Innocenti Spider
Ghia of Turin designed a completely new bodyshell based up a similar floorpan to the Sprite. The bodyshell was produced by OSI using presses from Innocenti. The Innocenti concept was to move upmarket from the cheap and cheerful MK1 Sprite with a far more luxurious and stylish sports car which would be far more practical to live with. Such as wide doors, wind up windows, a lockable boot, interior light, cigarette lighter, ash tray, lockable glovebox and a heater a standard. The familiar 948cc A-series engine was equipped with a new air filter box and distributor. The radiator cap was positioned in the centre of the header tank, there being sufficient clearance beneath the almost flat bonnet to avoid the expense of producing the extension filler neck used on the Sprite. The 950 Spyder bcame available in 1961, just as lts provider, the MK1 Sprite, was nearing its end. Indeed most of the early Innocentis were built up from what appeared to be leftovers from Abingdon. The last complete Frogeye was AN5-49584 built in November 1960, most subsequent numbers up to the final AN5-50116 leaving as CKD kits for Milan. Although the 950 Spyder, perhaps rather oddly, carried the AN5 chassis numbers, the engines had a new prefix (9CA-U-H) and subsequent numbers (101 - 750). Some 624 950 Spyders were built from AN5 sourced components before the HAN6 Sprite MKII took over. A total of 4176 950 Spyders were built. In 1964 the Innocenti Spyder received the 1098cc engine and improved HAN8 running gear. The final update came in 1967 when a fixed head coupe roof was added, the name becoming the Innocenti C Coupe. The radiator grill and side lamps were also revised for this model. Production ceased in 1970 with around 17.500 Innocenties having been built (Now there are only 4 known car in the UK). All cars were left hand drive and were sold cheifly in Italy, though there were some exports to North America. © Terry Horler Click on the images below for enlarged views . . . . .
The Italian Job - the tale of finding one of these rare cars
This is how it started . . . . . . Our first introduction to an Innocent Spyder was Chris Eccles' lovely example, which he imported from the USA. Chris Eccles gave us contact names and addresses of people in the US who knew how to source these cars and also a number of articles for us to read up on. Our first major lead came from our friend Franco Bisotto in Italy. We came into contact with Franco whilst he was restoring his frogeye and asked us for some advice. Franco took on the task of trying to source an Innocenti in Italy for us. Just before Easter 1997, Franco had found a car outside Milan, he had spoken to the owner who had assured him the car was immaculate. The owner sent us photos, a video, the car looked excellent. Franco negotiated with the owner on our behalf and on Good Friday, Chris, Trevor Taylor and I set off for Italy with a trailer and 14,000000 Italian Lira to buy the car! We met Franco, who had kindly driven from Veniceto meet us (for the first timed When we arrived at the owner's house, we found to our dismay that the video and pictures we had been sent were rather out of date and worse still after thorough examination from Trevor Taylor the car was found to be full of fibreglass and in poor condition. A number of phone calls ensued to Chris Eccles, asking advice on the cost of panels and sills and we made the decision to "walk away" and cut our losses. After that we had a few leads but most of the cars were too expensive and we decided just to just wait and see what happened and not to look proactively. We kept in touch with Chris Eccles and knew that there was little for sale and so just kept saying "One day, we'll buy an Innocenti". Things seemed to go fairly quiet on the "Inno" front and in the Summer of 1998, we saw an advertisement for a big brother for the Frogeye an Austin Healey 100. Somehow we managed to raise the funds for it and bought it, making the purchase of an Innocenti in the near future seem very unlikely.
"Spiderman" rang Chris and I and we immediately mailed Graham asking for details. Graham on his way to work the following morning, called in and got the phone number, contact name and then mailed us that evening. Immediately preparations and negotiations started, but this time we remembered our last experience and Chris and Trevor Taylor went to see the car in Eindhoven. The car was in very good condition but Chris had been able to negotiate the price down further. When Chris returned we agreed that this was an opportunity not to be missed and decided we would buy the car. After numerous faxes we arranged to collect the car from Eindhoven on Saturday 31st January 1999. This time Chris couldn't get the time off work so Trevor Taylor and I arranged to drive to Holland with a trailer on the Friday night and be ready to collect the car on Saturday at 11am. Armed with trailer, wheel clamps, and a number of Dutch Gilders, we set off. All was going smoothly until about Midnight, when the petrol gauge starting saying that it was empty. We were in the middle of nowhere in a dead end town with no sign of a garage. I went into the local bar and after some discussions, we were told that there was a petrol station a little further on but it was closed so you could only fill up if we had credit cards. Fortunately we did, we found the petrol station and When we arrived in Ghent at about lam, we finally found a hotel, which had a car park for the car and trailer. We went to the boot to get the wheel clamps out and there in front of us was a full can of petrol! After a good nights rest, we set off to Eindhoven and picked up the Inncocenti without any problems at all and made an uneventful journey back to Calais, where we made a few purchases which resulted in us missing the ferry. Alter a short delay we got the next ferry and we even managed to sail through customs without being stopped! The Inno was taken straight to Trevor's garage, where it was left to have its service and MOT. On Monday and we met Chris and had a well earned beer! Due to Trevor's fantastic work, the car was serviced and MOT'd by mid afternoon on Monday and Chris was able to take the registration documents to the DVLA. On Thursday we received all of the paperwork back and we fitted the plate'VSJ 750' on Friday. Images below taken on the Tour of Wales! Click on the images enlarged views . . . . .
So the Surrey Area & the 3 Counties Areas now have their very own Innocenti Spyder to add to their ranks. The car has now done plenty of mileage including a trip to Wales and the GWR and is great fun to drive. Thanks to Trevor Taylor for all his help, who without his help and time, we would never have managed to collect the Inncocenti, the second time let alone the first time in Italy. Also to Chris Eccles, who gave us a lot of help and guidance throughout the whole project. The Surrey area too, who always encouraged us to get another car! All in all it's Innotasticmate!
© Laura Peaple& Chris Banton Update 8th August 2001.
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