Spridget

This story is a bit of a sequel to my King Midget story, which you may or not have read on this website. If not, nothing really lost, just the musings of an old man.    My interest in the M.G./Sprite started when I got out of High School in 1958. I had hounded a service Manager at the local imported car dealership, Shakespeare Motors, in Danville Il., long enough, that he gave me a job at his workplace.  I was a janitor, parts runner, clean up boy, trash hauler, and Gopher. (Anything needed by the mechanics or office I would Gopher- or Go For.) I didn’t really work there too long, but one of the things I really remember is dusting off the two or three Bugatti cars in the dealership that the owner collected. One of which was a Sedan, Bugatti Royale. On numerous occasions, I was sent by the dealership to a location in Chicago on North Lincoln Ave. to pick up a NEW car. I was given a set of tags, I assume a check, and put on a train at the now defunct train depot in Danville. I drove back Hillmans, among others. The one thing that I really enjoyed the most, was when the new Bugeye Sprites came out, going to "The city" to drive back a new Bugeye. Some years later I finally found a couple at an auction, and bought them. They were disassembled, nasty, and I  finally salvaged the front "Bonnet" assemblies. Not very much to work with! One of our sons, Scott, told me about an M.G. Midget sitting in someone’s yard in the Urbana area, and I expressed some interest. He took me by to see the car, and it was somewhat of a disaster.  It had evidently been wrecked, had a fiberglass front end assembly, sitting out in the weather with a BAD top, and really looked rough. I told Scott to inquire as to price, and although I can’t remember what it was, considered it too much for what there was left. I inquired about the little car several times afterward, and was finally told it had been sold. End of story.Wrong-- Guess again--------------- Some months later it was my birthday and a small party was planned at my girlfriend’s (now my loving wife’s) house. As we were making the preparations, a flatbed towing truck pulled into the drive with what can be best described as a Spridget on the bed! This car was a beautiful deep red metallic, and was gorgeous! I walked out, was looking at the car, and was told “Happy Birthday!” It seems my Mother, now deceased, my sons, my daughter, and my girlfriend (now Wife) had gotten together and bought me this car as a present. Also, the two boys had taken it, done body work on it, painted it, STOLEN one of the Sprite Bonnets (Hood assemblies) from my garage without me missing it, painted it to match, and delivered it to me as a birthday present!  It just don't get no better than that. That was about 20 years ago.  After resurrecting the king Midget, with a lot of help, and very great understanding and encouragement from my wife, Leslie, the Spridget came out of the barn into my shop to begin its new life. After sitting 20 years without running, it only took a new battery, carbs cleaned, new fuel pump, air up tires, bleed brakes and clutch. It runs again and is an absolute blast to drive! It is presently at 5 D Collision for some more much needed work. Although this car sat in a garage, then a barn for a lot of years, you just have to have the right frame of mind, and have the right encouragement to (Make It Happen).At present the odometer on the car shows less than  30,000 miles  D L M    Completed October 2009