Archived · Classic Cars · 2 min read
Lightburn Zeta Sports
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Historical article recovered from a Wayback capture dated 2020-10-31.
Lightburn Zeta Sports
1964 - 1964
Country:
Engine:
2 cyl.
Capacity:
494 cc
Power:
20.5 bhp
Transmission:
4 spd. man
Top Speed:
125 km/h
Number Built:
28
Collectability:
Lightburn Zeta Sports
Reviewed by Unique Cars and Parts
Our Rating: 4
Introduction
Despite failing to capture the imagination of the Australian public with the Zeta Station Sedan, Harold Lightburn pushed ahead with plans to release the Zeta sports car.
It was back in 1959 that Lightburn had obtained the rights to the Frisky Sprint- a low, sleek ‘Michelotti’ designed sports car similar to the Goggomobil Dart.
The Frisky Sprint’s designer, Gordon Bedson, was persuaded to leave Frisky and join Lightburn with a brief to develop the Zeta Sports.
He bought with him the prototype Frisky Sprint as well as a supply of fifty motors by Fichtel&Sachs, the 493cc engine from the legendary FMR “Tiger”.
The Frisky Sprint did have doors- shallow bottom-hinged ones, but they were deleted in the interests of strength.
The windshield was changed, the tail restyled, and the final drive altered. The car failed to meet New South Wales lighting regulations, so some were fitted with additional free-standing headlamps on the hood.
It seems most Zeta Sports were built in 1961, but the car was not introduced until the summer of 1964 for some reason.
While Lightburn had a network of Alfa Romeo dealerships at the ready, they were under whelmed by orders, and only some 28 were sold.
