After 35 years in the dark, this little Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite listed here on craigslist appears wide awake and ready to play. There’s no sign of any rust and it is very original. There’s no word on any of the mechanicals, so assume it will need the usual fuel system and brake work. Hopefully the engine at least turns. And it likely needs a new top, of course. $8700 seems a bit steep to me, but what do you think?
don’t hesitate……..this is well worth the price, ( assuming the car is SOLID and looks like it does in the pictures).
In the Pacific Northwest this is steal at that price. I have a friend that is restoring one of the Sprites and parts have become almost non existence so to find a complete car is pretty rare. These were built with the cheapest parts and rust was always a problem.
It does look like a true unmolested black plate car with no rust. Agree that this is a really good buy. The seller doesn’t say anything about whether it runs, so go there with a good battery and see if it turns over, look at the oil on the dipstick—and hope there is some—and make a quick decision. This is probably going to be gone soon.
this should be sold already, maybe seller should have put it up on ebay. take cash, do the PI and make an offer but don’t let it get away. great find.
I agree. Worth every penny (and then some) Kudos to the owner for cleaning this up, as I guarantee, it didn’t look like this when they found it. Bugeyes go for 5 digits all day long, and I’m sure this won’t be here long either. While they may not be the best for today’s roads ( they were pretty anemic), it’s a great find. Look at that cute little face. Makes you want to pinch it’s little cheeks.
Looks very good and seems a very fair price in the current condition. Back in the sixties a friend had one just like it, however he stuffed a Volvo engine in it and it was one fast little scare ride!
Hard to believe that these in a number 1 condition are in the $30k + price range.
…@Gary yes… they have become ICONIC .. …I bought this one new in ’59, and put a Judson on it about 6 mos later.
anemic ??? …. 15mph / 1000 rpm’s meant 4ooo rpms at 60 on the Highways,
After adding the blower, I changed to 3.90 rear and 6:00 tires ……. It ran ahead of MGa’s, and close to a TR3a
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Hi Dave, your car looks great and adding the blower and gears probably did make all the difference. I’ll tell ya’, cruising at 60 mph @ 4000 rpm’s, makes for a looooong trip. :)
I bought a solid one in this shape in 1991 for $4k. I too put a Judson blower and a few other mods on it over the years to make it a good driver. Mine had 10 year old paint on it when I sold it in 2004 for $18k.
This looks like a decent deal-but checking for rust in the spring boxes is the single most important thing. Floors are easy-spring boxes are not!
The easiest car in the world to work on and restore, great on back roads, and slightly terrifying on the freeway next to anything larger than a Prius.