Rick Doig wrote:
> By the end of 1960 it was decided by BMC management that: 1.) The
> car was to be re-designed 2.) The factory would "badge engineer" an
> MG version (that's why it's the Sprite MarkII and the Midget MarkI)
...which incidently sent sales through the roof.
While the Frogeye's are very desirable today for their
styling, the square styling was a big hit at the time. I guess
it made the car seem like more of a car and less of a little
toy, which made it a justifiable purchase to more people.
> there are photos of a prototype Sprite that had the Bugeye rear with the new
>re-designed
> front end attached
...pictures of a similar car are in the brooklands gold
portfolio for the Midget. An enthusiast made his own version
of what the car would look like. It's basically a Mk. II
sprite with a fiberglass bugeye rear end and some subtle changes
to make it all look right.
Nice car actually, but in a way it combines the less
unique square front with the less desirable no-bootlid
trunk. Kind of a lose-lose proposition except when in
the company of those who appreciate what it really is.
--
Trevor Boicey
Ottawa, Canada
tboicey@brit.ca
http://www.brit.ca/~tboicey/
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