Back in the late 1990s, as a young man with any number of future collector cars on his mind, I’d religiously watch the SCCA Runoffs (the Super Bowl of amateur road racing) on TV. Back then, it wasn’t uncommon to see Midgets, Sprites, and Spitfires still mixing it up at Road Atlanta, their owners going toe-to-toe with much newer machinery. It all looked like a very good time, and while I’m glad I never caught the racing bug (my regular car hobby costs enough), the thought of cruising around in a small, relatively inexpensive British Sports Car has never lost its appeal. This beautiful 1967 Austin-Healey Sprite might be one of the nicer examples you’ll find, and it was pictured on the cover of Moss Motors’ magazine (I got an issue after ordering a pair of mirrors for my Volvo 1800S—it’s a nice little publication). Barn Finder T.J. found it here on craigslist in Sacramento, Califoirnia, with an asking price of $12,000.
The 1967 Sprite (called the Mark IV in the literature) had the BMC 1275cc four-cylinder, making it perhaps the best model year in a long-line of Sprites (although some will argue for the Bugeye, of course). The 1275 produced 65 horsepower at a full 6,000 rpm, while also producing 72 lb.-ft. of torque at only 3,000 rpm. Breathing through two SU carburetors, the 1967 model came along before emissions regulations started to strangle the little A-Series engine. The seller says that this one is “turned over monthly” and “lightly driven.”
The Sprite’s interior is spartan as a real sports car always was, but it appears to be in phenomenal condition. The car comes with plenty of literature, a spare tire, and even a tonneau cover. The 1967 model had roll-up side windows and an easy to raise (and lower) convertible top, unlike earlier models whose top was often described as an “erector set.”
All Sprites had four-speed manual transmissions, of course, and the rear axle ratio was 4.22:1.
Being a California car, it’s no surprise that it looks about as dry as it can be. Although the seller doesn’t mention any restoration work the car might have had, it is described as having a “good history.”
The simple little Sprite (and the nearly identical MG Midget) represent the embodiment of fun on wheels. With rack-and-pinion steering, a live rear axle, front disc brakes, a curb weight well under a ton, and a willing 1275cc engine, it’s no wonder that so many people removed the windshield, bolted in a roll bar, and took to the track. While this car is far too nice for those kinds of shenanigans, it would be the perfect car for hitting the twisties at a reasonable and prudent pace.
Great little cars, emphasis on LITTLE, but I’m keeping the NA8 which replaced it.
My first British sports car in folly was a 67 Sprite. Loved that car. Easy to work on but I had problems with it. Like all the instrument panel wiring frying for no reason but the car was so simple, I replaced each wire myself and had no problems. The other issue was having the headlights constantly smashed by bigger cars backing into it wherever it was parked.
As with you, Jim, a Sprite provided my first experience with British sport cars. Mine was a ’66 model, a red duplicate of the featured car. It proved the most fun I’ve ever experienced with any car, and I’ve owned, at various times, five MGBs and a Miata MX5. The Sprite was extremely light, so light that when my girlfriend and I once became stuck in beach sand, a long piece of driftwood placed as a fulcrum under the rear bumper was all I needed to effortlessly shift the drive wheels onto firmer ground. My girlfriend, now my wife of 50 years, was duly impressed and remains so!
Having done many Spridgets over the course of the last 40+ years, the 67 Sprite (to me) is the best year. It was the transition year. First year of the 1275 motor with no emission controls, first year of the folding top, last year of the steel dash, no head restraints and with a tonneau cover to match. The Sprite was simpler than a Midget, appearance wise. This one is a great example with steel wheels and the correct white piped seats and original steering wheel! The Sprites were my favorites due to their simplicity. I honored the earlier chrome bumpered cars in the Covid era (2020) by taking a 79 rubber bumpered Midget and bringing it to look like an early Sprite with the red rounded taillights, chrome bumpers and no side markers. I also removed the door handles (it is easy enough to get inside without them). It was a fun project!!
What? No wire wheels?? Sacrilege! No tiny Spridget should be seen in public without wire wheels!
How about our 67?
“Spridgets.” I like that!
Spridgets….. same car, just different name tags and appearance chrome. It’s much easier to lump them together when working with both cars!! And….Bob Hess…. your Midget is magnificent!!
I always liked these itty-bitty Sprites/Midgets, especially this generation when they were look-alikes.. I had a ’74 Midget, and in between breakdowns (thankfully it was easy to repair, I learned fast!) it was a fun car to drive. Wish I still had it.
I would love to actually eyeball that Sprite because I think that’s an excellent buy baring an exam of it. A friend finished third at the Atlanta runoffs one year. A damn fun car.
I share the same enthusiasm for these small British cars and have owned a few. It is amazing to me that we have gone from this type of sports car with almost universal enthusiast appeal to the large lumbering trucks and SUVs mostly seen today.
I will never understand it.
Yes Austen Healey Sprites and MG.Midgets most parts, except body panels are the same. My favorite was the 1959-1961 Bug Eye Sprite. Like to find a nice one of those again!
Nice Sprite… $12k is all the money however… GLWS.
Back in the day, I bought a Midget at Wolf Motors in Sebring. They sold British cars and Volvos; that was in 1962. I drove the car to Chicago to visit my girl friend and from there, using Rt 66 I drove to Barstow Ca., being stationed near by in the Mojave desert. It was a great ride, and I will never forget it, ideal for a young buck to see the vastness and beauty of the USA
And you probably made the trip on two ten gallon tanks of regular gas.
Hey Wes… the gas tanks are only six gallon!!
We’re you in the army or marines?
I remember Ft Irwin being 40 miles into the Mohave from Barstow. The day after I left there, I went to (if I remember right) University Import? in Riverside. One of the cars I drove was a later model, low mileage Spridget. It was too small and too slow. I drove off into the sunset in an Alfa.
Recently realized that im going to be a little old man before I know what I want to be if I grow up. I fit in smaller cars now. BUT I think im going to rehome the Crosley and Jabro.
Hi Ralley! I was in Ft. Irwin, qualified for helicopter pilot´s training and stupidly listened to my buddies who told me I should get out of the army to follow my dream, which was becoming a jazz pianist of note. Well, I tore up my orders for helicopter training in Ft. Rucker, Al and set out for San Francisco to study piano. Well, as they say the rest is history, I simply didn´t have what it took to become a real pianist and ended up in the car business, having to make a living somehow. Life is full of regrets, but had I gone ahead with my military plans who knows what would have happened tlo me in Vietnam. Too late to worry about all that now at 86 years of age
They say smell is a jogger of memory. Vice versa is true also. I am sitting here remembering the smell of the pit odors at the runoffs. Crew member, not a driver. A long time ago. I’ll be 75 yo tomorrow.
Happy birthday, George! As one who’s been 75 for seven months, I assure you that it’s not as bad as you may think!
Well, thank you. Body needs about 10 prescriptions a day. Brain still living the dream. Retired 10 years ago. Highly recommend it.
Jeez, George, seems you and I are mirror images!
Love ’em
Just pure fun to drive! Easy to work on too. Parts available.
You’ll never stop for a fill up without getting into a conversation with the guy at the next pump.
My thanks to Arfeeto. I have a ’70 Datsun 2000 in the garage that I have spent a fortune on through the years. Rust free frame. Built engine. Original paint. Solex carbs. Now negotiating to get it back to the original owner. When I do, I think I want a mid-sixties truck that can sit for extended periods of time. Am I being foolish?
Foolish? Not at all, George! A late-40s pickup has served as my summer ride about town for the past five years. Each year, it sits in my garage beginning in October and fires up on the first crank in April.
Incidentally, your Datsun 2000 sounds like a helluva car. Even in my dotage, the mental image of it whets my appetite for performance driving.
I had a ’65 back in The Day. Took a 1000 mile road trip and burned valves 10 miles from home, dead on the side of the road.
To this day I cannot fathom how I squeezed my 6’2″ frome into it…
Always loved the flat dash!
Yes George, I agree. The steel dashes were the best! I have removed the padding on the later model dashes and refinished them with a stone guard pebbly finish. The look much better than the padding and are more reminiscent of the older cars!
I remember one of the 1967 green stamp catalogs had a red Sprite on the cover. If you saved enough green stamps you could get the car!
It’s so fast it scares me. Keep the revs up and it scoots. Paid attention to the performance and finally realized I needed brakes. Went to Toyota 4×4 front brakes. All performed by MAS Imports a little north of Reading PA. I’m in Wilmington. Should I send you my email address for more info? Is that allowed?
Spring break 1968, left Hartford, CT headed for Sarasota, FL in my 1967 AH Sprite. Went by way of Aken, SC in order to visit family (actually got a speeding ticket going through rural Georgia!). Lost the clutch around Tallahassee and learned to drive by matching revs and shifting slowly. Got the master cylinder replaced in Sarasota and lost the clutch again about half way up the NJ Turnpike – going over the GW Bridge and through the NYC traffic was an experience! Replaced the cylinder again (did it myself this time) and sold the Sprite, replaced it with a AH 100-6 (the first of 4) – whole different set of problems! The Sprite was a fun little car – wouldn’t mind having another one now – problem is all I’d be able to do is look at it, getting in and out of it would be a real problem.