Insane straight pipe 1960's Austin Healey hot rod is a drift machine

Absolutely crazy Austin Healey Sprite from the 1960s with a modern twist! Slammed and stanced classic with straight pipe exhaust coming out of the bonnet is one of the most fun cars ever and a drift machine!
Follow Richard : richardwoolmer?...

[@grayfool]

Superb. This is the sort of car that will make a purist's blood boil. However, I was there in the seventies when this is what you did to an old Midget. It's known in the trade as "having fun". I helped a friend build a 1275 engined MkII to, what we called at the time, hill climb spec. I can't remember the details but it had two ruddy great Webbers, a crazy hot cam (no tickover to speak of), and a much lower diff ratio. It was all in at about 65MPH but got there in very few seconds. On the right road, on the right day, it was hilarious. Stripped of anything it didn't need to go or stop, including the roof, it was also the most raw bathtub I have ever driven. Go for it and have a laugh. This is a legitimate part of the car's history.

[@ironmonkey1512]

There was lots of cars from that era that were great... this was not one of them. No point in keeping them stock

[@MrTheHillfolk]

I could imagine all the British car engine swaps back then ,if they had the lighter LS instead of the ol 350. Maybe some of those would have worked a little better , handling-wise.

[@johnnywarnerperfectroad66]

Have you ever driven a Midget or Sprite Iron Monkey, they're a go kart and wonderful to drive.Had mine since January 81 and it's just a joy to drive not so much on a Motorway, but on a small winding B road little beats the fun. Now this one in the video probably a joy on a motorway to

[@grayfool]

@@johnnywarnerperfectroad66 No I've never had the pleasure. I bet they're incredible though. You probably realise I'm a total fan of the Midget.

[@johnnywarnerperfectroad66]

@@grayfoolsounds like you need a run in mine anytime you're near Norfolk mate. Thanks for reply

[@411nightnheaven]

Nothing like fresh exhaust fumes to your face while driving in the morning.

[@davev5554]

Fair play to Richard for doing what he wanted to do to his car 😄👍. He got very upset when that tractor came the other way though didn’t he 🤪🤣

[@superseven7947]

I love it!! I'm sure the classic brigade are in total dismay but it's all about having fun and I'm sure a sympathetic restoration can always happen in the future. It's fantastic that the younger generations are keeping the hot roding spirit alive 😉👍

[@Number27]

Totally agree, thanks!!

[@johnnywarnerperfectroad66]

Why should the classic brigade object? If you have a lotus 7 surely you are one of us. Think the guy that said he remembers the 70's we all did it has it right. Now the trailer queen concourse guys I would agree, but they're would be museum curator's. Classic car brigade a wide ranging church.

[@Neomet010]

We have a whole subculture of these type of cars in the states. We call them rat rods. Kudos to the owner whose sheer terror on the drive was both palpable and honestly, hilarious. Another great video Jack!

[@Number27]

Thanks Rodrick! Have a great weekend buddy

[@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195]

Your understanding of the definition of a rat rod is not accurate at all. However this car is interesting and more than worthy of a vid especially for an oversized go-kart with an engine smaller than a Honda Goldwing.

[@aylahughes9185]

@@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195 the idea that there is a definition of a rat rod is so dumb. the whole concept of a ratrod is literally anything goes. cleary YOU dont get it.

[@B_Chev]

@@aylahughes9185 But if anything goes. you could end up with a car that would otherwise be called a "tuner" or "rally spec". I'm all for people finding their own unique, stand-out style but these different categories we use are kind of helpful in a way. Just to be able to create communities where inspo can be given and taken. Rat rods are generally known to be stripped-down, disused old autos that find a new life as a mean-looking slammed burnout machine. I imagine the majority of such owners wouldn't object to their car being called a rat rod.

[@themadscientest]

This car isn't a rat rod since it isn't covered in silly decorations. It's a "hot rod" since it is a basic old car that was sitting and now has far too much power to be considered sane and an exhaust that makes the neighbors happy.

[@petescarport]

Omg. Amazing. I have a 63 sprite mk2 with a 1098 engine. I have done a lot of top end work on her but still need the Weber carb tuned. Can’t wait to finish her off. I added a racing cam and a larger head. She sounds mean too

[@haroldgodwinson832]

It gets better and better as the revs go up. Fantastic sound.

[@iancharlton678]

That old “wooden clothes peg adjuster for the choke” trick……. Quality 🙂🇬🇧

[@shanehnorman]

The sweetest-revving 'A' series I've ever heard !

[@2.fresh767]

Sounds great, could listen to that all day.

[@baheh1801]

Love the clothes peg on the choke. It reminded me of the triumphs I had when I first started driving.

[@morbsgti20vt83]

It reminded me of my old mini-metro! ...I don't like being reminded of that car though!

[@peterrenn6341]

I’m pretty sure you could get choke clothes pegs from Unipart back in the 80s. Standard piece of kit ;-)

[@vice4134]

Number 27, that's pretty cool. Thanks for showing the car to us.

[@Number27]

Thanks dude and for watching!!

[@stringybarkin]

Paddock bomb , as a kid old cars worth 5-6 figures now were flogged to death on farms everywhere!!! Love it

[@theobolmer2056]

Awesome Car! Would love a more in-depth look under the hood and at the suspension setup.

[@shaunmark1]

Me too!

[@AndysMGAdventures]

This is a video I didn't even realise I needed to watch. Thank you guys!!!

[@Number27]

Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@user-zv5zr9ef6m]

Great video and a CAR with tons of personality, absolute amazing!!! Keep the good work, I’m looking forward of your projects next videos !!

[@Number27]

Thanks buddy!

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

Wow, I wasn't expecting this, great fun.

[@Number27]

Yep.. something different!!

[@Cb-r_Ry]

Seen this car a few times, it’s bloody mental

[@Bugin1967]

I think I smiled from start to finish watching this Video! That little motor sounds wicked

[@Number27]

Ah brilliant!! Thanks for watching

[@sgranty02]

Absolutely brilliant love it! And to all you I’d change this I’d alter that people get your own and do it! As a owner of a very ratty series 2 Morris minor I’m always amazed how rude classic car people can be I’ve been told several times over the years I should sell it to someone who would restore it properly! Bugger off it’s my car I bought it I’ll do what the hell I want with it!!

[@Jo0Lz_U_TuBe]

Love the clothes peg holding the choke out . . . had that 'fix' on ALL the old classic minis I have owned

[@skylined5534]

Same! Summer: 1x peg Winter: 2x pegs Depths of Winter during extreme cold snaps: 3x pegs I can't recall the part number for the pegs though!

[@bretkaiser7355]

My first car at age 16 in 1989 was a 79 Midget. Great video, as always!

[@johnnysmith863]

My first car at age 17 in 1997 was a 75 Midget. Still got it!

[@mrgdc7120]

Absolutely brilliant car! Richard’s a friend of mine and I’ve been out in this car. Properly good car, a lot of fun and a top bloke!

[@TheGra325]

He certainly is a top bloke, did you see how calm he was when the guy dropped off the road. Legend 😂

[@reddermot]

I've seen it at Retro Rides Gathering (Shelsley Walsh) and Retro Rides Weekender (Goodwood). Punches above it's weight for sure and always surrounded by crowds. I last saw it creating mayhem (in a good way) at Bicester Heritage. Loving the front wheels. I haven't seen those on it until now.

[@martinjames9250]

MADNESS! Love absolutely everything about it! --- Good work.

[@StanleyKubick1]

this is what car culture is all about. young people having fun with their cars

[@Number27]

Agree!! Thanks for watching!

[@PedalBox]

This car was awesome at Shelsly Walsh in 2019. Loved it going up the hill

[@evorallyfan]

Thank you for driving slowly past my house! Saw you rumble by wondering how a Midget(Sprite) could make so much noise!

[@Yosemite_Sam]

I built up similar from Mk 1 back body shell. Trailing link to the Cortina diff with coil over shocks. 1500cc Curtin bored to 83mm with Mahle pistons and Lotus rods. Spitfire suspension and Fibreglass bonnet plus a lot of other stuff. Was a little bit higher but not much. Absolute rocket.

[@ronwalsh]

Nice to see another survivor on the road. I have owned my fair share of MGs and Sprites over the years, and this one is just amazing. I kind of wish I had held onto my cars, but at least I still have my RHD 65 MGB.

[@shelbykingnfs7216]

I love every word in that title. Clicked so fast!

[@WPDCarSpotter]

I remember seeing this at Bicester Sunday Scramble last year, nice to hear the story behind it too, never expected it to be a barn find!

[@CollectWithRyan]

Such a cool unique build

[@TheDonkeycong]

Just proves that you don't need to spend thousands to get a smile per mile, no thrills fun.

[@eze8970]

Bonkers car, thanks for sharing!

[@DGAF4LYFE420]

Damn this thing f**ks Great content guys

[@leebuckles2364]

What an insane little car I want one

[@steventhomson7531]

Brilliant, I love stuff like this. Having a shiny pampered classic is great, but you get so precious about them you end up only driving them very gently to and from shows on a nice day. This you can spank around a B road whatever the weather, hang the arse out, not really break any laws, have a huge smile on your face and it if picks up a stone chip, so what?

[@johnpearson492]

Yep! One of the reasons I like the imperfect paint on my 62 Sprite. Looks good from 15 ft, but I can drive it anywhere including on a rainy day and just not care. These cars are fun to daily drive.

[@richardk29]

You can't spank it around a B road though, because if a tractor comes the other way you've had it. If it had suspension, decent tyres and a proper diff, then yes.

[@paintbox9899]

Think he is breaking a few laws with those old tyres for a start

[@renz1013]

I like these style of drift car, it isn't the typical "lets take any car body and slap on an sr20/2jz/ls" kind of build

[@realMaverickBuckley]

100%. It's not affordable for 90% of the people that want to do it.

[@renz1013]

@@realMaverickBuckley yeah but at least well it's expensive in the right places

[@darwonboyful]

What a wickedly cool little car. I love it

[@E36_shayne]

This guy's car would blow minds in america

[@mundanestuff]

No worries on authenticity. How many thousands of these were turned into race cars since they day the Bugeye was first rolled off the assembly line? No one cries when one is raced, so modify without worry about what some purist says. The purist can go find one in a barn and so what they like. This car is absolutely brilliant. From hot wiring it to start, to the sketchy suspension, to the ancient tires, to the missing gas pedal, I love it. The patina of the finish is also brilliant. My dad, an old Sprite guy from way back, would have adored this car.

[@Lot76CARS]

Totally mental... love it!

[@bobz1736]

Peg on the choke knob... I remember doing just the same on mine many years ago.

[@motorv8N]

Lol - got one on my Fergie tractor. Must be an old British hack......

[@julesviolin]

I borrowed my mate's TR6 in the 80's,to sort the Lucas injection system out. Fantastic car, pulled a few ladies too 🤠 Ended up using it for 6 months as he was in college.

[@frfalbo]

Jack, I love this. Believe it or not my first car in the States was a 1973 MG Midget. I inherited it from my older brother. Unfortunately had to sell it. Too much rust for me to work on in my teen age years. But this video reminded me of it!

[@Number27]

Glad you enjoyed it buddy!!

[@christianresources1912]

Geez.... I had a 64 w a 1275 .060 hepolite pistons... isky cam racing valve springs... peg the tach and count to 3... 4.80 rear end... 103 mph at 9000 rpm.... built the engine myself... Lord... this made me miss it....

[@MiniMattTV]

Absolutely love it!

[@JIMWSMITH]

Thought he was going to have a cardiac arrest 🤣

[@global_nomad.]

spotted a GR Yaris in someones drive....other end of the spectrum

[@robertbankier3940]

Yip spotted the GR at 7:48 I've got a circuit pack coming in May, however, just as (more?) excited with the AH Sprite - great car!

[@odl21]

Spotted it to. I have a CP white since last month too!

[@Silver3ides]

And a Nice 911 .. all on 'Minted lane ';)

[@stremlett2477]

I had the same clothespeg choke mod on my Mk3 Sprite, but I opted for plastic for the weight saving😂

[@ancoankersmit7499]

Holy shit! What a crazy little car.

[@Number27]

Totally!

[@ericvandomselaar8420]

Wow, I had one like it too.

[@travyboy5947]

Sounds like my first car lmao I love it

[@mikecrystalrobert7898]

Now I want one

[@robbwatson2088]

Insane Love it

[@patrickhostler5939]

That exhaust... those flames...😆

[@andrewgurney6019]

OMFG, love it, crazy, but a proper car!!

[@oranda15]

That made me smile.

[@jeffreysalzman1497]

That car is uber cool!

[@craftingmat5425]

Really cool cool thingy... do the same in Germany and you go to jail faster than you can say "Straight Pipe" lol

[@Number27]

😄😄😄😄

[@Bluescooby1]

Ahhh the good old days of using a wooden clothes peg to hold the choke out....Brings me right back to my mini days 🥰🥰🥰

[@JasonWD]

Exactly the same here- was instantly teleported back

[@nsxsennaforever]

Oh, I love this car! Well the looks. Any undrivable car is not for me. If it was mine, I could have so much more fun just changing small things. A hot rod head skull as a gear knob, a Fangio style 250 Maserati (three wheeler Morgan) outside exhaust outside the door (As is way too loud, and cars that makes more noise than go is not for me). Plus I really do not want exhaust fumes directly into the cabin. And just a little higher (maybe 4 cm) to make it usable to really go for it and have fun on B-roads. Block out the rear wings and get alloys in the back. There perfect!! However as an art statement, maybe it is better as is. A young guys crazy machine. Fits him and his attitude! Great stuff Jack!

[@bombakdik]

Amazing. Very cool!

[@joell439]

absolutely love this machine. The only thing i would do different is make a pleasing shift knob 😂🤣

[@7s29]

It's loud, it's rough, it's an absolute road hazard. I love it.

[@harmonicalessonsnyc6386]

the neighbors must love this car. LOL

[@timwegman5776]

This car is super cool looking I love it. Hey have you guys thought of doing a street bike engine conversion on one of them I men you can get a 200HP used street bike engine here in the state for a few hundred dollars I've personally seen them for less than $400 on CL and I've seen others do similar conversions. Anyway I love this car it has the right look. Thanks for sharing!

[@realMaverickBuckley]

I love it!! ❤ If it was mine I'd make it more driveable but still similar. Love it.

[@TrashPandaPirate]

Jeez I e never seen so many flames come out of such a small car?!!!!!

[@manofweed1]

So much goodness coming from a 70 year old design little four pot engine.

[@MrGrentch]

It is shooting flames out of the bonnet cannon. That's all that needs to be said. 😁

[@neilstern1694]

Yes it dose.

[@angelic_slayer]

I had a red mk2a in the early 90s when I was 23. Fun car and I’m 6’4. I permanently have a bent leg from the clutch and my hip I can still feel the agony and it still locks up because of the clutch and the angle... My back is so bad that I fear that thump of the suspension if I drove it today and I don’t think I could even fit in the seat because of middle age spread. Definitely a kids car. But what a kids car. And my girlfriend and her friend used to drive around in it. And she spun it one cold night. I like the mk2 no windows and rubbish to get in the way so basically your arm is in the door. Just gives a bit more room. And the old clip on windows with the plastic. Ahhh memories

[@ClellBiggs]

A car like this will make you a better driver.

[@mundanestuff]

I bought a 77 Midget a month ago, it runs, needs just the basic maintenance stuff over the winter, fix the taillights, do the brakes, maybe refill the dampeners, tune the carb, adjust timing, cleanup the points (wife's nail file), and I drive it around town this fall a bit, but generally it's just going to be a survivor that runs fine, original mostly, fun town car. But. In the garage, I have my dad's 59 Sprite that was converted to a race car in the late 70s, and his 58 Sprite that was never restored. Both cars need body work to fix rust. Both need engines, trannies, everything. I'm thinking though, leave the race car cam in his engine, leave the roll cage, leave out the carpets and interior fittings and turn the race car into something like this. Fun. Obnoxious (but in a fun way? You call that cheeky?). Maybe split exhaust, one side muffled for the annual safety inspection, one side open with a switch in the cockpit. Minimal windscreen. No top or cover. Race car livery. A road legal race car. Then the other, refit back to original as possible for nice leisurely Sunday drives. Keeping the Midget for when one of the other two is on jack stands, or to loan to a buddy for drives in the hills together. Sound like a plan?

[@jiveturkey9993]

I sat in one of those at a car auction once. I could not believe how that microcar on the outside fit me like a glove on the inside. No car that I've sat in since has fit me that perfectly.

[@Auto_Funk]

Ha! Super cool little Sprite! I'd personally have the suspension set up nice and high with more profile in the tyres as for me the complete lack of ground clearance takes away some of the old school "fast road" fun...

[@organiccold]

What a cool car :)

[@mhuk1220]

This is just how my turbo charged triumph spitfire was.

[@315squared4]

This car is bad ass. I love it

[@AlexQuail]

Saw this at Bicester Heritage if I recall correctly. My ears are still ringing 😅

[@chiefstabahoe]

Absolute mad lad!

[@ValladolidArde]

had to sub after this gem, we wanna see the motor!!!

[@Number27]

Tha ma chap! Check out the The JDM Sprite featured recently.. I think you’ll like it!

[@johnnywarnerperfectroad66]

Well, I have it's stable mate a prity original Mk1 Midget and I love this one in the video. It's a car it's driven you can't get more purist than using them for purpose 😂👍👍👍👍👍

[@steves4639]

theres nothing i dont luv about this...the exhaust flame, the ground clearance, the clothespin

[@tobyhatchett6971]

What a superb piece of kit!...what are those Rims on the front??

[@BoostWorx]

That is just great I love it

[@richardcarter1000]

Great fun

[@travisholland1021]

Dream car right here. ❤.

[@maybelive765]

fuck I want a healey now

[@hdbhehddbz]

Mate!! I've been trying to find this car since I saw a photo of it in an article about a young motorsport photographer!

[@derricknorman1138]

Good stuff

[@oohmeconkers1968]

You can’t do that in a Tesla... you can when the Lithium battery set goes on fire!! Great little project. Loads of fun and a proper head turner.

[@Number27]

Thanks buddy!!

[@drakeorion94]

camera pans to car, headphones instantly come off

[@mutanthifi]

I used to race a frog - when we built it, the AHC found ouut what we were doing and broght in a minimum weight to try and slow it down! We had the exhaust running through the passenger footwell and out the side, and custom 'u' shaped twin fuel tanks that fit over the axle to get the c of g even lower.

[@nigelbullock9039]

Brilliant... Bonkers.... So watchable.

[@TM-on4jl]

Wow.....My back certainly would not be happy..lol..Crazy but Some craic😃😃😃

[@jesus_built_my_hotrod]

That was fun

[@petergracemeguide1280]

When you get bored do what many sprites in Australia have installed a mazda 13b turbo rotary from a fc3s rx7 1986-91, . Some have To4e turbos , some have ground effect aero. Even basic 12a rotarys go very hard in such a light car, Definitely a scary sprite.

[@martinclapton2724]

Crazy but great!

[@johnnysmith863]

Reminds me of driving my Midget... it's been too long! This one is even louder though.