1960 Austin-Healey 'Bugeye' Sprite Mark I

948cc OHV Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
2 SU Carburetors
43bhp at 5,200rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Front Independent Suspension - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*Beautifully restored Bugeye Sprite Mark I
*Tastefully finished in period-correct Iris Blue
*A fun and iconic little British Roadster
*Factory-delivered, left-hand drive example


THE AUSTIN-HEALEY SPRITE

Intended to make sports car motoring more affordable, the Donald Healey-designed Sprite entered production at MG's Abingdon factory in March 1958. The new car was officially introduced a few months later in Monte Carlo, just prior to the Monte Carlo Rally, underlining this brand-new car's sporting intentions. Its unitary construction body shell featured a distinctive, rearward-hinging, combined bonnet and wings, which was topped by two 'bugeye' headlamps, thus ensuring instant recognition and the now familiar nickname.

The Sprite used independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, ensuring great road holding. Despite a Spartan equipment level - even the front bumper was listed as an extra! - the 'Frog Eye' sold well, which perhaps was unsurprising as there was nothing competing with it either on price or performance.


THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This lovely Austin-Healey 'Bugeye' Sprite Mark I benefits from a beautiful restoration and stunning, period-correct exterior color of Iris Blue. Completed at the Abingdon-based Sprite production line during March of 1960, this little Roadster was equipped from the factory with the left-hand drive steering arrangement as seen on the car today, and most likely destined for the sports car hungry US market. Today the charming little 'Bugeye' (or 'Frogeye' as they are referred to overseas) presents beautifully inside and out, and it is evident that a comprehensive restoration has been performed in the past. The correct for a 1960 Sprite Mark I Iris Blue exterior color lays nice and flat on the curvaceous Roadster bodywork and has excellent shine to it. Silver-painted wheels with dog-dich hub caps ads a nice contrast and are fitted with Dunlop tires. Inside the little 2-seater cockpit, the bucket-style Roadster seats are trimmed in black with white piping, and dark blue carpets covers the floors. The engine is painted in the correct army-green Austin-Healey engine color, and an optional heater is fitted to keep the occupants warm on the brisk evening drive. A repair and tune-up guide is offered with this little iconic 'Bugeye' Roadster. This charming 1960 Austin-Healey Sprite Mark I is a very tidy example of the iconic and easily recognizable little British sport car.