Highlights
- Full body-off restoration completed in 2011
- Original 948cc A-Series engine, fully rebuilt
- Converted to front disc brakes during restoration
- Repainted in the original factory colour
- 7,000 miles covered since restoration
The Appeal
The original Austin-Healey Sprite — affectionately known as the Frogeye — is one of the most charming and accessible sports cars of the post-war period. With its distinctive faired-in headlights, ultra-light kerb weight, and rev-happy A-Series engine, it was a car built for fun above all else.
This 1958 example is a particularly appealing one. Subject to a full, body-off restoration in 2011, it retains its original 948cc engine and presents with just 7,000 miles covered since the rebuild. It has been upgraded with disc brakes for improved drivability and features all its original bodywork, resprayed in its factory-correct colour. With a tidy interior, solid mechanicals, and a strong supporting history file, it’s a properly sorted Frogeye ready for the road.
Restored, original, and gently used since completion, this Frogeye Sprite is the sort of car enthusiasts look for but rarely find. It’s not a garage queen nor an over-modified racer — it’s just a proper, honest, and beautifully maintained example of Britain’s most cheerful sports car.
Restored, original, and gently used since completion, this Frogeye Sprite is the sort of car enthusiasts look for but rarely find. It’s not a garage queen nor an over-modified racer — it’s just a proper, honest, and beautifully maintained example of Britain’s most cheerful sports car.
History and Paperwork
- Built in 1958
- Full restoration completed in 2011
- Purchased by current owner in 2012 with just 2 miles post-restoration
- Odometer now reads approx. 7,000 miles
- Four previous keepers prior to the current owner
- V5C present and correctly registered
- Document file includes old logbooks, tax discs, MOTs, and restoration photos
- Original engine confirmed: No. 9CUH 46411
- Believed to have shown approx. 50,000 miles pre-restoration
The Condition
- Repainted in original colour during restoration
- Bodywork fully retained — no metal replacement
- Panels appear straight with even shut lines
- Brightwork and trim present well in photographs
- No signs of corrosion or bubbling are visible
- Presents as a clean, honest example
- New carpet fitted during restoration
- Original seats retained and present well
- Dashboard, switchgear and Smiths gauges all functional
- Trim overall shows light age but remains highly presentable
- Side screens and weather gear condition not documented
The Mechanics
- Original 948cc A-Series engine, fully rebuilt
- New brakes, fuel pump, and carburettors fitted recently
- New cork seals fitted for compatibility with modern fuel
- Converted to front disc brakes during restoration
- Starts, idles and drives well per vendor
- No known mechanical issues or faults
- All electrics and gauges confirmed working
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