The original Mk III Sprite

The original Mk III Sprite

The engine bay with it's first coat of primer

30 July 01

The cockpit, with the doors sitting on the floor, with a good layer of primer. Still not sure what the highlighter is there for...

30 July 01

That beautiful rear end before the paint goes on, with many patches

30 July 01

The original Larke Hoskins assembly plate

2 Dec 02

 
This is the original ID plate that was attached to the chassis. Of note, the car was originally "Carnation Red".

2 Dec 02

 
It took a few goes, but created the new plate eventually. The engine number and car numbers now match! Who says that Mk I's didn't come out with 1275cc engines?

2 Dec 02

The body ready to receive the engine, which you can see to the left of the body on the ground. A trial roll bar is also present. All of the black metal parts that you can see have been stripped, primed and painted gloss black. Sure does makes the car look new!

15 Dec 01

 
The only reason I've put this photo in is because of how long it took me to get the rubber gator in there!

27 Dec 01

The engine bay just after the engine was put back in

22 Dec 01

The engine bay is taking shape, but lots of wiring work still to be done. The roll bar appears to fit. No - that's not my collection of gearboxes in the background!

9 Nov 02

 
More and more of the engine bay is coming together

24 Nov 02

The fuse box and relays for low beam, high beam and the air horns

1 Jan 03

This is a side view of the fuse box and relay mounting plate. It's elevated above the body by three tall washers, utilising holes that were already there for original mounting brackets

1 Jan 03

The air horns and compressor, all mounted on the blanking plate. I've tried as much as possible not to drill new holes into the bodywork. You can also see the tubing for the windscreen washer.

24 Nov 02

I've mounted the oil cooler in front of and below the radiator between the chassis rails. The bonnet's air intake directs air too high only to the radiator, so I made the air scoop to pick up more air from below

7 Jan 03

Here's a photo of the oil cooler from the other side. You can also see the washer bottle mounting, and in the background, the table of doom - "Now where did I put that wrench?"

7 Jan 03

Another view. Also in the photo is the trailer plug assembly taking the wiring to the bonnet

7 Jan 03

K&N air filter on the 45 DCOE Weber

7 Jan 03

A look inside the almost completed engine bay. The engine is painted the original Bugeye green (who'd think it wasn't a 948), with Mini alternator, six blade fan, and braided oil cooler hoses. Some of the wiring is still left to be finished

17 Jan 03

The carbon fibre bonnet, primed, ready for it's paint

27 Dec 01

This is the catch I've mounted on the bonnet. Apparently originally from a Triumph. Looks the part, eh?

27 Dec 02

Carpet, windscreen, seats... the journey continues

15 Mar 03

The steering wheel after sanding back

17 Dec 02

 
The steering wheel after many coats of varnish, and most of the dashboard is done

4 Jan 03

This isn't the most incredibly inspiring photo I know. The trouble is that in NSW the car needs a working windscreen washer . It doesn't need seat belts, mind you. Something about having clean glass to put your head through, I suspect... Anyway, in order to save money, I bought this electric water pump, and mounted it behind the dashboard as seen. The button is also hidden, and it works a treat. Of course, it meant taking the wiring loom apart AGAIN!

24 Nov 02

 
The stereo is mounted above the passenger's feet, behind the dashboard as seen. It's not visible from the street, and barely when you're even in the car. The mounting bracket is attached to the car using the mounting holes from the brake/clutch blanking plate - clever, eh? The stereo now has an attachment for running my iPod as well

7 Jan 03

I found these three inch two way JBL speakers that fit perfectly into the holes in the bodywork. They make a nice noise as well. They're covered in later photos by the black panel. I've now got more speakers mounted away from sight under the dashboard

7 Jan 03

The seat belts are mounted as you can see here. They're ones that can be adjusted to mount at any angle. Mounting them on the wheel arches would have fouled them on the roll bar, and they slide away here very neatly

15 Mar 03

Restored seats. Can you find the speakers?

16 Mar 03

The Frontline kit. The adjustable shock and braided brake hoses are clearly seen. Ventilated discs still to come

22 Dec 01

You can see here the sway bar linkage, and how it marries up to the wishbone and cross bar from the Frontline kit. Ventilated discs, and a steering arm that JUST misses...

10 Apr 03

 
The cross bar from the Frontline suspension kit - a lot more secure than just bolting it onto one side of the wishbone. The kit performs very well, I'm please to report

10 Apr 03

A shot of the rear telescopic shock kit, supplied by Sprite Parts

22 Dec 01

Probably the cleanest it'll ever be! You can see here the sway bar and oil cooler

10 Apr 03

 
This sticker is proof that there really is a great Bugeye community out there. After publishing a request on the Yahoo! chat list, Phil, from Aurora, Ontario, Canada, sent his workplace colleagues to task, the end result being this great looking sticker for the wheel cap. Doesn't it just look the part?

14 Apr 03

 
That beautiful rear end!

6 Apr 03

The inside of the doors are covered with the same marine carpet as the floor

6 Apr 03

 
No - this isn't me! This is Chris, one of the many who helped rebuild this car, and son of Colin.

6 Apr 03

 
Cute, eh?

6 Apr 03

 
New tyres fitted, being Bridgestone Turanza ER 592 175/70R13. A much smoother ride and better handling, and I think they fill out the arches a little better as well

Modification of a motorcycle mirror on the windscreen mounts - $20 for a pair!

Halogen brake lights bulbs with high intensity LED strip mounted on the roll bar... no excuses to not see them now!

Halogen brake lights bulbs with high intensity LED strip mounted on the roll bar... no excuses to not see them now!