1958 Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite – Auction Car of the Week

Every once in a while a car will transcend its humble beginnings to become something truly special. Often this rise to stardom is unplanned, stars simply align, pieces fall into place and before you know it a story rich in history and intrigue has developed. Some may call it fate, a predetermined path that has already been paved, while others may just put it down to serendipity, strong will or a passionate vision. Whatever your belief structure, however, there’s no avoiding the fact that this 1958 Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite has led quite the life.

Rolling out of the factory as a standard early Sprite (albeit with additional strengthening plates welded into the rear bodywork – a hint of things to come) the car was originally painted in Old English White and it remained this way for the first two years of its life. But then in stepped Dutch rogue and gentleman racer Tonio Hildebrand, recognising the giant-slaying potential of Austin Healey’s small, nimble sports car and putting the Sprite on a very different trajectory – one that would result in fortune and glory kid, fortune and glory.

What Hildebrand did was strike a deal with UK firms Speedwell Engineering and Downton Engineering to promote their products by converting his newly acquired Sprite into a competition car and racing it at national level in his native Holland. Speedwell fitted its distinctive aerodynamic, lightweight aluminium Monza bonnet and aluminium doors, as well as an Ashley hard top, while Downton tuned the 1.0-litre A-Series engine to give a maximum rev range of 9,000rpm. Other complimentary modifications were made, all of which are detailed on the listing, but suffice to say the car was transformed into an incredibly capable, and indeed competitive racer.

Repainted in leaf green with a yellow central stripe in favour of the rather mundane original white paint job, the plucky Sprite now looked as good as it went but soon after returning to Holland to compete it was unceremoniously crashed on its debut outing. Eyes collectively rolled and the car was returned to Speedwell in 1961.

Whilst back in the UK the car was homologated to the firm’s latest Sebring Sprite specification, which included the addition of various additional upgrades such as bigger and better bakes along with a Sebring pedal box and two separate master cylinders and wider wheels at the back. It then returned to the track and was raced in various Dutch National competitions by Hildebrand before being sold in 1962 when it was used for hill climbs and sprints, notching up several class wins until 1965.

At this point the car was retired from racing, becoming instead a rather unique grocery getter, believe it or not, and a familiar sight around the streets of Amsterdam. Sold again in ’83 following an accident the car was to be fully restored but as is so often the case, this didn’t actually happen until over 20 years later. We get it guys, trust us. There’s no judgment here.

So, fast forward to 2004 and our plucky little Sebring Sprite begins a painstaking four-year restoration, one that meticulously replicated its ’60s sporting specification. The provenance of all of this cannot be denied thanks to extensive photographic records showing the work, all of which are supplied with the car. Used sparingly since it has still racked up multiple appearances at legendary motorsport events such as Goodwood, Zandvoort, Le Mans and Falkenberg, further evincing its status as a bona fide historic hero.

A far cry from its meagre beginnings this Sebring Sprite still manages to retain a lot of the quirky character of the original ‘Frogeye’ Sprite, but with the added muscle of a competition-bred racer. Transformed from a cheeky little roadster into a purposeful David in a land of Goliaths it has a fascinating history as well as a racing legacy that should be protracted for as long as possible. It’s an unusual and hugely interesting classic racer that belongs on the track, exactly where its cheerleader Tonio Hildebrand wanted it, so get it bought and get it sideways.