This is long, and will be of interest to originality/correctness types, and
hopefully to others who own HAN7 Sprites or GAN2 Midgets. It concerns the
correct colour for the metal gear lever surround on those models.
As far as I can tell, my project car (HAN7L/30003) is original. Not that it
is in great shape (thus earning the designation "project"), but there is no
evidence that it has been modified, and certainly it still wears its
original coat of paint, except for rear end accident repair. All the
interior is unquestionably original down to the smelly upholstery and rotten
carpets. The known history of the car also suggests that it has not been
tampered with, as was a daily driver, then abandoned, and then impounded for
about 20 years before I acquired it. So what, you say?
Well, both the concours standards and Original Sprite & Midget state that
the gear lever surround should be painted body colour. My car is Old English
White, with a red interior, both confirmed accurate by the heritage
certificate. Thus, the gear lever surround should be OEW, but it's not -
it's red. Red to match the interior, not the body. The HAN7 was the first
model to have Vynide covered inner door frames - previous models showed
painted metal, the same colour as the exterior. So it actually makes more
sense that the gear lever surround match the rest of the interior, rather
than being the lone interior component wearing exterior colour.
Earlier this month, I wrote to Terry Horler about this, and recently got his
reply. To paraphrase, he states it is very probable that the gear lever
surround should match the interior. He says there were very few HAN7 and
GAN2 versions for him to inspect in the research for OS&M. The GAN2 examples
that he looked at were both red on red, so nothing can be learned from them.
The HAN7 he looked at (OEW with hazelnut trim, pictures in the book), with
the hazelnut gear lever surround, may be correct after all, although at the
time he believed it was not.
Terry will try to find out more, through the Midget & Sprite Club (UK)
newsletter. Can anyone add anything to this? Perhaps someone has an original
HAN7 or GAN2, or remembers seeing one in the past, or has old
photos..........
I would appreciate any help. With sufficient evidence, I'll attempt to get
the concours standards revised.
Thanks for your interest,
Doug Ingram
Victoria BC
1958 Sprite (AN5L/636)
1963 Sprite Mk II project (HAN7L/30003)
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