The thing about photographing other people’s cars in a foreign country is that one is very rarely interacting with the car owners. And that’s just fine by me – people can be very suspicious of foreigners taking photos of their pride and joy, so the few times I’ve talked with the owners, there was usually a lot of tension in the air.
For once, when I saw this Austin-Healey and made a beeline for it, the owner was there and was himself taking pictures of it. I approached, told him “Beautiful Austin-Healey!” – he seemed pleasantly surprised that I knew what it was. And for once, not only was it cool to take photos, but the man could speak quite a bit of English.
That sort of threw me off, actually. We talked a bit and, as I was not in the habit of doing this, I focused on what he was saying and forgot to keep snapping photos. So he told me of the 1.3 litre A-Series engine, that it was a 1959 car originally sold in the US, what repairs he did on it… He also showed me pictures of his other car (a Jaguar XJ8 with the 4-litre V8 – this guy’s a serious Anglophile!) and we just kept yakking until he had to leave.
As pleasant as this encounter was, I couldn’t believe that I only managed to record only four measly photos out of a 10-minute chat with a willing participant. It’s OK – in the end, it’s just an old Sprite, not some automotive royalty, but this still feels like a missed opportunity. Gotta learn me some multitasking skills.
Related post:
Curbside Classic: 1958-61 Austin-Healey Mark I Sprite – A Sports Car For The Masses, by Ed Stembridge
My kid loves the frog-eye Sprite!
My brother had one. I drove it once or twice. I felt like I was wearing it, and was a bit worried my feet were going to stick out of its front. A ball to drive.
If this Sprite has a “1.3 L A engine”, it’s been upgraded, which of course makes a lot of sense. And the wire wheels are not original either; another popular upgrade.
Cute car. Looks very very small. What is it parked next to? Looks like an old streetcar.
They look like they’re from an old Japanese narrow gauge Japanese local rail line, 2′ 6″ gauge, perhaps. I think a full size streetcar would look bigger against the Sprite.
I’m so with you on this! Same thing happens to me. I therefore try not to chat to the owner if they are around, they’ll get a nod and a big smile instead. Every time I engage the pics are meh. ..and I can’t see myself saying ” move a little to the left” where I am clearly trying to maneuver them out of the frame.
Curious as to how the Japanese gov’t views old cars, I looked around a little on Google.
No exceptions from the mandatory two year inspections (Shaken).
No reduced rates on license or registration. In fact, older cars can be more expensive, since they are viewed as more inefficient.
Some people just don’t renew their registration and let them sit, as we’ve seen in your other posts (just the the US!).
Things are quite a bit more relaxed in America, but every state has different requirements.
Also, in the US, if you drive 2,000 miles a year or less, don’t use the car as a daily driver and it is mostly stock, insurance is cheap.
Full coverage on a $25,000 car is under $200 a year. Of course, there are many variables. YMMV
The last broadside photo shows well a peculiarity of these little cars. The rear fender radius actually closes back up and follows the outer radius of the tire, below the height midpoint of the wheel arch, unlike the front end and almost any other car. The later square bodied Sprites and Midgets continued the practice for the front of the rear wheel arch, even as the rear side flared out as usual.
Of course CC-in-scale has a Sprite. Ironic that it should be a Japanese company, Gunze, who made the kit in their classic European series.
My brother-in-law had one this colour back when it was just an old car; my wife used to love driving it. This shows the wheels they normally came with, the hubcaps had a big AH on them.
A 1300 A series is a useful upgrade for those cars they were 948cc or something similar originally basically a Morris Minor sports a bit more power doesnt hurt, and they are tiny cars I wouldnt even contemplate one.
The CC Effect in Action: This afternoon in traffic, what do I spot in my rear view mirror? A maroon Bugeye Sprite, just like this one. Unfortunately, there was no way to get a picture under the circumstances, but it’s the first one I’ve seen on the road here in over a decade.
Every time I see one of these, now, I can’t stop imagining how they’d look with the hidden headlights as originally intended. More sophisticated, more sleek. Even so, I’m not sure they’d have sold as well. As-is, it’s such a happy, perky “face”.
the story is really good even with few pics. Good travels.