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Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point

To: "Doug Ingram" <dougi@home.com>, "Wm. Severin Thompson" <wsthompson@thicko.com>
Subject: Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point
From: "Larry Miller" <millerls@ado13.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 09:57:21 -0800
Cc: "Spridget List" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Reply-to: "Larry Miller" <millerls@ado13.com>
Sender: owner-spridgets@autox.team.net
It is my understanding that Doug is correct, but, I also understand that 30
or so chassis were made in 61, all of which were turned into Innocenti's or
CKD's.

Larry Miller
-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Ingram <dougi@home.com>
To: Wm. Severin Thompson <wsthompson@thicko.com>
Cc: Spridget List <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Date: 10 March, 1999 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point


>Thanks for the story about the Bishop. I've often wondered about the
history
>of my car - it's rare for anyone to be able to detail 40 or so years in a
>car's life......that makes your car very special.
>
>But, you say it was built 1/1/60, that would be New Year's Day, so perhaps
>you made a typo????
>
>As far as my reference to production ceasing in November 1960, that is
>straight out of Terry Horler's book, which in the absence of a more
>authoritative work, has to be considered the bible, doesn't it?
>
>Doug Ingram
>Victoria BC
>1958 Frogeye
>AN5L/636
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Wm. Severin Thompson <wsthompson@thicko.com>
>To: Doug Ingram <dougi@home.com>
>Date: Wednesday, March 10, 1999 6:07 AM
>Subject: Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point
>
>
>>Doug,
>>
>>Are you sure of that date... Nov. 1960??? I belive "the Bishop's"  date of
>>birth on my certificate is 1/1/60.
>>
>>See http://www.thicko.com/bishop.htm
>>
>>WST
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Doug Ingram <dougi@home.com>
>>To: Spridget List <spridgets@autox.team.net>
>>Date: Tuesday, March 09, 1999 11:35 PM
>>Subject: Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point
>>
>>
>>>Semantics indeed. Regardless of the date the car was registered, isn't it
>>>appropriate to consider the year of manufacture to be the critical issue?
>>>Car #5477 marked the change to the windscreen (although 3 earlier cars
>also
>>>had the changes), and this was in October 1958. Somewhere around 3500
cars
>>>were built from that point until the end of the year, and I think they
too
>>>legitimately should be referred to as 1958 models. Sometime  in January
>>1959
>>>Leaf Green replaced Dark Green, so there were cars made in 1959 that were
>>>originally Dark Green.
>>>
>>>This also occurs at the other end of production of the Mk 1, which ended
>in
>>>November 1960. Every time I hear of someone who says they have a 1961
>>>Bugeye, I want to shout "There's no such thing!!"
>>>
>>>If I had a car that was registered incorrectly, I would take the BMIHT
>>>certificate to the motor licensing office, and insist that the error be
>>>corrected. But hey, that's me.......
>>>
>>>Doug Ingram
>>>Victoria BC
>>>1958 Frogeye
>>>AN5L/636       - Don't try telling me that my #636 ain't a 58!!
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: TYPE79@ix.netcom.com <TYPE79@ix.netcom.com>
>>>To: spridgets@autox.team.net <spridgets@autox.team.net>;
>>>bthor@master.adams.com <bthor@master.adams.com>
>>>Date: Tuesday, March 09, 1999 8:21 PM
>>>Subject: Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point
>>>
>>>
>>>>Brian,
>>>>We may just be debating semantics here. I consider "1959" Sprites as
>being
>>>those with the later windshields, in addition to some of the other
post'58
>>>improvements.
>>>>
>>>>I don't own the Dark Green sprite that I referenced. It is owned by a
>>>friend who purchased it from the second owner. It is a dead original car.
>>It
>>>was always dark green. It has the original interior (take those words
>>>literally). It has its original tool kit and factory warranty. It is a
low
>>>number car, but I can't find the number quickly tonight.
>>>>
>>>>Since cars of this period did not have a model year designation until
the
>>>time of registration, it is most reasonable that these so-called 1958
Dark
>>>Green cars were registered as 1959's. But to reference all of these Dark
>>>Green cars as 1958's gives the impression that they carried the early
>>>windscreen and other oddities peculiar to the early cars which is not
>true.
>>>>
>>>>Again this may be just a matter of semantics, but I have never
considered
>>>anything but an early windscreen car a "1958".
>>>>
>>>>Jay Fishbein, CT
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>On 03/09/99 22:29:51 you wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>Jay,
>>>>>
>>>>>With all due respect, I believe that Herb was correct in stating that
>>Dark
>>>>>Green was only available on early AN5's.  According to the
Austin-Healey
>>>>>Sprite Service Parts List, Publication Number AKD829, Third Edition.
>>Dark
>>>>>Green (GN12) was discontinued at Chassis Number AN5/9926.  Leaf Green
>>>>>(GN15) was introduced as a replacement colour at Chassis Number
>AN5/9927.
>>>>>According to Terry Horler's book, Original Sprite and Midget, Chassis
>>>>>number AN5/9926 was manufactured in January 1959.  Consequently, this
>>>>>colour was only available during the first 10 months of AN5 production.
>>>>>
>>>>>What is the chassis number of your Dark Green Sprite?  Did you ever
have
>>>>>British Motor Heritage document the date of manufacture and build
>>>>>specifications of your car?  It would be rather interesting to uncover
a
>>>>>car finished in Dark Green from the works after the BMC "Documented"
>>>change
>>>>>point. Anything is possible!
>>>>>
>>>>>Brian Thornton
>>>>>AN5
>>>>>AN9
>>>>>
>>>>>>>I believe that dark green appeared only on early '58 cars....
>>>>>>>herb
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Herb,
>>>>>>With all due respect, this is false. For some reason, the Puddlejumper
>>>>>>website has chosen to perpetuate this myth despite the fact that I
>>>>>>brought this to Les Myer's attention early on.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>For any doubters in the audience, I invite you to CT to view an
>entirely
>>>>>>original dark green 1959 complete with original rubber floor mats,
etc.
>>>>>>etc.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I am still at work and don't have access to my reference materials but
>I
>>>>>>will check those later upon my return to the ranch.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Let's at least keep the basic facts straight and not rewrite history.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>



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