The Austin Healey Sprite was a small open sports car that launched in 1958. In its earliest form it had a famous ‘frogeye’ bonnet and a 948cc A-series engine from the Austin A30. A badge-engineered equivalent from MG, called the Midget, appeared in 1961 and was manufactured until 1980. The two models are basically the same and usually referred to by the name ‘Spridget’.

The Lenham Motor Company was formed from the embers of various other motoring enterprises in 1970. The firm specialised in producing Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) body kits to streamline the Spridget into a car more suited to fast road or competition use. Three kit options were produced, the most popular being the fast-back closed version called the Lenham Le Mans Coupé.

This particular car was owned by the late Terry Brown, extensively modified and campaigned successfully by him for nearly half a century. Apart from the usual racing necessities of an electrical kill switch, fire extinguisher, racing seat and harness, it has been treated to major engine modifications. It has a Kent Auto Developments (KAD) DOHC 16-valve alloy head with fuel injection on a Mini Cooper S A-series block, bored and stroked to nearly 1400 cc, and coupled to a five-speed gearbox. With an estimated 200 bhp instead of the original 50, this very light car has a formidable performance.