Daniel Thompson wrote:
>
> I have several questions about the "Sebring" sprites which are pictured
> on Larry Miller's web site (thanks Larry):
>
> http://members.xoom.com/bugiiis/sprites.html
>
> One: can anybody identify the brand of wheels son the red car? The
> reason I ask is because I actually have a set of these in mint condition
> which I bought from Don Orosco in California. He didn't know who the
> manufacturer was either. They are magnesium, very light, 13x5", and are
> period from the early 60's. And no, they are not minilights!
Well, according to the owner of that red sprite, they ARE MiniLites.
Right now those wheels are mounted on my roadster, but are being
replaced as part of its restoration due to age and wear.
> Two: who is the owner of the white "Sebring" Sprite in the picture from
> Sprite Rush. I would like to know the history of the car. If you look
> closely, you can see that it and the red car are not the same at all. In
> actual fact, neither of them are real "Sebring" Sprites. Those were
> either made by the Factory or John Sprinzel himself. Sprinzel's version
> had coupé bodywork and a different bonnet. There are only six of these
> originals: PMO 200, 410 EAO, WJB 707, D 20, S 221 and one which has been
> lost. These original cars had a fiberglass bonnet with aluminum coupé
> roof, rear panels, and doors. Many companies subsequently made copies of
> these original Sprinzel designed and built cars, mainly Peel Motors and
> Wilson-Spratt Motors (WSM).
There are a LOT more than six cars listed in the "Sebring Sprite
Register" section at the back of John Sprinzel's & Tom Coulthard's book,
"Spritely Years".
> Three: does anyone know of any other "Sebring" Sprites or any other
> close variants hanging around?
Yep, the red Sprite's owner also has another alloy coupe, believed to
have been one of the original works cars and, according to a letter from
John Sprinze, raced at least a few times as PMO200.
--
Rick Snover, San Diego, CA
http://www.netcom.com/~rsnover
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