The Sebring Sprite world will be a sadder and poorer place without him. At least Brian’s replicas will survive as a lasting tribute to him

Brian Archer, the well liked and respected Austin-Sprite restorer based in the Midlands has died in hospital after a short illness, aged 67. Brian’s restoration business was based around BMC cars, but he increasingly specialised in the Austin-Healey Sprite, for which he had a great love and a huge reserve of knowledge. A genial and generous man, he would always spare the time to help out enthusiasts who had come up against a problem.

Having owned a frogeye from new in the 1960s, he was a great fan of Sprite race and rally driver John Sprinzel, and it was Brian’s dream to produce a faithful replica of the special-bodied Sprinzel Sebring Sprites. About 70 cars have now been (or are being) built, many finished to a very high standard, which has enabled this beautiful design to be admired by thousands who might never have encountered one of the handful of surviving original cars.

John Sprinzel saw and approved the replica and also the man himself: “He was such a great person,” he comments. “The Sebring Sprite world will be a sadder and poorer place without him. At least Brian’s replicas will survive as a lasting tribute to him.”

Brian also undertook a detailed restoration of the original Sprinzel Sprite S 221, which was track-tested in the May 2005 issue of Octane. Brian continued to race-prepare and maintain the car, which has been seen at prestige events such as the Goodwood Revival, the Le Mans Legend race and at Spa. Sprite and Sebring Sprite enthusiasts across the world will want to extend their sincerest condolences to Brian’s wife Barbara and family.