Austin-Healey Sprite Mk IV

This 1967 car is an early Mk IV with a 1275 A series engine and permanently attached folding hood. The original colour of Basilica Blue is retained which was only produced for 9 months and makes this a rare car.
KOW has been in my possession since 1973 and has been progressively modified during my ownership, although even before me the car did come with some minor changes. The aim of my changes is to make it a fun and comfortable Touring car. Right from the start of ownership, the car was used for long distance travelling and touring holidays visiting Scotland, Wales on many occasions and even France and Spain. Commuting from Trowbridge to Plymouth, London and Barrow in Furness were also routine in the 70s and 80s.
The restoration, which completed in 2001, aimed to enhance this objective using components of a type that would have been available to BMC in 1967, the main one being to equip the car with Overdrive. It is curious that Spridgets were never offered to the general public fitted with Overdrive, despite its nearest rival (Triumph Spitfire) being available with it together with the later Le Mans Spites. Overdrive is a delight to use on this car and is much more in-keeping with the 60s than a modern 5 speed gearbox.
The addition of the supercharger was aimed at increasing the available torque (rather than power) to compensate for the relaxed gearing of 20 mph/1000 rpm when cruising on fast roads. The blower increases torque (and power) by about 50% over a naturally aspirated engine. The addition of a modern engine management system was undertaken to use the capabilities of the now supercharged engine to the full, and has been done in a way that makes the car look original by retaining the standard coil and distributer body.
Since the rebuild the car has been used extensively for touring, including much of the UK, Ireland and return visits to France and Spain in company with other classics.