spridgets
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point

To: "Larry Miller" <millerls@ado13.com>
Subject: Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point
From: "Doug Ingram" <dougi@home.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 17:25:34 -0800
Cc: "Spridget List" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Reply-to: "Doug Ingram" <dougi@home.com>
Sender: owner-spridgets@autox.team.net
Again according to Horler, there were 44 built in 1961, all right hand drive
CKDs, with the last one on February 16 1959. IMHO these don't count as
Sprites (shields up!).

Doug

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Miller <millerls@ado13.com>
To: Doug Ingram <dougi@home.com>; Wm. Severin Thompson
<wsthompson@thicko.com>
Cc: Spridget List <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Date: Wednesday, March 10, 1999 10:01 AM
Subject: Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point


>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.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>