Vintage Cars: Austin healy sprint, ah sprite, car logbook

Question
Can not find vin on a car I had given to me only number I can find is on driver side frame rail in eng. compartment. Number HAN8L/4503Y. Can you tell me what year this is, So I can start getting parts. Thank You

Answer
It's a Healey Sprite, but they come in two types, frogeye and spridget (the later mashup of AH Sprite and MG Midget).

Your number is the chassis number, and it is the same as the VIN. (And it should appear on the previous owner's registration or the car logbook if in UK.) But I can't myself tell you the year.

I suggest you contact EITHER British Motor Heritage, www.bmh-ltd.com, to see if they can identify the car exactly from the number. They also sell lots of parts. Alternatively, if in US, Moss Motors, www.mossmotors.com and ask for a parts catalogue.

I haven't used BMH, but Moss Motors' parts lists are very detailed about what parts correspond with what chassis numbers. I don't know Sprites well, but (from what I know of big Healey numbers) the number vaguely suggests early 60s or so, either later frogeye or early spridget.

Hope that points you in the right direction.

JJ