Barrett's #79 - Solved - Austin-Healey Sprite modified by Ron Christensen

[barrett]

What is this, and who built it?

[barrett]

Maybe an expert will know

[Carnut]

Spridget-based?

[barrett]

Yes, based on a Sprite

[Carnut]

It's Ron Christensen's Austin-Healey Sprite, raced at Bonneville in the 1960s.
He bought it in 1966 and used it in Autocross until 1971, fitting an Acme Fabricating of San Francisco fiberglass bonnet in 1967.
He found the car again in 1987 and repurchased it in 1997, returning it to its original spec and racing it in vintage racing.  It was used in the filming of "The World's Fastest Indian" in 2004.
The puzzle picture is actually a trick photo placing the car at Le Mans in the mid 1950s!

[barrett]

Fantastic detailed answer there Carnut!
Did you already know this car, or was it a lucky find?

As an aside, here is a period advert for the Acme fiberglass co.

[barrett]

And a view of the car in colour as it is today

[Carnut]

I had seen it before but could I for the life of me remember where... Sound familiar?!
Just took a fair bit of brain-wracking..