Yes its a very interesting thesis. Mat wrote to me in April 2009 regarding this project and asking for some back ground information about the Sprint. I told him the Sprint was designed and built at Meadows by Gordon Bedson , Giovani Michelotti was involved with the Gull wing Frisky and the Frisky Sport but not the Sprint which was totally Bedsons. In fact he and his project engineer Keith Peckmore actually constructed the Sprint body shell in the “back room” at Meadows.
Bedson who had been with Meadows since 1954, (When Kieft was sold) was “headhunted” at the 1958 Motor Show along with Keith Peckmore by Lightburns, they did not purchase the design and manufacturing rights for the Sprint as the owner at that time would not sell either the drawings or the car which remained in the UK. Lightburn did not need to as Gordon and Keith between them had all the knowledge necessary already in their heads.
The Zeta Sports , as the Sprint was totally designed by Gordon Bedson, Michelotti was not involved in it. When “Modern Motor Australia” published an article on the Zeta Sports saying it was a Michelotti design , Gordon wrote a letter to them which was published in the July 1964 magazine putting them straight!!
Meadows did not make engines for the British car market . Pre war they supplied many great marques such as Lagonda, HRG, Invicta, Lea Francis, Frazer Nash etc etc, but after the war supplied engines for commercial vehicles such as Guy and Scammel along with boats, trains , and a whole range of static engines powering generators etc.
I hope this helps set the record straight
John Meadows.