This red on red 1965 Austin Healey Sprite Mark III is for sale for $4,500 in San Antonio, Texas. It is listed here on Facebook Marketplace and needs a little TLC to get it back on the road, but this sure seems like it could be cheap fun!
The interior looks nice and even though it is listed as an automatic, it appears to be equipped with a manual transmission. Mark III Sprites were built in the MG factory from 1964-1966. The car differed from the Mark II based on some minor trim details including a curved windshield, roll up windows and the addition of exterior door handles and door locks on both sides.
The Mark III has an 80-inch wheelbase and was fitted with a 1.1 liter 4 cylinder motor. The engine produced 59 hp and 65-foot lbs of torque. The seller states that he has the bumpers to go on the car and that there is no visible rust on the floorboards or body panels.
Designed to compete with the Triumph Spitfire, this unique British sports car looks like it just needs a little work to get back on the road. Mounting a set of alloy mini lite wheels on all 4 corners would look good, too. If you can fit in this little gem, it could be a good low-cost driver.
These were the best series of the Spridgets. Pretty much a square Bugeye with no extra stuff other than that required to make it run. Speaking of run…would be nice if it did. With the early seats a 6 footer has plenty of leg room but if you have size 12 or larger feet it might be a problem.
Nice car
Nice price
I’d rather have the Morris Minor woody in the background….but I’m sure that would be significantly more money !
Spridgets can be fun, if you fit. Probably one of the easiest sportscars to find both original spec and performance parts for at reasonable prices.
WHAT? Someone finished two of my projects? Nope, just checked, the Sprite and Morris Traveller in my garage are still far from complete, darn! My Sprite is a mark II and my Moggie is a 69, but the colors are the same. I have transplanted a 1275 in the Sprite and a friend is trying to get me to put his excess Capri V6 in the Morris. Too heavy I think. I guess the next thing you guys will post is either a finished blue Triumph Herald Sports 1200 or a Fiberfab Jamaican, both of which are also waiting in my wings. Heck, I’m still a month away from 75 so I should be able to get all of these done, the fact that the TR3A took 27 years notwithstanding. LOL
I don’t think that the doors lock. I have a 76 and it does not have door locks. They are kind of a moot point with a drop head anyway.
Door locks are just below the handles. As you say, not much good with the soft top but would be with a hard top unless you get hit by a guy with a sawsall.
If I walked up to this at a car show, I’d be shaking my head telling my buddies “Can’t believe the owner put that car in a show field with red overspray on the tires.” “Resale red” — this is A LOT of red even for a little Sprite. The removal of the front bumper is common for racing but on this specimen I would immediately throw one of my spares on the front and do away with those silly, tiny, amber lights. Priced about at the top of the range in my opinion. Especially if it needs a little TLC. Dash requires a new coat of crinkle finish, and the current owner needs to learn how to fold the top and place it in the trunk.
Agree with the overspray. What look like tiny lights are probably the ends of the front bumper mounts, sticking through the apron and painted with everything else. The dash appears to be homemade as the original one is a bit wider and the top trim goes all the way to the edges. Twenty-five footer? The top frame is either missing one bar or is improperly erected.
Trick of the camera, Brian M. The dash is correct for a 64, uncut. As stated it is missing a HUGE amount of the original black crinkle coat. Some people just strip ’em down and paint body color. The top crash pad is what is too small. With that finished end that shows I can’t tell if maybe this piece came off a narrower sports car. Maybe that is homemade. Odd.
Just re-read the FB Marketplace listing. The bumper is available, what I thought were amber lights are globs of masking tape balled up on the end of the brackets. The top looks new, but appears to be missing essential bows to property put up and secure. The seller admits to it needing the requisite front end rebuild (common, but not cheap when done correctly) and the car isn’t running! Judging by the location of the steering wheel spokes, this Sprite will steer like a wheelbarrow. Overpriced by a couple grand IMHO.
Also looks like the minor pickup next to the traveller. The seller must have a dislike of front bumpers, for some reason, as the traveller is missing it as well.