1958 Austin Healey Sprite

MkI ‘Frogeye’ Sprite

Estimate: £14,000 - £18,000*

Reg No: BVH 114A MOT: January 2024

Chassis No: AN5L/5290

This stunning looking Sprite was initially supplied to the USA in 1958 and as far as the vendor can ascertain was repatriated back to the UK in 1963, hence the ‘A’ registration number. Bought by the vendor in 2008, he has carried out various engine and running gear modifications with a view to making it a more usable car in modern day road conditions. The front brakes have been upgraded to disc on Minilite-style wheels and the suspension has had a shock absorber conversion. The car is now fitted with a 1275cc engine, the cam drive has been upgraded to belt and the head gas-flowed together with a hotter cam, split Weber carburettors and a sports exhaust all driving through a Ford Sierra 5 speed gearbox.

In 2021, the car was treated to an extensive and expensive bare-metal bodywork and interior restoration, with the bonnet being replaced by an aluminium copy and comes supplied with a hardtop, a soft-top and a tonneau. The vendor has driven the car around Europe and reports it is ‘very tractable and fun to drive, usable in town in today’s traffic and fine on the motorway’. It is offered with a British Heritage Trust Certificate, a period catalogue, a workshop manual, a driver’s handbook and a couple of interesting BMC tuning manuals. Recently MOT’d with no advisories, it is supplied with number of old MOTs and a current V5C.