HIGHLIGHTS
- Presents very well
- Owned for 22 years
- Restored by vendor
- Modern upgrades
THE APPEAL
Created by BMC (British Motor Corporation), the Healey Sprite was an affordable British sports car produced mainly from the parts bin from the 1950s. The most striking part of the Sprite has to be the famous headlights which were initially intended to be a mechanical flip-over design. However, this idea was shelved in a cost-saving exercise, and the “Frogeye” was born.
This lovely example has been with the vendor for the past 22 years. When he got the car, the first thing was to completely strip it and set upon the restoration, which took approximately two years. Since then, several improvements have been made to the car with an uprated engine, five-speed gearbox, plus many more. All of these changes have made the car a very usable British classic, especially if you enjoy long trips like the vendor, who was often seen taking the Frogeye Sprite over to Europe.
As you can imagine owning the car for 22 years and rebuilding it from the body up, there isn’t a lot the vendor doesn’t know about the Sprite, which makes it the perfect person to buy a well-maintained classic from.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- V5 is present and shows just two previous keepers listed, but there have been others listed in the old registration book
- UK Registered 30th September 1959
- Restored in 2001
- Enthusiast owned and no stranger to being seen at European club events in France, Germany and Italy
- Approximately 6,240 miles since the engine rebuild
- Upgraded Oselli engine
- There is an extensive amount of paperwork collected over 22 years
THE INTERIOR
- Navy trimmed seats
- Smiths heater
- Upgraded GPS odometer and matching tachometer
- The switchgear is all reported to be working as it should
- Buttons and switches have very little wear to be seen
- Hazard warning lights fitted
- Inertia reel seatbelts installed
- The seats have a small amount of wear on the edges where the seatbelt has rubbed against them.
- A new set of carpets and underfelts is included but not yet fitted
THE EXTERIOR
- Finished in Iris Blue and presents really well
- The body shell was dipped to remove traces of all paint and primer and was said to be in excellent condition with minimal corrosion
- Fitted with a fibreglass tip forward bonnet, the steel bonnet, gas struts, hinges and latch, front bumper and over riders are available to buy if preferred
- The bonnet and doors have a matching panel gap
- The chrome work is in excellent condition with minimal signs of tarnishing
- There are an odd few age-related chips here and there in the paintwork and an unfortunate scratch in the bonnet
- Front and rear lights are free from any splits or cracks
- The windscreen and frame are in good condition, with just some light tarnishing to the aluminium frame, which should polish up
- Some of the rubber seals have started to perish between the body and the windscreen frame
- There are a couple of blisters in places, but nothing which has broken through the paint
- A hard-top painted Old English White is included.
- Full wet weather gear, including side windows, is in excellent condition
- Tonneau cover included
- Wire wheels are in excellent condition
- The tyres are matching Continental and are in as new condition
THE MECHANICS
- 1275 Oselli engine
- 5-speed ZF gearbox from a BMW
- 3.7 ratio differential makes for excellent cruising along the motorway
- At 3100 rpm, the Frogeye sits comfortably at 70mph
- Three branch manifold mated to a stainless steel exhaust
- HIF 44 carburettor
- Solid-state fuel pump
- Original fan and re-cored larger capacity radiator
- An electric fan operated via a thermo switch keeps things cool in traffic
- Electronic ignition
- Servo-assisted front discs and twin leading shoe rear brakes
- Hi-torque starter motor ensures the Frogeye starts on the button with no hesitation
- No untoward noises are reported to come from the engine or transmission
- The brakes are working as they should, with no issues or juddering through the pedal
- There are no knocks or bangs reported to come from the suspension
- Oil Cooler fitted
SUMMARY
This is back-to-basics motoring, where you can feel and enjoy the thrill of a true British sports car. Finished in Iris Blue, the 1959 Austin Healey Sprite presents really well inside and out. It benefits from an uprated 1275 Oselli engine and a five-speed gearbox with a 3.7 ratio differential, making motorway journeys a joy. The engine has covered approximately 6,240 miles since the professional rebuild, meaning this should be good for many years.
This a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to jump into the British classic car world, and what better car to do it in than the tremendous “Frogeye Sprite”? The cars can be easily maintained, making them very popular with the mechanics amongst you. There are also several enthusiast clubs and events which take place, always welcoming along new Frogeye owners.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.
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