LOT 167

1958 Austin-Healey Sprite Roadster Registration no. to be advised Chassis no. AN5/4161

Estimate: £16,000 - £20,000

Lot 167

1958 Austin-Healey Sprite Roadster
Registration no. to be advised Chassis no. AN5/4161

Goodwood Members' Meeting Sale: Event Cancelled: All Lots Listed Still Available for Sale until 17:00 GMT Sunday 29th March|29 March 2020, 13:00 BST|Chichester, Goodwood

1958 Austin-Healey Sprite Roadster
Registration no. to be advised
Chassis no. AN5/4161

*Landmark British sports car
*Engine and drive train rebuilt in 2011
*Serviced in December 2019
*Four new Avon tyres

Footnotes

Having forged strong links with BMC in the process of developing the successful Austin-Healey 100, Donald Healey turned his attention to designing a smaller version intended to make sports car motoring affordable to a wider sector of the market. Raiding the BMC parts bin for suitable components, Healey used the Austin A35's 948cc A-Series engine, gearbox, front suspension, and rear axle, though he chose to up-rate the rest of the running gear by using Morris Minor rack-and-pinion steering and an MG master cylinder for the hydraulic brakes (the A35's rears were mechanical). Equipped with twin SU carburettors, the engine produced 43bhp, which was good enough for a top speed of around 86mph.

Although its power train and running gear were entirely conventional, as well as thoroughly tried and tested, Healey's new baby was notable for its state-of-the-art unitary construction body/chassis. Christened 'Sprite', the new sports car entered production at MG's Abingdon factory in March 1958 featuring a distinctive forward-hinging bonnet/wings topped by two fixed 'Frog Eye' headlamps, thus ensuring instant recognition and the now-familiar nickname. Despite a Spartan equipment level - even the front bumper was listed as an extra! - the 'Frog Eye' sold well, which was not really surprising as there was nothing competing with it either on price or performance.

A very well-presented early example of the much loved 'Frog Eye' Sprite that brought affordable sports car motoring to so many enthusiasts, this car benefits from a documented engine and drive train rebuild carried out in 2011, which was followed by a cosmetic refreshment. More recently, in December 2019, the Sprite was subjected to a health check/service and received four brand new Avon tyres. The car comes with a complement of weather gear (hood, side screens, tonneau) and is offered with two history files containing a V5C document, current MoT, and sundry MoTs and invoices dating back to 1980.

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