The MkIII Austin-Healey Sprite is a very close cousin of the MkII MG Midget. This one was also something of a troubled child for Liz and Alastair Sinker, but it has finally come of age

Words & Pictures: Simon Goldsworthy

Alastair Sinker’s Sprite is one of the family. And it is extremely lucky to have been adopted by the Sinkers, because had it not been a part of the family, the chances are it would have been thrown out on its ear years ago. You see, this Sprite was the troubled teenager of the family, the one who tested your patience to the limit – and then gave it a little extra shove just to see what happens.

Like most teenagers, it came through that stage and was nurtured into a responsible member of the community, one in whose company it was pleasant to spend time. It has recently undergone something of a mid-life crisis, the details of which we will come to in due course, but our story begins in what would equate to the teenage years, a time when the Sprite was scruffy, continuously demanded money and occasionally let everyone down in spectacular fashion.

‘I bought it in 1994,’ recalled Alastair, ‘from a good university friend who was returning to his native Estonia. He was a bit of a tinkerer and the car was hand-painted in British Racing Green, but I was naive and couldn’t see past wanting a sports car. I used to throw a few hundred pounds at it each year to get through the MoT, the idea being to use and improve it – although if I am honest there was more using than improving.

‘Then in 1997 I met Liz and wooed her in the Sprite. In hindsight, I might wonder whether she actually fancied the AA man rather than me, because we spent an ungodly amount of time at the road side waiting for him to arrive. Perhaps the worst time was on a tour of France. Halfway round, I proposed to Liz. She said “Yes,” but my initial elation was short-lived because the next day, the Sprite snapped a halfshaft. That would have been bearable, but it happened on a steep hill in the rain and, as we were trying to push it out of the way, I slipped and punched a big hole in my knee. And we are talking serious damage – I could see the ligaments poking through. The only bright spot was that we really got our money’s worth out of the AA that time, as they relayed the car back to the UK.’

Despite all of this, Liz was still keen to use the Sprite as her wedding car. The only problem was that the date had been set for August 1998, and the Sprite was looking a bit of a mess. Fortunately, at this point Alastair discovered Tim Fenna and Frontline for the first time. Finances were consulted, a specification was drawn up – a revised front suspension, 1300cc A+ Marina engine, five speed gearbox, new wheels and a cosmetic overhaul – and Liz and her mother drove the tired Sprite down to Tim’s premises in Bath.

To read more about this MG see the November 2011 issue of MG Enthusiast

Back issues available here.