.
So when tinkering under the bonnet of your Sprite and Midget you might get caught up thinking of power upgrades like many have before……..
