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MG Midget and Sprite General - Hopkirk in the 65 Targa Florio

I've just been watching the DVD of the 1965 Targa Florio. It is a wonderful and emotive film, with lovely dead-pan commentary by Raymond Baxter. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Of particular note was the Hopkirk driven Sprite. I'm guessing it was a Lenham hardtop, but may be proved wrong! I'd love to know what the bonnet was, also looks Lenham to me but clearly has a seperate opening bonnet - held down by a leather strap. I'd always thouht they were one piece. The car had lovely green paint with a yellow rectangle on the nose. Racing roundels obviously. It was quite clearly different to the open top sprite - which featured an almost day-glo green paint job.

Any info and direction towards some pictures would be really appreciated. Thanks, Tim.
t halket

the first hit with google reveals it was 771BJB, one of the Jacobs' Midgets. With Andrew Hedges he came 11th overall which was a pretty amazing result given the opposition.

David Smith

BJB at Silverstone last year

rachmacb

"More Healeys" by Geoffrey Healey published by Haynes

The car was built by the Healeys at Warwick. Lenham never had any connection with the Healeys that I'm aware of (or with any kind of serious motor sport until later, and even then not with Spridgets).

Tom
Tom Coulthard

Hopkirk was in EAC 90C, 'TFR 3', the open car.

Tom
Tom Coulthard

suspected that I was wrong about the lenham look!

Thanks everyone.
t halket

I'm struggling to find out anything significantly more about the Jacobs Midget.

Does anyone have any info/point me in the right direction please.

I suspect it's too much to hope that a glassfibre replica bonnet is produced?

Best, Tim
t halket

read "an MG experiance" by Dick Jacobs

there are only 3 cars with a "Jacobs" body
the 2 Jacobs midgets (both in the Beer collection) and the one Milne midget (still Milne family owned)

No replicas and if any one will make one they first will have to deal with me! ;P
One of the best looking cars that has not been spoilt by the replica industry.
Onno Könemann

Thanks - I've just found an old copy on amazon. Looking forward to reading it.

The replica thing is a double edged sword. I'm not a fan of the Cobra-esque way of doing things, but I think that various people building new bonnets, or hard-tops for midgets is actually quite a nice thing. It is very much in the spirit of small tuners continuing to cater to individuals tastes, which is how it always was. Surely?

Tim
t halket

Tim if you want info on the car then go and see the Beers at Houghton - it's not that far from you! It'll also be at Midget50

As for replicas - it kind of depends on the car, but I'm against in this case as there's something special about it from the time.
rachmacb

I don't like the new tupperware brigade.
For one some of the manufacturars do not appear to own the rights for the design.
And for it to be a sucsesfull venture you have to make a lot of copy's with that creating the cobra or MG K3 problem.
There are more of them around than where bukld!
Onno Könemann

Yes and no - I rather like the Trifosi - not because it's a frog, but because if it is built correctly - it's a ruddy good car in it's own right!!!

However, things like this is just like cloning a good horse - it might have the body, but the balls are missing - so what's the point?
rachmacb

Hoping to get along to the 50th. Not least to see these beautiful cars closer than at Goodwood last year!

Have started a new thread about the glass bonnets above. Seemed more appropriate.

Tim
t halket

I think you can relax Onno Mr Beer will never allow anyone I am sure to copy his cars, why would he?

I think the beauty of Beer's cars is that they are ORIGINAL and are fantastic. I am aware of someone who would like to make copies of this car for retail purposes but I think they will be disappointed.

I think the Sebring has lost a lot due to the ease of having a replica. I suppose if every Midget was modified into a Jacobs copy then a standard Midget would become extremely collectable and we would someday have a thread asking for someone to make replica standard Midget. How bizzare would that be?

Just my opinion of course and also Malcolm's I suspect.
:)

Must have misunderstood Tom but the Jacobs cars were built at Abingdon (MG works)
In the 1965 Targo Florio the car was driven by Hedges and Hopkirk finally finishing 11th O/all and second in class.
In the same year but the Sebring 12 hr the car finished first in class and 12th overall again with Hedges and this time Mac.

I particularly love the detailing on these cars Under the bonnet we can see the effort that went into losing a bit of weight note the chassis rails. :)

By the way not much F/Glass about here thank goodness.

Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

This thread was discussed between 01/03/2011 and 08/03/2011

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