☰
conceptcarz.com
✕

1966 Austin-Healey Sprite MK III

The Austin-Healey Sprite was produced for over a dozen years, lasting from 1958 to 1971 and built along four generations. Designed by the Donald Healey Motor Company and produced at the MG factory at Abingdon, the low-cost model was announced on May 20th of 1958 in Monte Carlo. The prominent headlights of the Mark I Sprite soon earned the nickname 'frogeye' in the United Kingdom and 'bugeye' in the United States. The engine was intially a tuned version of the Austin A-Series engine and many other components from existing cars were utilized to minimize costs. The body was styled by Gerry Coker with subsequent alterantions by Les Ireland following Coker's emigation to the U.S. in 1957.

The chassis, designed by Barry Bilbie, used unitary construction with many of the sheet metal body panels, sans bonnet, absorbed many of the structural stresses. Bilbie's original metal gauge thickness of the rear structure was reduced by the Austin Design Office during the prototype build. Testing at MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) revealed the thickness to be inadequate, resulting in a return to the original specification. The structure was not a full monocoque due to two front chassis legs projecting forward from the passenger compartment. The entire front sheet metal assembly was a one-piece unit, including the wings and bonnet, which was hinged at the back.

There was very little brightwork, ornamentation, and trim pieces. It was devoid of a boot lid and door handles. To enter the vehicle required reaching inside, and access to the luggage compartment and spare wheels was via tilting the seat-backs forward and reaching under the rear deck.

The engine was derived from the Morris Minor 1000 and Austin A35 models. It was a 948cc overhead valve unit with twin 1 1/8-inch SU carburetors and delivering 48 horsepower. The rack-and-pinion steering was courtesy of the Morris Minor 1000 and the front suspension from the Austin A35. Armstrong level-arm shock absorbers and top links were at all four corners, with the front sprung by coil springs and wishbones with the rear used quarter-elliptic leaf springs. The thirteen-inch tires were wrapped with 520x13 cross-ply tires or optional 145HR13 Pirelli Cinturato radial tires.

The relatively spartan vehicle was rather feisty, with a top speed in excess of eighty mph.

Production of the Mark I Sprites lasted from 1958 through 1961 with 48,987 examples built.

The Mark II Square-Bodied Sprites

The MKII followed in mid-1961, powered by the 948cc engine but with larger twin 1 1/4-inch SU carburetors, delivering 46.5 horsepower, and backed by a close-ratio gearbox. Although mechanical changes were minimal, the bodywork changed dramatically, with the headlights relocated to a more conventional and modern position in the wings, a conventional bonnet, and a full-width grille. The back gained a boot lid, a conventional rear bumper bar, squared-off rear wheel arches, and styling that foreshadowed the forthcoming MGB.

Also in 1961, an MG version was introduced at 'the new Midget' which quickly proved more popular than the Sprite.

In October of 1962, both the Austin-Healey Sprite and the MG Midget received a long-stroke 1098cc engine with 56 horsepower, also used in the Austin A40 and Morris Minor 1000. To cope with the additional horsepower, the engine was backed by a strengthened gearbox with Porsche synchromesh. Disc brakes were placed at the front and wire wheels became optional.

The total production of the Mark II Sprites, produced from 1961 through 1964, reached 31,665 units.

The Mark III

The Mark III Sprite was produced from 1964 through 1966 with 25,905 examples built. The Mark III was joined by the Mark II MG Midget and differences once again were with minor trim detailing. The 1098cc engine received a strong block casting, and the crankshaft main bearings increased to two inches. Exterior door handles with separate door locks appeared for the first time, along with wind-up side windows and a curved-glass windscreen. The previous quarter-elliptic springs were replaced by semi-elliptic leaf springs, and the upper links were removed.

Although the doors were lockable, the soft-top roof meant the production was limited.

The Mark IV

The Austin-Healey Mark IV Sprite was introduced in October of 1966 at the London Motor Show. Production continued through 1971 with 22,790 examples built; 1969 was the final year the Sprite was exported to the United States. Along with the Mark III MG Midget, the MK IV was powered by a larger 1,275cc engine, had a removable convertible top, and used separate brake and clutch master cylinders. MK IV models destined for the U.S. market, from 1968 forward, received additional modifications to comply with federal emission control requirements, resulting in lower horsepower ratings.

The Mark IV gained reversing lamps in 1969, reclining seats, and the electrical system was switched to negative earth and powered by an alternator rather than a dynamo. Beginning in September of 1969, styling modifications were applied following Austin-Healey and MG becoming part of British Leyland. Both the MG and the Austin-Healey now had similar cosmetic features in efforts to reduce production costs. The only differences were now in the badging. Both cars now wore the same grille with a square-mesh design and finished in satin black with a chrome embellisher. The name 'SPRITE' in chrome capital letters was located on the sill just behind the front wheel arch. The body sills were painted satin black divided by the upper bodywork by a chrome stripe.

Both the front and rear bumpers were slimmer with rubber-capped overriders, with the rear changing to two quarter-bumpers with the gap in the middle occupied by a square number plate. New cast-alloy-looking ventilated wheels, made from steel, were placed at all four corners with wire-spoke wheels being optional. The interior had a more modern upholstery pattern and the seats were now slimmer.

1972 brought circular-shaped rear wheel arches and the fake 'Alloy' wheels were replaced by 'Rostyle' wheels painted silver and black.

During the rather length production lifespan of the Sprite, lasting from 1958 through 1971, 129,347 examples were built. The final 1,022 Sprites were known as Austin Sprites as the Healey connection ended in 1971.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible

The original Sprite was introduced in 1958, complete with 'bugeye' headlights and a grille set in a mischievous grin. Easy to handle and inexpensive to buy, a total of 48,510 were sold. The Mark II and Mark III Sprites added roll-up windows and other creature comforts to the original formula and were even more popular. The Sprite wasn't just cute - it was fun to drive, and legions of enthusiasts were introduced to autocrosses at informal weekend gatherings of like-minded individuals flogging their Sprites successfully against much more powerful competition. This example was discovered in 1990 in the basement of a home in Atlanta, the parts mixed in with those of at least three other cars. Restoration was begun in 1996, and other than paint work, most of the work was accomplished by the current owner and his wife.

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