Hawk Mini Sprint

The Mini Sprint screen flanges are done after being re-laminated, making them solid! We’re really pleased with the results which are to the correct size plus nice and neat.

Work in progress…

When it comes to Mini Sprints, there’s one car to get in my opinion and that’s a Neville Trickett. There’s is an alternative though, and that is Gerry Hawkridge’s Hawk Mini Sprint.

This shell was not originally purchased from Gerry as the moulds had long been sold. We met the person who purchased the mould to discuss potentially buying them from him, however this did not happen.

This shell was purchased from the owner based in Northampton and brought to 70s Car Restoration for completion.

Before starting, we needed to establish the origins of this shell. Speaking to Gerry Hawkridge we shared photos and details of this shell, and Jerry concluded it was “Almost certainly using our moulds!” which means it’s a Hawk Mini Sprint, using the original mould. This was great news!

Upon examination, the shell required additional fibreglass work to meet our standards along with upgrades. You can follow the project over the coming weeks and months.

With MKI rear lights and external hinges already on the Mini Sprint, it only made sense to match the front lower panel with MKI style. Using a precise metal template, we re-laminated the front lower panel and trimmed it into the perfect shape.

The Mini Sprint screen flanges are done after being re-laminated, making them solid! We’re really pleased with the results which are to the correct size plus nice and neat.

We’ve been working on the Mini Sprint screen flanges and took matters into our own hands to get them right.

The original screen flanges on the Mini Sprint were in poor condition with inconsistent trimming and chips. We knew we had to step up and do better as part of our restoration.

This is the Mini Sprint roof after its transformation. It was cleaned/sanded including the metal frame, repainted and then re-fibreglassed, sealing the metal frame for a good finish. Trust us to deliver excellence in every restoration project!

Check out the transformation of the roof of the Mini Sprint. The fibreglass on the inside was a bit messy and unfinished. We will clean/sand including the metal frame, repaint and then re-fibreglass for a good finish.

The doors of the Mini Sprint were not the best fibreglassing. This is nothing to do with Gerry or Hawk Cars, but rather the third party that had the moulds after Gerry.

The Mini Sprint’s new inner quarter panel strengtheners had the obligatory holes made for added lightness and were looking great! The next step is the doors.

The standard hinges on the Mini Sprint were internal, but this car already has MkI rear lenses and a modified Mk1 front lower valance, so it makes sense to have MkI / MkII external hinges. Firstly, we created new inner quarter panel strengtheners from aluminium for trial fit.

The Hawk Mini Sprint shell comes ready for internal hinges. We decided on fitting external hinges as the door shape is more MKI / MKII than MKIII. This required cleaning, strengthening and the manufacture of a spreader plate to accept external MKI / MKII hinges.

This crossmember on the Hawk Mini Sprint had been laminated onto gel coat and was not done very neatly. We removed the lamination, reduced size of flange and re-glass in for a much better result.

We placed the Hawk Mini Sprint onto the rotisserie to allow us the best access to all areas of the body for preparation.

The next job on the Hawk Mini Sprint was to cut out all the apertures.

The Hawk Mini Sprint arriving at 70s Car Restoration. 🇬🇧 Due to the importance of the car, it was given a thorough check over for reference and assessment of what work would be done.

Hawk Mini Sprint

With MKI rear lights and external hinges already on the Mini Sprint, it only made sense to match the front lower panel with MKI style. Using a precise metal template, we re-laminated the front lower panel and trimmed it into the perfect shape.

With MKI rear lights and external hinges already on the Mini Sprint, it only made sense to match the front lower panel with MKI style. Using a precise metal template, we re-laminated the front lower panel and trimmed it into the perfect shape.

With MKI rear lights and external hinges already on the Mini Sprint, it only made sense to match the front lower panel with MKI style. Using a precise metal template, we re-laminated the front lower panel and trimmed it into the perfect shape.

The Mini Sprint screen flanges are done after being re-laminated, making them solid! We’re really pleased with the results which are to the correct size plus nice and neat.

The Mini Sprint screen flanges are done after being re-laminated, making them solid! We’re really pleased with the results which are to the correct size plus nice and neat.

We’ve been working on the Mini Sprint screen flanges and took matters into our own hands to get them right.

We’ve been working on the Mini Sprint screen flanges and took matters into our own hands to get them right.

The original screen flanges on the Mini Sprint were in poor condition with inconsistent trimming and chips. We knew we had to step up and do better as part of our restoration.

The original screen flanges on the Mini Sprint were in poor condition with inconsistent trimming and chips. We knew we had to step up and do better as part of our restoration.

This is the Mini Sprint roof after its transformation. It was cleaned/sanded including the metal frame, repainted and then re-fibreglassed, sealing the metal frame for a good finish. Trust us to deliver excellence in every restoration project!

Check out the transformation of the roof of the Mini Sprint. The fibreglass on the inside was a bit messy and unfinished. We will clean/sand including the metal frame, repaint and then re-fibreglass for a good finish.

Check out the transformation of the roof of the Mini Sprint. The fibreglass on the inside was a bit messy and unfinished. We will clean/sand including the metal frame, repaint and then re-fibreglass for a good finish.

The doors of the Mini Sprint were not the best fibreglassing. This is nothing to do with Gerry or Hawk Cars, but rather the third party that had the moulds after Gerry.

The doors of the Mini Sprint were not the best fibreglassing. This is nothing to do with Gerry or Hawk Cars, but rather the third party that had the moulds after Gerry.

The Mini Sprint’s new inner quarter panel strengtheners had the obligatory holes made for added lightness and were looking great! The next step is the doors.

The Mini Sprint’s new inner quarter panel strengtheners had the obligatory holes made for added lightness and were looking great! The next step is the doors.

The standard hinges on the Mini Sprint were internal, but this car already has MkI rear lenses and a modified Mk1 front lower valance, so it makes sense to have MkI / MkII external hinges. Firstly, we created new inner quarter panel strengtheners from aluminium for trial fit.

The standard hinges on the Mini Sprint were internal, but this car already has MkI rear lenses and a modified Mk1 front lower valance, so it makes sense to have MkI / MkII external hinges. Firstly, we created new inner quarter panel strengtheners from aluminium for trial fit.

The Hawk Mini Sprint shell comes ready for internal hinges. We decided on fitting external hinges as the door shape is more MKI / MKII than MKIII. This required cleaning, strengthening and the manufacture of a spreader plate to accept external MKI / MKII hinges.

This crossmember on the Hawk Mini Sprint had been laminated onto gel coat and was not done very neatly. We removed the lamination, reduced size of flange and re-glass in for a much better result.

We placed the Hawk Mini Sprint onto the rotisserie to allow us the best access to all areas of the body for preparation.

We placed the Hawk Mini Sprint onto the rotisserie to allow us the best access to all areas of the body for preparation.

The next job on the Hawk Mini Sprint was to cut out all the apertures.

The next job on the Hawk Mini Sprint was to cut out all the apertures.

The Hawk Mini Sprint arriving at 70s Car Restoration. 🇬🇧 Due to the importance of the car, it was given a thorough check over for reference and assessment of what work would be done.

The Hawk Mini Sprint arriving at 70s Car Restoration. 🇬🇧 Due to the importance of the car, it was given a thorough check over for reference and assessment of what work would be done.

Got a restoration project in mind?

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