LocostUSA.com

While I was working, driving my route through Southern Indiana, I saw a Spridget that was pretty forlorn and likely for sale, and it got me to thinking about using MG's, Triumphs, and Sprigets to harvest for components. I'm interested in a "historic" or "period" at this point. I'm quite open to Ford stuff, but I did a little cursory research for an updated Series One/Two style Seven:

Ford Crossflow MG/Triumph gearbox with Laycock OD, or Pinto 4-speed BM/BL sports car rear axle, brakes, and spindles Wire wheels, 13-15 in.

I know the Spifire's pretty attractive for this sort of thing, and I reckon the Spridget's track dimension wiukd likely work against it.

Thoughts?

Dennis

There is a lot out there on this site. Some are using just a few bits, others are going the single car donor route. Search using the terms spridget sprite midget spitfire etc. Some claim the midget seats fit snugly in a book chassis. Many, including myself, are using the 2-speed Lucas wiper system. Spitfire uprights go without saying. One builder is just starting his build with a 1500 Spit. Another has his 1300 Spit engine on the road and just this year added Fuel Injection and a 5 speed. There are more. The common Brit cars have a good mechanical spares support thru Moss Motors and others. If you are interested in building a period Locost, I don't think you could go wrong with any of them, really.

Old British Sports Cars make the best Locost donors. Slightly biased opinion.

The Sprite/Midget rear track is a problem. The MGB axle will work, but you'll need wheel spacers or zero-offset wheels.

Cars were not only produced in England in the 50/60/70's - thank goodness.

Thanks for the search suggestions, I looked around, but not in the right places, I reckon.

I can see why the spridget axle might be too narrow. Why is there a need to space with an MGB axle?

Research this weekend has made a spridget option more attractive. I need to look into the capabilities and capacities of the 1098/1275 A series. I read where you can bolt up a Datsun 5-speed to it (B-210?)

Dennis

MGB rear track is 49-1/2". Minimum width of the Locost book chassis in back is 42-1/2", so a 6-1/2" wide tire will fit, just barely. If you're really going "period" with skinny wheels and tires, you may not need spacers.

It also bolts straight up to a far superior Datsun A12 engine with a far superior B210 axle as well - and "period" correct.


Actually A12 boxes are hard to get, maybe a Sunny A14 with A14 5 speed and Sunny axle ..

I'd be going skinny I suppose. I put new 155R15 pn my Karmann Ghia ans I now have an extra 5 165-80 SR15s, but I'm open to other wheel sizes.

Are those Nissan pieces a result of them building the Austins under license? Hmmm....

Indeed, as it was for the A10 engine but then substantially improving the series 1 A12 and all following 'A' series engines to a point that they are not comparable, 5 main bearings and 8 port aluminium head just as an example.

For many years around the period, A12's were thrashing any British equivalent especially in Clubmans - along with 3k/4K Toyota engines and that's another good choice for you.

Sad thing is it was actually the British who showed them how to do it (especially aluminium casting) but couldn't apply those practices to save themselves.