MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - RWA Sprite?

Can anyone offer an opinion on this car? Ebay Item:250304937499

Thought all Sprites were SWA. Bumbers look to be from earlier models. Reshelled in to a later (Teal blue) midget shell?

Thoughts anyone?
P R Clark

Here's a bit of relevant info:
http://www.spriteparts.com.au/rwa.htm
The one on Ebay seems to have a heritage certificate so it too might be the real thing.
Mike
Mike Allen

None of them have any actual evidence that is in the least compelling. To quote a letter from somebody at BMH saying that the car was " at the changeover point when it was clearly built four months before the change?!??? It will take a lot more than that to convince me that any of the so-called RWA Sprites are legitimate.
David "profoundly skeptical" Lieb
David Lieb

There is some debate as to the validity of RWA Sprites, but these may well have been products of the rectification department where damaged cars were set aside to be repaired and then shipped. Usually these rectification cars have engine numbers whose production dates don't match the body, but I suppose it's possible that a complete shell may well have been replaced if necessary rather than scrap the entire car. I've never seen any documentation as to what lengths the rectification department would go to save a car.
Bill Young

what lengths?

hammering the hell out of a twisted shell or doors,Maybe. Or replacing an engine that isnt, but I cant see them replacing a complete body.

not their style, they built cars all day every day, they would not be likely to get any one car THAT wrong

my money (in the issue of RWA Sprites) is on jiggerypokery with the chassises and number tallys.

It become a cottage industry back in the nineties

I was offered enough "identities" when trying to get Lara re-registered as herself to have built half a dozen "other" cars from her...
Bill

Bill, I agree with the numbers game that is still being played, but the car featured in the article on Sprite parts has the correct "Austin Sprite" badges and those are so rare it's doubtful if anyone doing a numbers job would go to that length. That's why I thought of a rectification car.
Bill Young

Bill, Bill and all...

It's close to me, so I have asked if I can view. I have also asked a couple of questions, so I hope that the seller will be able to show what he is selling is a genuine RWA Sprite. IF it is, I may be in the bidding....

Mark.
Mark T. Boldry

According to DVLA, it was first registered in Feb '71...very early by RWA standards.

The last of the Sprites had the later integrated heater, whereas this one has the early one with a separate blower.

It also has early style (pre-facelift) door trim panels and who knows what else?

I would be interested in looking at the shell to see if there are any clues to its age/identity!
Dave O'Neill 2

if I had any money (I dont) I know where my money would be placed
Bill

Also has the classic mis-matching front wings - ie the NS wing has the correct lower sidelight position for the original slim bumper, whereas the OS wing has the correct, higher sidelight position for the fat bumper that's fitted, but incorrect as OE.













Now where did I leave my anorak?
Steve Clark

Its a half and half car...

look at the trunk (rear boot) photo...there is lots of blue under the orange paint....then look at the engine bay...its orange and under the orange is brown rust...NO Blue....

The car was an orange 71 sprite and was obviously hit/damaged many years ago and got a 72 rear clip of a rwa midget...the whole thing got re-painted agian in orange ...and whola today you got a fun little car thats worth the current 310 pounds of UK money price tag.

I doulbt the owner even knows what has happened.

"Blessed are those with an untrained eye"

sorta like a 68 Z28 camero package with an SS emblem


prop
Prop

Thanks all.

Mark T, interested to hear your thoughts after viewing.

What does the Heritage Certificate prove?
P R Clark

Its even got the thin style bumpers at the back and the thicker, earlier style at the front.

And, who keeps their key on a card luggage label, other than when it has just been collected from the garage / car auction? He hasn't owned it long!
Guy Weller

I think the old frontbumper was put on by one of the owners.
If you have a nr plare on your bumper then why would you sticker one on your bonnet?
Probably because of damaged original bumper, driving arround bumperless and then buy an (old type)bumper.

Im not sure if the indicator lights are on the same hight which indicates one wing has been replaced.

Interior doesnt mean anything as its probably replaced in its 37years age.(seats also new as mentioned by owner).

Only real facts are BMHcertificat(Type, dates, collor, nrs) and body&engine plates/nrs and removal of badges top paintcoat?!

The owner mentioned 2 or 3 more of these "rare" cars.
Does TH knows about this, anything in his book?
Arie de Best

The wheels are correct for a HAN10 Sprite, not a RWA car.

Seems to have acquired lots of random badges - the wings and badge (for pre-facelift) on the bonnet are in the wrong place, it has the facelift HAN10 grille with badge, and it has a sprite with arrow on the bootlid which is also not original.
JD Sheard

the body has how ever been al blue at one time
look carefuly and you wil find the blue spots every where
Onno Könemann

basically it's a right bitsa...
David Smith

Going to look at it tomorrow I hope, so I'll report back. Will be looking at Chassis number and Body number and IF I can see it, the stamped number on the drivers footwell, the story should begin to come
clear(er).

Mark.
Mark T. Boldry

Mark, ISTR the VIN # in the drivers' footwell is only on rubber bumnper cars ??? Certainly I have never ever found one on a chrome car.
David Smith

David, I can't be 100% sure, but I did think it was there too on an earlier car. Never seen one, but never looked before....

Mark.
Mark T. Boldry

It's been on a couple of 1275 RWAs I've had, but if the floors have been rusty/replaced, there's not much hope.
Dave O'Neill 2

The number stamped on the footwell top is the Pressed Steel body number, it may be fairly close to the Commission number, but isn't likely to match.

The number you want is stamped on the RHS damper mounting pad, just to the rear of the damper. It will probably be necessary to remove several decades worth of dirt and grease to find the number.

The number on the tag in the door jamb may also be fairly close to the commission number.

The numbers on my early HAN9 Sprite are:
Commission: HAN9L-66254M
Door Jamb: ABL057436
Footwell: 4268
Engine: 12CCDAH-5077

- Bill
Bill Gavin

Maybe it's another variation of a Boar's head Sprite ? See link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/safety_fast/2619137409/in/set-72157605873860590/

My september 1967 Midget ( imported from the U.S.A.) had also the chassis number stamped in front of the right seat unfortunaly at one time, before I bought the car, the heater matrix had become to leak and thus the chassis number almost rusted away. My Midget has also the number stamped on the front right damper mounting pad but somebody (at the factory ?) forgot to stamp a character and after year's of restoratian and spending a lot of money I almost didn't get it road legal in the Netherlands.

Pascal " I hope the link works " Seezink


pjw Seezink

Sorry guys, time ran away with me today and I didn't manage to get to see this Sprite. I guess it is a Harequine model but still may be worth a bid.

Mark.
Mark T. Boldry

This thread was discussed between 08/10/2008 and 11/10/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.