Lot details Registration No: 447 BYU Chassis No: AN539415 Mot Expiry: Jan 2008
Intended as a spiritual successor to inexpensive pre-war sports cars such as the MG M-type or Austin 7 Nippy, the Austin-Healey Sprite was launched in May 1958. Fruit of the growing partnership between Donald Healey and Austin's Leonard Lord, its design costs were kept to minimum through some inspired BMC parts bin raiding. Built around a lightweight monocoque, it combined the Austin A35's independent front suspension, four-speed gearbox and quarter elliptic leaf-sprung back axle with the Morris Minor's rack and pinion steering. Powered by a twin-carburettor fed 948cc A-series four-cylinder engine developing some 43bhp and 52lbft of torque, it was capable of over 80mph. Credit for the Frogeye's wonderful styling lies with both Gerry Coker and Les Ireland. For while the former was responsible for the initial sketches (before he left the Healey Company in 1957), it was the latter who so characterfully integrated the fixed head lights (Coker's previous ideas for Porsche 928 style retractable units being rejected on financial grounds). Put on sale for just £669 including purchase tax, the Sprite actually undercut its Morris Minor De Luxe sibling. Rarely before or since has a sports car enjoyed such a large fun-to-price ratio.
Finished in green with green vinyl upholstery, this particular example is described by the vendor as being in "good" condition with regard to its engine, four-speed manual gearbox, electrical equipment, interior trim, chassis, bodywork and paintwork (while, he rates the wheels / tyres as "very good"). Registered on May 25th 1961 and therefore believed but not warranted to be among the last 'Frogeye' Sprites, '447 BYU' has apparently had just two keepers for the last thirty-eight years. Understood to have covered just 400 miles since entering the current ownership in 1998, recent work has reportedly seen the Austin-Healey treated to "a rear suspension overhaul, five new tyres and sundry paintwork". Stated to have covered some 89,500 miles from new and to be "exceptionally original", the two-seater is also thought to retain its factory-fitted powerplant. Riding on steel wheels, this charming 'Frogeye' is accompanied by "a very comprehensive history file with bills dating back to 1970" and MOT certificate valid until January 2008.
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