Beschreibung
What a little cracker! With just 3 former keepers (1 owner for over 40 years) and showing a recorded 28, 400 miles, believed genuine, from new, this stunning Frogeye ticks very box going. An original car in Cherry Red and the subject of an older restoration, the all-steel body is still in great shape and mechanically the original 948cc engine is one of the sweetest I`ve ever known. This really is the real deal and a fantastic opportunity to acquire a very genuine and original Frogeye for a very competitive price.
Designed by the Donald Healey Motor Company and built from 1958 onwards at the MG plant at Abingdon, the Austin Healey Sprite Mk. I, or Frogeye as it became affectionately known, was a small open top sports car and natural successor the sporting versions of the pre-war Austin 7. Promoted as a low-cost model, this diminutive open 2-seater was the first volume sports car of unitary construction and was fitted with an upgraded 948cc A-Series with twin SU carburettors, rack and pinion steering and a combination of coil-sprung and lever-arm shock absorber suspension. With no exterior door handles nor boot lid, the lines were kept as clean as possible, perhaps to the detriment of security and luggage carrying ability! A storage void existed though within the boot area, accessed from behind the seats and a process more akin to potholing was required to retrieve that weekend-away bag. In 1961, the Mk. II was introduced featuring completely re-styled bodywork and a more conventional 2-seater as a consequence with wing-positioned headlights, a full-width grill and standard bonnet and a proper boot with boot lid. Some of the character had been lost but practicality gained and by 1962, more power was afforded by the slightly larger long stroke 1098cc producing some 56BHP. This engine continued albeit with stronger block casting in the Mk. III of 1964 which also had the benefit of external-opening doors and tweaked suspension.
Our car was registered in London in March 1959 and remained with its first keeper for around 20 years before heading west in 1979 to reside with a gentleman near Redruth in Cornwall. Whilst history is a little thin, it is documented that the Sprite was rebuilt in 1990 and there are subsequent invoices for general maintenance including a brake overhaul in 2006 and again in 2014 and a new timing chain, tensioner rings, seals and gaskets in 2011. The few bills though are very indicative of the very few miles travelled whilst in Cornwall: the MoT Certificates on file show less than 5400 miles in the entire 40 years! In June 2019, the car was sold by a garage in Bugle, Mid-Cornwall for £10, 750 to a gentleman and serious classic car collector in Monmouth and clearly it required some recommissioning being described on the sales invoice as an ongoing project. For the next 2 years, the car waited in a queue before finally going into the workshop of a local garage and MoT Centre. After a complete brake overhaul with all new cylinders, wheel bearings were replaced and the ignition system fully replaced with new rotor arm, distributor cap, condenser, points, plugs and leads. An appropriate invoice sits in the file for £2696. In April 2022, the Sprite was MoT inspected (albeit exempt) and offered to us in part exchange for a slightly later British classic. As such, the car moved to Dorset and has been enjoyed by us over the past two summers. However, we have had our fun and are now seeking to find the little car a new home.
Today, the car presents just as in the photographs. Bodywork is excellent but there are some blemishes to the paintwork and this is reflected in the price. If a show-winner is required, it probably would necessitate a respray but that said, it still polishes up well and looks the part. The cabin by contrast is in superb shape with recently replaced seat covers, a new wood-rimmed steering wheel, excellent dash, carpets and door-cards. The Sprite further benefits from a newly new hood and set of side screens. Mechanically, the original 948cc is remarkably sweet starting first spin and sounding purposeful with smooth gearchanges, a light clutch and excellent drum brakes. On the roads, this little Frogeye is an absolute joy with plenty of peppy performance, very positive steering and excellent road manners. We have loved and enjoyed this car through the warmer months covering around 200 miles from July to October 2022 and then much the same during May and June 2023. Undeniably it is a sunshine car but can still be fun on those cold frosty winter mornings.
The Sprite comes with a nice history file with paperwork, receipts and MoT Certificates going back to 1979. Importantly, the most recent recommissioning work in Monmouth is fully documented. In addition, it comes with a current V5C as well as the original Registration Document issued to the second keeper in June 1979. The car is naturally both MoT and road tax exempt.
A cracking example of a rather iconic British sports car. Lovely provenance too.
Shore Classics is based on the West Dorset coast within easy proximity of both Weymouth and the County town of Dorchester. As classic and vintage dealers, we offer full brokerage facilities. So if you require some help and guidance with selling your classic car or motorcycle, just give us a call today.
