1959 Austin-Healey Sprite Mark I

The Sprite was designed to be a low-cost sports car and was devoid of an exterior trunk lid, door handles and was based on an Austin sedan. The raised headlights were responsible for the 'Bugeye' name ('frogeye in the U.K.). The designers initially intended that the headlights could be retracted, with the lenses facing skyward when not in use. The flip-up mechanism did not, however, make it into production as BMC searched for ways to cut costs. Instead, they were fixed in a permanently upright and charming position.

The original selling price was approximately $1,820. Austin-Healey produced 21,566 Sprites in 1959, followed by 18,665 the following year.

Production of the Austin-Healey Sprite began in 1958 and continued through 1971 through four distinct series. The Mark I was built from 1958 through 1961 and came equipped with a 948cc A-Series inline-four-cylinder engine and installed in a chassis with an 80-inch wheelbase, a length of 137-inches, and a height of 47.2-inches (with the bonnet up). The overhead-valve 948cc (coded 9CC) engine was derived from the Morris Minor 1000 and Austin A35 models but used twin 1 1/8-inch SU carburetors helping to deliver 43 horsepower. The suspension was sourced from the Austin A35 and the rack-and-pinion steering was courtesy of the Morris Minor. The chassis was suspended via coil springs and wishbones in the front while the rear used quarter-elliptic leaf springs. Armstrong lever-arm shock absorbers were used in the front and rear. The 13-inch wheels were wrapped with 520X13 cross-ply tires as standard, or 145HR13 Pirelli Cinturato radial as options.

The Sprite holds the distinction of being the world's first volume-production sports car to use unitary construction, where much of the structural stress is offset by the sheet metal body panels, except for the bonnet. Its chassis was designed by Healey's chassis designer, Barry Bilbie, who used the Jaguar D-Type for inspiration, including the use of the rear suspension forces being routed through the bodyshell's floor pan. The bonnet (hood) and wings were built as a one-piece unit and used a non-conventional hinging from the back, allowing the bonnet to swing up, allowing access to the engine compartment.

Austin-Healey produced a total of 48,987 examples of the Mark I Sprite between 1958 and 1961.

The Mark I was replaced by the Mark II in May of 1961 wearing completely revamped bodywork that lost the 'bugeye' headlights and replaced them with traditional round lights seated in the wings, either side of a full-width grille and a conventional bonnet. It continued to use the 948cc engine (engine code 9CG) but with larger twin 1 1/4-inch SU carburetors, boosting power slightly to 46.5 horsepower. The engine was backed by a close-ratio gearbox. The wheelbase measured 80-inches and length of 130.1-inches.

Styling updates were applied throughout the vehicle, including the back which became more modern, with a trunk (boot lid) that could open and a conventional rear bumper bar. There were squared-off rear wheel arches which provided rear structural rigidity that had been lost with the addition of the opening trunk. This version of the Sprite is commonly referred to as the 'square-bodied' Sprites by enthusiasts.

The Mark III arrived in March of 1964 and was produced through 1966. Power was from a 1,098cc (A-Series) inline-four-cylinder engine which had been given to Sprites and Midgets in October of 1962. This engine was from the Austin A40 and the Morris Minor 1000 and used a single carburetor to produce 56 horsepower. Around this time, front disc brakes were introduced and wire wheels became an option. The engine was backed by a strengthened gearbox with Porsche (baulk-ring) synchromesh. The engine in the Mark III was similar to the Mark II, but with a stronger block casting, and larger (by two inches) crankshaft main bearings.

Among the mechanical modifications were to the rear suspension which changed from quarter-elliptic to semi-elliptic leaf spring, accumulating a more comfortable ride and additional axle location.

The styling was modernized, gaining a curved-glass windscreen, hinged quarterlights, and wind-up side windows. For the first time, the Sprite now had exterior door handles, with separate door locks.

Austin-Healey produced 31,665 examples of the Mark II Sprite and 25,905 of the Mark III.

The Mark IV was introduced in October of 1966 at the London Motor Show. The biggest change could be found lurking beneath the bonnet - a new 1,275cc A-Series inline-4 engine sourced from the Mini-Cooper, albeit in a lower state of tune. Another mechanical change was the separate brake and clutch master cylinders to aid in safety.

The previous versions of the Sprite had a removable convertible top that could be stowed in the boot when not in use. The Mark IV convertible top was now permanently affixed with a greatly improved design which made operation much simpler and easier to use.

1969 was the final year that the Sprite was exported to the United States. The previous year, cars destined for the U.S. received smog pumps and other modifications to comply with federal emission control requirements. Although this allowed them to pass emission tests, it did rob them of some of their horsepower.

By the time production of the Mark IV ended in 1971, a total of 22,790 examples had been produced.

Roadster
Chassis number: AN5L10426

This 1959 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Mark I was offered for sale at the 2007 Sports and Classic Car Auction presented by The Worldwide Group, in Hilton Head Island, SC where it was estimated to sell for $25,000 - $35,000. It is powered by a four-cylinder engine that displaces 948 cubic centimeters and capable of producing around 43 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual gearbox and a suspension comprised of coil springs and wishbones.

This example was imported into Canada in early 1959. Its first owner retained the car until 1974, upon which time it was sold to a second Canadian owner. This owner cared for the car until 1993. The third owner began a restoration that concluded in 1998. Since that time it has been kept in a climate-controlled storage. It is finished in the original factory color of Iris Blue with matching and correct interior of black. It is equipped with a complete factory tool kit, correct factory soft top with side curtains, and the optional factory tonneau cover.

The interior is one of the only few modifications this car has been given. It is a Mark II interior that offered more comfort and support for the occupants.

The Austin-Healey Sprite was designed by Donald Healey and was produced beginning in 1958. It was an alluring car with a low-cost price tag and ample performance features. Power was from a tuned version of the Austin A-Series engine and borrowed many of its mechanical components from existing cars which aided in keeping the costs to a minimum.

The Mark I Sprites were known as the Frogeye in the U.K. and the Bugeye in the United States due to its unique front end with headlights mounted on top of the center hood. This was not part of the original design; in fact, they were originally to be mounted into the front of the car so they could 'flip-up' while in use. They would face skyward when not in use.

The frontal area was all one-piece and hinged from the back. It swung up allowing ample access to the engine compartment. There were no exterior door handles. To open the door, one had to reach inside and use the internal lever to operate the door. there was also no trunk lid. To gain access to the trunk and to the spare wheel, the seats backs had to be tilted forward.

At auction this vehicle found new ownership, selling for the low end of the estimated value, and fetching $25,300.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster

If there was ever a recognized sports car of the late 1950's, it is the Austin-Healey 'Bug Eye' Sprite. It was originally introduced to the press in Monte Carlo by the British Motor Corporation on May 20, 1958 just before that year's Monaco Grand Prix. The idea was to offer a low-cost model that 'a chap could keep in his bike shed', yet be a worthy successor to the sporting versions of the pre-war Austin Seven.

This particular example of an early Sprite is the actual car used at Carroll Shelby's School of High Performance Driving at the Riverside Raceway in southern California. Shelby used this car for about five years to instruct students, including many young movie stars, in the art of road racing.

Peter Brock, who at the time was the Manager and a driving instructor at the school, noted that it was the 'workhorse training vehicle' of the school. When Shelby 'gave' the school to Bob Bondurant in 1965, it was sold to the manager of a Pontiac dealership in Pennsylvania. It was raced for several years in SCCA events, then damaged and stored for years. In 1973 it was repaired and again raced for several years.

This 'Shelby Sprite' has undergone a complete restoration returning it to as it was at the Riverside Raceway back in the day. It is race ready and has full historical documentation dating back to 1959.

The Austin-Healey Sprite was produced from 1958 through 1971 with 129,347 examples of the two-door, low-cost, open roadster produced. The car was designed by the Healey Motor Company, more specifically Donald Healey, and produced in partnership with the British Motor Corporation.

There were four series of the Sprite. The first series was produced from 1958 through 1961 with approximately 49,000 examples produced. In the United States, these were given the nickname Bugeye while in the UK they were called Frogeye. The name evolved from the headlights mounted on the top of the hood resembling a frog and/or bug. Concealed flip-up headlamps were in the original drawings but high production costs canceled those plans. The body was very smooth and flowing. There were no door handles; to open the door, the inside handle would need to be operated. This meant that the doors could not be locked. The trunk did not open - to gain access to the trunk the back seats would need to be folded down. Housed inside the trunk was the spare tire. The entire front hood hinged upwards, allowing easy and convenient access to the engine.

The mechanical components were borrowed, in an effort to save production costs, from a number of vehicles already in production. The suspension was from the Austin A-35 while the engine was courtesy of the Morris Minor. The 948 cc engine was based on the Morris Motor Company A-series but fitted with dual SU carburetors increasing the horsepower from 37 to 43. Coil springs and wishbones were in the front while the rear was a semi-elliptical leaf spring configuration. A rack-and-pinion steering unit controlled the car, drum brakes provided the stopping power, and a four-speed manual gearbox sent power to the rear wheels.

The second series, the Mark II, was produced from 1961 through 1965. The 948 cc engine continued to power the car until 1964, with an optional 1098 cc A-series engine coming available in 1962 and lasting until 1964. The 1098 cc engine produced nearly 60 horsepower and had the same bore and stroke as the Morris Minor 1000. Front disc brakes were fitted on vehicles with the larger engine. Wire wheels were optional equipment.

The lights were the largest change with the rear headlights sharing the same design as the soon-to-be-produced MGB. The front headlights were repositioned causing controversy with their faithful supporters. Also controversial was the newly introduced rear bumper bar.

The Sprite Mark III was produced from 1964 through 1966 with nearly 26,000 units produced. The Mark III is also known as the Mark II MG Midget. There were few changes to this version in comparison to the prior versions. Wind-up windows and exterior door handles were much-welcomed luxury items. The rear suspension was changed to a fully elliptical leaf-spring configuration. A new grille adorned the front while the body detailing changed slightly.

The tried-and-true 1098cc engine remained, though it now had a stronger block casting and the size of the crankshaft main bearings was increased. The 1098 cc engine continued to be produced until 1966. It was replaced by a 1275 cc four-cylinder engine that produced 65 horsepower. This version was dubbed the Mark IV which remained in production from 1966 through 1971.

There were a total of 22,790 examples of the Mark IV produced. The MKIV's cousin was the Mark III MG Midget; both saw cosmetic changes over the versions they replaced. Some were minor aesthetic updates and others were more substantial. Probably the most significant was the change to a permanently-affixed roof, in place of the removable convertible top.

The Sprite was a popular vehicle because it was small, sporty, and very economical, with the original versions costing about $2000. They were easy to maintain and had superb handling. Though zero-to-sixty took about 21 seconds and top speed was just under 80 mph, this was respectable for a 1960's vehicle.

Most of the Sprites were exported to the United States. They often differed from their European counterparts as the US versions were forced to comply with safety restrictions and federal emission control requirements.

by Dan Vaughan