1958→1961 Austin-Healey Sprite Mark I

Known alternatively as the Frogeye or Bugeye, the Austin-Healey Sprite was known for its distinctive healylight pods that were initially designed to be retractable.

The Sprite was one of the first sports cars to use unitary body construction. The employed many pieces from the BMC parts bin including the Austin A35 engine with 11⁄8″ inch SU carburettors.

In Detail

submitted by	Richard Owen
type	Series Production Car
production years	1958 – 1961
built at	England
interior designer	Gerry Coker
production	49000
price Â£/td>	Â£678
engine	Inline-4
valvetrain	OHV
displacement	948 cc / 57.9 in³
bore	62.99 mm / 2.48 in
stroke	76.2 mm / 3.0 in
power	32.1 kw / 43 bhp @ 5200 rpm
specific output	45.36 bhp per litre
bhp/weight	64.28 bhp per tonne
torque	70.5 nm / 52 ft lbs @ 3300 rpm
f suspension	Live Axle w/Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs
r suspension	Wishbones
curb weight	669 kg / 1475 lbs
wheelbase	2032 mm / 80.0 in
front track	1179 mm / 46.4 in
rear track	1163 mm / 45.8 in
length	3480 mm / 137.0 in
width	1372 mm / 54.0 in
height	1219 mm / 48.0 in
transmission	4-Speed Manual
gear ratios	3.10:1, 1.99:1, 1.35:1, 1.00:1
top speed	~133.55 kph / 83 mph
0 – 60 mph	~20.5 seconds

Auction Sales History

1959 Austin-Healey Sprite Mk I AN5-L/16468 – sold for $48,400 1963 SCCA One-Liter Champion. Important Ownership and Racing History. Authentic 2008 Restoration Subect of a Featured Article in Classic Motorsports. Accompanied by Extensive Documentation and a BMHT Certificate.
Auction Source: The Scottsdale Auctions by Gooding & Company

1961 Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite –

It seems probable that some time around the early 1970s the majority if not all of the rebuilt, modified and developed car was scrapped while its chassis plate and registration identity survived. Mr Dick Skipworth acquired this identity/entity from Ron Scoma to join his growing Ecurie Ecosse Collection in the late 1990s. It all arrived “…as a pile of bits in a packing case” most crucially providing the original Ecosse Le Mans Sprite’s chassis plate, serialled ‘AN5 47402’. As Dick Skipworth relates: “Lynx remade the aluminium hardtop and bonnet while I rebuilt the rest. So now we have a car that absolutely looks the part, has the right numbers, but is a re-creation of that 1961 Le Mans Sprite entered and raced by Ecurie Ecosse “.