Peruse America’s new car lineup for 1960 and you’ll quickly notice they don’t look much like this 1960 Austin-Healey Sprite. It’s been said that a sturdy bloke can remove and re-install a Sprite engine without a lift. Perhaps that’s a slight exaggeration as AHExp lists the engine weight around 250 lb, but it reportedly takes two people to replace a wiper arm on a 1960 Pontiac Star Chief. This “Bug Eye” (US) or “Frog Eye” (UK) Sprite in Milton, New York “runs great,” according to the seller, and comes to market just in time to be socked away and doted over until Spring. Thanks to Mitchell G. for spotting this British classic.
While the listing states “ORIGINAL,” that may be interpreted as “original style” as many elements look like new, correct replacements. The “original” steering wheel marks one exception, entombed within the department store simulated leather strips. It’s hard to appreciate the tininess of a Sprite; check out this comparison next to a Chevy pickup. The Sprite measures 17 inches shorter than a 2016 Miata! The lovely red interior makes the perfect contrast to the “Old English” white paint.
One, two, three “Aw; it’s adorable!” The 948 cc (58 cid) inline four-cylinder makes 43 HP, enough for a 0-60 time around 20 seconds. Nimble handling makes the lightweight Austin-Healey about 120 times more entertaining and enjoyable than most 20 second 0-60 cars, and they’ve populated road races from 1958 through today. You wouldn’t want to tangle with a Yukon XL while driving this Sprite, but you’d have the satisfaction of doubling or tripling the SUV’s MPG when you did. Thanks to Hemmings for some details. Just about every engine you can imagine has found its way into a Sprite, testing the structural integrity of these mighty mites.
Speaking of body structure, lack of a trunk lid adds strength, rendering cabin access the only way to find that half-eaten sandwich you tossed back there last week. Abbreviated bumperettes keep things simple on Sprite’s shapely backside. Check out more pictures and details on this fine unmodified specimen here on Craigslist. The asking price of $15,000 buys this Sprite and all the visceral driving experiences that come with it, recalling a simpler time before cars came with 17 different electronic overprotective Nannies chiding you for changing lanes, following too closely, or leaving uneaten vegetables on your plate. The opportunity cost of this car’s asking price could buy a host of more practical used cars that will be crushed and smelted into washing machines long before this Sprite. Besides, you’re unlikely to fade into the afterlife cracking a smile for that used Camry. Life is too short for boring cars.
Nailed it, Todd-you really well described the fun of a true sports car. It doesn’t cost $100k G’s and pull 5G’s in a straight line or cornering to be a blast to drive.
Actually a good price at face value as the prices are marginally coming down now, ranging from the $95,700 Shelby Racing School Sprite sold in 2020 (but not counting the 1967 Austin-Healey Sprite Streamliner LeMans Coupe sold for $123,200 that year) to the current average of $18,000.
FWIW, a survey of former and current owners indicates the highest SPM-Smiles Per Mile-of any underpowered sports car ever made..
Nice car. The unibody construction makes the chassis very stiff which greatly improves handling. Keep ahead of the rust and they are great cars and lots of fun.
The engine shot supports the likelihood of the engine being an original 948…those are the OEM SU H1 carbs, with the 1-1/8″ diameter bores and the mesh air filters that catch the big rocks. If it had a bigger A-series engine, they would have upgraded to at least the HS2 carbs.
The notch in the front of the cylinder head says it’s a 948. You can pull more hp out of the engine but it’s easier to put a 1275 in it. I’ve got two 100 hp 948 race engines that in no way you could drive on the street. You can easily build a 90 hp streetable 1275 giving much more torque along with the increased hp. The HS2 carbs is a good upgrade. Either way, lots of fun.
I raced a MkI Sprite in the late 60s. I paid $150 for mine.
Under the new rules, I was able to install disc brakes, the larger carbs (1.25″ SUs) and bigger intake valves. I paid $50 for the brakes, $25 for the carbs (plus $15.00 for the rebuild kit) and $25 for the head.
The car was never particularly competitive, but it was a hell of a good autocross weapon.
You probably can lift the engine out without a hoist – provided the bonnet’s off. I’ve lifted the engine/box out of Minis in the past. Not something I’d care to do regularly! I weighed about 10 stone soaking wet at the time…
Had one 50 years ago (when I was younger). Had two 948’s. Swapped the engines back and forth with no engine hoist. Just a chain.
Can;t find an Austin-Healey Sprite? An early MG Midget will do for almost the same amount of fun-factor! Both are almost the same under their tiny bodies!
I owned one briefly in the 70s, a basket case gift from some neighbors. I empties some of the boxes/baskets and got the engine running but did not have even a driveway to work in, never mind a garage so put it up for sale. I can’t remember the sale price but the buyer drove up from San Jose to Fremont with a trailer specifically sized for the car. He told me this would be his third and wasn’t sure if he would add it to his track stable or use it for parts. Either way it continued like in a sprightly way…
BRAVO to Todd Fitch for a most spirited and entertaining description – capturing the essence of the “Spridgets” (and their owners) so spectacularly. I love these cars anyway; there is no other car in the world that handles like these things do. You don’t need more power – the 43 horses can get you into more delicious mischief than you can ever imagine. Of course mine was a ’71 with the venerable 1275 and gobs more power. Oh man – they got that engine RIGHT!
Funny thing – the speedo needle at TDC in a Spridget is 50 mph, it’s 60 on an MGB, and 70 on an MGC. Yet with the needle pointing straight up, you get about the same sensation (and same fun) out of all three cars.
Is it, say, even more fun than an Armstrong-Siddeley?
Now I know who “MGSteve” is…
I had a 1967 spriteI loved that car. I totalled it when a Buick 225 turned left in fornt of me. I couldn’t stop before I hit him l
Exact year and color my dad bought new. He had a roll bar made and he would occasionally (accidently I’m sure) drift on s-curve on ramps.