Bug-Eye in the Barn: 1960 Austin-Healey Sprite
The Austin-Healey Sprite was introduced in 1958 as a small, low-cost, British open sports car that “a chap could keep in his bike shed.” It’s best known for its headlights which were mounted on top of the hood, inboard of the front wings. As a result, it earned the nickname “frogeye” in the UK and “bugeye” in the U.S. This 1960 edition looks as though it’s been sitting for quite a while, either outdoors, inside a barn or both. It has its original engine and transmission, new floor pans, and a heritage certificate, but no title. Located in Portland, Oregon, its available here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,500 OBO.
When the Sprite was conceived, the idea was to dig into the existing parts bin for as many pieces as British Motor Corp. could find. That included using a tuned version of the Austin A-Series engine, which was a 948cc, inline-4 that produced 43 hp through the first generation – aka Mark I – 1958 -61. Come the Mark II cars, MG got their version which would be called the MG Midget. Fans of these cars often refer to the later Sprites and Midgets collectively as “Spridgets.” Just shy of 49,000 Sprites were built over the course of their run.
We don’t get a lot of information about the seller’s car other than he needs it gone as soon as possible. It looks rough and there is no indication that the car is complete. At the time, the Sprite’s chassis design was the world’s first volume-production sports car to use unit construction, where the sheet metal body panels (except for the hood) take many of the structural stresses. The two front chassis legs project forward from the passenger compartment, meaning the shell is not a full monocoque. The front sheet-metal assembly, hood and wings, was a one-piece unit, hinged from the back, that swung up to allow access to the engine compartment. Meaning that it could also be removed as is the case in some of the photos the seller provides.
If you’ll pardon the pun, the A-H Sprites were “spritely” in that they had a top speed of up to 83 mph. While 0-60 took as much as 20 seconds, the cars were good for 30 to 40 miles per gallon, long before it became cool to be frugal. If this car was in flawless condition, it could be worth more than $30,000, according to Hagerty. Fair is more like $7,500, which would be a step-up from the seller’s car. Is this Bug-Eye Sprite worth restoring or would it better serve as a parts car at a lower amount?
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Comments
Called a sub frame in some cars the boxed members on the Sprite are welded up to support the engine, transmission, front cross member and go into the foot wells to tie into the tunnel, which is the primary support structure along with the left and right rocker boxes. The foot wells tied to the inner fender wells provide the primary support for the boxed members, all of which is welded together in a triangle shaped support. It’s a great design and after adding more support to the trunk area soon after initial introduction produced a very strong and rigid chassis. The car for sale is priced right and doesn’t have any rust showing that’s not normal for a car that had so little rust prevention from the factory.
These are great fun. But don’t expect to challenge anything unless it’s another one. I have restored a couple. If I were looking at any now, I would be concerned with the condition of the rear spring boxes. Replacing them needs to be precisely welded or the cars geometry will be problematic. Hopefully these are fine!
anyone have any ideas/suggestions for the no title situation?
In Iowa, you can get a ‘bonded’ title. Not much of an issue. Just run the vin thru ncic before cash changes hands.
Between this one and mine (titled and a runner but hot-rodded by a previous owner, and NOT for sale – yet), could be a decent mash-up with some cash injection and swear, I mean sweat. There are some decent bits from this and there aren’t very many truly rare parts to try to find these days.
The solution is the red gas can. Sorry. Couldn’t resist.
Most states have methods of providing buyers of cars this old with titles or at least paperwork that a registration can be acquired with. We bought the pictured car as a stripped rolling chassis to make a vintage race car out of. Good thing as the ex wife of the original owner, now deceased, has the title but also has a whopping case of dementia and has no clue about the title. It does get tricky sometimes with this old stuff. By the way, the later 1275 engines do wonders for the Bugeyes, modified or not. The later rib case transmission is a good move also.
Basically, if you can do it to a Minor, you can do it to one of these – space permitting – so the 1275 mated to a Toyota 5-speed gearbox is feasible. That one has too much missing to be a sensible restoration (unless you also have a complete but rotten one), so I’d just build something quick-ish if it were me.
Rear spring mounts are a weak point, as the springs’re quarter-elliptics.
Across the continent — but a real dedicated group for the next owner to know about.
https://www.bugeyeguy.com/
Rattle can it, get the engine going,add a roll cage and belts and head for a Lemons race!
Rattle can it, get the engine running, roll cage, seat and belts, head for a Lemons race!
I remember working with a friend on one of these in the late 70’s, once the engine was removed we could lift the car up and place it on jack stands by hand. We also changed it from left hand to right hand drive and as I recall almost all the parts could be re-used just flipped around. Can anyone confirm that?
Flip the rack over, remove the blanking plate and move pedals to other side. You need to get another dash panel. Pretty easy swap!
I guess my tired brain still has some memory left!
Hi David, If you flip the rack you’ll reverse the steering. A right hand drive rack is needed. Everything else is easy peasy
1995 Miata Twin cam with 5 speed gearbox fits nice, add some Webers and enjoy!
@Shaun Martin. Working the other way a friend of mine fitted a Honda engine to his Datsun 600 only to discover that the Honda mill spins anti clockwise so he ended up with 5 reverse gears and one forward. He flipped the rear axle over which solved the problem, but the differential only lasted about 300 miles before the whine became deafening. He ended up selling a perfectly good car for scrap as he couldn’t find another Datsun 600 engine.
Had ’60 G production Sprite back in the early ’60’s. Loved that car!
You have to use a Morris Minor rack for the RH steering. More pictures are needed for a informed purchase. Rust is the problem. The Winner’s Circle might have missing parts available.