Old race cars are always fun to poke around, even if their value is heavily contingent upon what tracks they were used on and who drove them. This 1964 Austin Healey Sprite belonged to an amateur, used in SCCA events around the Steel Cities chapter region. While it likely never spent any time at Laguna Seca or Sebring, there’s still lots of history to unpack and potentially a good candidate for using in vintage racing events. We featured this same car about a week ago, but it’s been relisted here on eBay.
The Sprite is definitely set up to race, and the seller notes it was used for road course events (as opposed to being someone’s autocross toy). From the listing: “It does have disc brakes on the front, oil cooler plumbed in, racing seat and harness which appears to be era-correct, has dual carbs as you can see in the pictures. Has adjustable links are rear leaf springs I would imagine to add weight to that side or make spring tighter or looser for handling.” Good details from the seller and plenty of evidence this Sprite is heavily modified.
The dual carb motor is a welcome upgrade, but no word on its history. The seller does note it spins freely, and he believes the last time the Sprite was used was sometime in the 1970s. The engine bay appears better than expected and doesn’t look like it’s been halfway torn down or otherwise messed with. The Sprite will also come with its original tachometer and aftermarket temperature and oil gauges. There’s also a roll cage which thankfully isn’t just a hoop for your head; it’s “welded well”, according to the seller, and ties into the front and rear mounting points.
The racing bucket seats are very tasty, and a serious period-correct upgrade. Some rust is noted, with the worst of it being in the floors. The Sprite certainly needs some metalwork but not so much that I wouldn’t attempt to revise it for track-day use. Vintage race cars have a style and patina all of their own, and this Sprite deserves a comeback. Does anyone recall seeing it race at SCCA events in the 1970s?
This Sprite’s original 1098cc motor would have had those dual 1.25 inch SU carbs from the factory by the way. Still, this little thing is seriously cool! I’d get it as close to street legal as possible and terrorize the back roads with it.
Whol proof-reads this stuff? Fire’em! Every Sprite/Midget came with twin SU’s, they were NOT an upgrade. It was common to “upgrade” pedestrian Morris Minors, Austin A40s and even 850 Minis with the twin SU’s but no such “upgrade” was needed for the Spridget! Next thing you know, we’ll hear about a car being equipped with an optional steering wheel . . .
Might be goid for parts.
Crabtree, Pennsylvania
where ever that is
That’s a standard oil and temperature gauge, by the way.