Thanks to a tip from Patinaproof, I've finally found a cheap source for the many small parts I need for my personal Project Car hell. The big score: front Armstrong lever shocks in great shape.
Because British Leyland was committed to obsolescence tradition, lever-style shock absorbers remained on the Midget all the way to the end of its production run in 1980. There's really nothing wrong with the concept of lever shocks- they work just fine- but they're way more complicated and expensive than the modern tube-type variety. No doubt replacement Armstrongs are still made in the traditional English manner: an old guy in a shed illuminated by a coal-oil lamp, hammering away at pig-iron ingots between refreshing draughts of sludgy porter. You can convert a Spridget to tube shocks, but it ain't cheap. Naturally, the front shocks on my car were completely shot, beyond the capability of the good ol' Harley fork-oil trick to fix, so I was overjoyed to find that this Midget's shocks felt good as new.
Success! I grabbed a few other bits and pieces, including a new fuel filler pipe and hose. Unfortunately, the brake calipers were shot, but I'll just rebuild the ones I've got.
Meanwhile, the Sprite waits in the Evil Genius Racing on-deck circle, prior to being fitted with an RX-7 rear end with 5-link suspension.