Solved: Allemano's № 514 - 1967 Austin-Healey Sprite prototype

[Allemano]

Please respond below if you know the make and model designation of this car and what's special about it.
One point for the right and complete answer!

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[Otto Puzzell]

Ugh

[Aaron65]

Pinto prototype?

[Allemano]

Pinto prototype?

Sorry, but I had to cancel the original puzzle. My source seems to be gone and I can't find any other(s) to confirm.  :-\

Apologize for the inconveniences..


Pic has changed!

[Hezza]

I think this pic is of a one-off Austin-Healey Sprite that was shown at the 1967 Racing Car Show. It was essentially a prototype for a proposed small series of cars based on the recent Le Mans Sprites, complete with wraparound rear windscreens and 1275cc four-bangers. The prototype's front end was significantly different to that of the Le Mans racers, though.

[Allemano]

I think this pic is of a one-off Austin-Healey Sprite that was shown at the 1967 Racing Car Show. It was essentially a prototype for a proposed small series of cars based on the recent Le Mans Sprites, complete with wraparound rear windscreens and 1275cc four-bangers. The prototype's front end was significantly different to that of the Le Mans racers, though.

An accurate reply, well done! I think it was the only roadgoing prototype while the others were built for racing only.
You're getting closer to experts rank!

[Carnut]

What's this, built by whom and when - for 1 point?:

ANYONE FOUND GIVING ANSWERS GLEANED BY USING GOOGLE SEARCH BY IMAGE MAY BE BANNED FOR AN INDETERMINATE PERIOD!

[spider]

French Alphine?

[Carnut]

French Alphine?

Not that..

[frederick59]

British?

[Carnut]

British?

It is!

[mekubb]

Austin Healey ?

[Carnut]

Austin Healey ?

Yes!
Locked for 24 hours to see if you can find the full answer.

[mekubb]

Wasn't easy to find but I believe it is a Austin Healey Le Mans Sprite from 1967, designed by Geoff Healey

[Carnut]

Wasn't easy to find but I believe it is a Austin Healey Le Mans Sprite from 1967, designed by Geoff Healey

It started out life as one and indeed finished it's life as one, but the puzzle photo shows something slightly different!
There's a bit more digging to do to find out exactly what the puzzle photo shows plus when and why!
Locked for you to do that!

[mekubb]

The only thing that I can find is that the alloy-bodied car has been transferred to right-hand drive in 1968 and was then sold to Richard Budd, the present owner. I found the same picture as you used on a website with no kore information then that. Hope it is enough !

[Carnut]

The only thing that I can find is that the alloy-bodied car has been transferred to right-hand drive in 1968 and was then sold to Richard Budd, the present owner. I found the same picture as you used on a website with no kore information then that. Hope it is enough !

Not quite!
You're right that it was converted to RHD in 1968, but why was it LHD in the first place?
Why does it have chrome bumpers and grille surround in the puzzle pic?

[mekubb]

Because it was intended for the American market in the first place ! I assume that's what you want to hear !

[Carnut]

It's a bit like extracting teeth this..
But OK, yes, it was dressed up and converted to LHD before being taken to the New York Show as a prelude to marketing it as a road car in the US.

The plans didn't work out, so it was brought back and converted back to RHD for racing again!

It turns out to be a re-post so I'm merging it but you get your point.

[Carnut]

A better version of my (re-posted puzzle) picture: