Registration No: 697 AYF
Chassis No: AN5 42260
MOT: Exempt

• Sympathetically upgraded for fast-road / speed event use
• Sporting a Sebring-style bonnet and ‘works’ hardtop
• Upgraded engine, carburettor, dampers and fitted with a 5-speed gearbox
• Current ownership since August 1984

'The Donald Healey-designed Sprite entered production at MG's Abingdon factory in March 1958. Its unitary construction body shell featured a distinctive combined bonnet and wings with the headlights integrated into this panel. From the front this resembled a frog, hence the now familiar nickname - 'frog eye'. The Sprite's chassis design was the world's first volume-production sports car to use unitary construction, where the sheet metal body panels (apart from the bonnet) take many of the structural stresses. Powered by the Austin A35's 948cc A-Series engine topped with twin SU carburettors producing 43bhp. With only 650 kilogrammes to propel, this engine pushed the Sprite onto a maximum speed of 83 mph. With independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering the car's handling matched its performance.

Consigned to us from the collection of Maggi and Roger Byford; ‘697 AYF’ shared a garage with their all-conquering works specification Austin-Healey rally car ‘32 EXT’ for almost four decades. This particular RHD example is described as ‘well-sorted’ and has had just three custodians from new. It has been a veteran of many road-rallies and tours, maintained religiously and upgraded over time to its now enviable specification. Previously yellow, but now refinished in Black; this rust-free example features a fibreglass Sebring-type bonnet and ‘works’ hardtop, whilst riding on MiniLite-style wheels. Said to be “fun, fast and runs very well, with great oil pressure”, ‘697 AYF’ features a 5-speed gearbox mated to an uprated engine, with larger carburettor, electric fuel pump and a stainless sports exhaust system. The interior is sparse, yet purposeful, with a roll hoop fitted and Halda-timer mounted to the dashboard.

Widely described by our vendor as “very good’ with regard to the bodywork, engine, electrical equipment, paintwork and transmission, he describes the interior trim as “good”. Now offered for sale with a small folder of paperwork, including previous MOT and registration documents; this 'pocket rocket' behaved faultlessly during our recent photography session and felt as though it was ready to tackle anything we could throw at it! An affordable and fun ticket into road-rally and speed events, but equally suitable as transport to the public house this Summer; a lot worthy of close inspection.

For more information, please contact:
Adam Sykes
adam.sykes@handh.co.uk
07429 600332