1958 Austin Healey Sprite Mk1. September 2008

We're talking Blow Torch of course. Martin Ferguson. Minister of the most important ministry in the universe. Minister of Resources & Energy. The Minister single handedly responsible for the world resources boom and the world energy gloom.

The person sent over to Jeddah (yep - the place they make all the oil) to put a Blow Torch under the pesky Sheiks. And what a job he did. After they agreed to double world oil production and half the cost per barrel there was the ubiquitous group photograph. Did you see it?

There was our BT, right there on the seventh row from the front, right next to the catering manager on one side with the guy who parks the cars for the Sultan of Brunei on the other. Actually, only I think that was BT because a chap who looked a bit like Osama bin Laden but might have been the man who trains the falcons for one of the Saudi King's cousins was a row in front and obscured his face a bit.

But let's not be too critical of BT. As well as running the most important ministry in the world he is also Minister for Tourism. That's the second biggest industry in Australia, after resources. Makes you wonder if he has any time left at all for eating or sleeping or politicking or whatever else they do in Canberra. And I wonder what sort of car he drives.
To support the mining industry it really needs to be something with plenty of iron in it. Maybe a Statesman. But then again to save oil it had better be something that does over 50 mpg. A Suzuki Alto perhaps.

On the other hand he's got to drive to all these tourist resorts (to promote tourism). And he will need 5 support staff plus a media crew. So perhaps it's a mini-bus. Although I have to say I haven't seen too many ministerial mini buses in the background of those 15-second Channel 9 news grabs. You know the ones. BT puts on his best smile. Tells you lots of visitors are coming (Tourism), they should go on walking tours (Energy), and use lots of coal on the campfire (Resources).

The one thing I can't see him doing is going for a Sunday morning breakfast drive in an immaculately restored Austin Healey Sprite. (But if he did the press release could read - BT drives AH in AM for a BLT). No, with all due respect, I think this frogeye might be wasted on BT.

It's has had the full Monty professional restoration, so that it almost certainly presents as one of the best A-H Sprite Mk1's available for sale.
All the usual suspects have been replaced during the bare metal resto. Sills, floor, rear guards etc. The respray is to the original British Racing Green and the car has a Heritage certificate. It's even got the original mechanical windscreen washer button.
There is no front bumper but I'm pretty sure that was optional on the early Sprites. There's no heater either so be ready to rug up for a winter drive. Optional front sway bars have been added (and have transformed the handling).
The only obviously non standard item is the steering wheel but I'm sure original Bakelite ones can still be source out of the UK.

The 43 bhp of the 948cc motor means that the frogeye was never a roadrunner but as at least one famous actress has said "It's not what you've got, it's how you use it!" And of course a good Sprite is just great fun to drive. The steering is direct (a bit over 2 turns lock to lock) and the Morris Minor suspension is transformed in this 2 seater. It's not uncomfortable either. But don't look for exterior door handles because there aren't any and there's no boot lid so access to the storage is from behind the seats.
So do your bit for tourism. Get yourself a sub 1-litre sportscar that runs on the smell of an oily rag and go visit all those wonderful coalmines in Queensland. That'll put a smile on BT's face for sure.
Trevor West