Solved - NEH 2013: Donald Healey Motor Co XQHS 'Super Sprite' project - 1957/61

[Carnut]

According to my records I've already posted this puzzle, but I can't find it anywhere so here it is (again?)!
What is it, who built it and when - for 1 point?:

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

[Carnut]

Experts?

[mekubb]

British ?

[Carnut]

British ?

Yes!

[mekubb]

In a way it looks like a Austin-Healey Sprite, so a special-bodied Sprite ?

[Carnut]

In a way it looks like a Austin-Healey Sprite, so a special-bodied Sprite ?

Yes it is.
locked for you to dig deeper and find out exactly what it is.

[mekubb]

What I have been able to dig up is : Austin Healey Super Sprite 'XQHS' built by Donald Healey Motor Company in 1957 and later fitted with alloy body by Barry Bilby. Finally got its official plates in 1961

[Carnut]

What I have been able to dig up is : Austin Healey Super Sprite 'XQHS' built by Donald Healey Motor Company in 1957 and later fitted with alloy body by Barry Bilby. Finally got its official plates in 1961

Yes, you've got the car although I don't recognise Barry Bilby!
There are a couple of details I'd like still to see for the point though:
What powered it?
Can you see if you can find another name for the body designer as that's not the one I have?
Locked for you of course.

[mekubb]

Well, I assume your information has got Les Ireland as builder and a 1100 cc Coventry Climax engine ? On the sebringsprite website Barry Bilby is mentioned and that the Coventry Climax engine was later replaced by a conventional one. So, no idea what is true ?

[Carnut]

Well, I assume your information has got Les Ireland as builder and a 1100 cc Coventry Climax engine ? On the sebringsprite website Barry Bilby is mentioned and that the Coventry Climax engine was later replaced by a conventional one. So, no idea what is true ?

That's what I was looking for, yes.
The original idea was to use the Coventry Climax engine as this was to be a higher performance version of the Sprite, but Leonard Lord would in no way allow any 'outsider' engine to be fitted to any of their cars so it was replaced by the standard engine.
This car still exists, but not sure what engine is has now.  Will have to try to find out!

[D-type]

Are we sure about the 1957 date?

As the basic 'Bug-eye' Sprite wasn't issued until 1958 this would be a prototype but with lines closer to the Mk2 Sprite.

[Carnut]

Are we sure about the 1957 date?

As the basic 'Bug-eye' Sprite wasn't issued until 1958 this would be a prototype but with lines closer to the Mk2 Sprite.

Here is the info from my source, which I hope Mr Martin Ingall doesn't mind me reproducing, from which you will see that the car was based on a very early pre-production Mk1 Sprite floorpan with many hand-made panels:

[D-type]

Thanks, if it used the prototpe Sprite floorpan then 1957 would be correct.  With a 0ne-off like this the date is largely academic: is it the oldest element or the date it first turned a wheel in this form, or something like it.

[Carnut]

Thanks, if it used the prototpe Sprite floorpan then 1957 would be correct.  With a 0ne-off like this the date is largely academic: is it the oldest element or the date it first turned a wheel in this form, or something like it.

Hence it's described as "1957/61".  Work started on it in 1957 but I don't think it was completed and driven until 1961..