Registration No: 3784 PX
Chassis No: AN5-/36751
MOT: Exempt

• Subject to a recent fully documented restoration
• A high degree of originality with conservative mechanical upgrades
• Large history file with bills totalling over £20,000

Thanks to its prominent, bonnet-mounted headlights, the original Austin-Healey Sprite quickly became known as the `Frogeye'. The little two-seater, designed by the Donald Healey Motor Company and built by BMC at the MG factory in Abingdon, was launched in Monte Carlo immediately prior to the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix. The unique, one-piece bonnet covered a mildly tuned, twin carburettor, 43bhp 948cc version of the BMC `A' series engine already found in the Austin A35 and Morris Minor. The suspension featured coil springs and wishbones up front, quarter-elliptic springs to the rear and lever arm dampers all round. Today, the Sprite is legendary as one of the best-handling Sports Cars of its time and regularly lives up to its reputation with many of them still finding use in competition events internationally.

First registered in May 1960, 3784 PX shows 5 former keepers on the V5C document and still retains its green buff continuation logbook which shows ownership through the early 1970s. The vendor purchased the car as a restoration project from an auction in 2019 and embarked upon a full nut and bolt restoration through the next few years. The car retains an original 948cc Frogeye engine that was purchased as a fully rebuilt unit from a renowned Frogeye specialist and many of the components are the original units that have been reconditioned or replaced with correct items. The vendor has now decided to sell the car as he would prefer something more modern to enjoy in his advancing years.

On inspection, the car presents very well indeed and the initial impressions are that the car has been very well aligned during the restoration process with some of the best panel gaps around the doors and original steel bonnet that we have come across on a Frogeye. The paintwork is resplendent in its original shade of British Racing Green and you would be hard pushed to find blemishes. The interior presents very well and has been upgraded to a sumptuous Tan leather with Green piping. The owner remarks that this has been done to better than factory specification. The car sports a brand new Moto Lita steering wheel and wooden gear knob which is a popular upgrade for these cars. The car is fitted with new carpets and a recovered dash in the correct material. The car comes with all new weather gear that has been bespoke made for the car and rebuilt sidescreens.

Under the bonnet, everything looks very correct and in fine fettle with subtle upgrades such as a Single SU HIF 44 carburettor on a Maniflow inlet manifold and SU electronic fuel pump. The car appears to start and drive very well with all electrics working well.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430