Starter Sports Car: 1969 Austin-Healey Sprite
If you are one of those people who has held off on buying a collectible sports car due to space concerns or a lack of folding money, then your days of procrastinating may be over. Currently up for grabs is an example of one of the most influential sports cars to ever go spiritedly around a corner. This 1969 Austin Healer Sprite for sale on eBay in Golden, Colorado is a running example of Donald Healey’s finest work and has just come out of long-term dry storage. While it needs cosmetic work and proper sorting, this Lilliputian classic sports a convertible top and genuine wire wheels. With bidding currently at a paltry $1,525, this could be your chance to finally have a classic sports car of your own.
In the late fifties, a visionary named Donald Healey managed to produce a small but utilitarian sports car called the Austin-Healey Sprite. Sprites were built with mostly off-the-shelf mechanical components from British Motor Corporation sedans. The first edition had exposed headlights in the tip up front end solely because it was cheaper to manufacture it that way. With side curtains and unit-body construction, this little sports car that could was a sensation. It was purity on wheels in that there was nothing in or on it that wasn’t necessary for its mission as a sports car.
Of course, some felt that this Spartan masterpiece needed creature comforts. With the next update, the “bugeye” front end was discarded for a proper set of fenders and a hood with conventional headlights. Side curtains were also ditched for roll-up windows. The car gained weight but did become more comfortable and user-friendly. It also picked up a stable mate called the MG Midget. Various improvements happened over the years, but production of the Austin-Healey Sprite ended in 1971 despite success in both Europe and the United States. The MG Midget lived on until 1979.
The car you see here is a 1969 example. By then the Sprite had evolved into a well-respected sports car. It was also universally seen as small. When one enters a Sprite, you aren’t getting in. It is more apt to say that you are putting the car on. Your feet slide far into the area under the dashboard, almost to the back side of the front fender well. Once there, the seating position is just right for someone around 5’10” and under. Larger drivers have to deal with the “bear riding a tricycle” aspect of piloting such a small car. All of the controls fall readily into place, and driving the car is a delightful single step above a go-cart experience.
If you are looking for a solid car to restore as you enjoy it, this may be the car for you. The seller tells us that it is being sold as-is on behalf of an estate. It was last driven in 2008 and immediately put into dry storage by the former owner. As of now, the car does run but no mention of the roadworthiness of the vehicle is made. It would surely need a thorough going through of the fuel and braking system, along with a new set of tires. All of the items you would need to put it back on the road are available through numerous aftermarket sources and are not expensive. The work can be done under the proverbial shade tree with simple hand tools and maybe an oddball British wrench or two. You could also paint and reupholster the car as time and finances allow. Meanwhile, its weatherbeaten appearance has a certain charm all its own.
Do you think this would be the perfect first collectible sports car for someone? Would you restore it or just get it back on the road and enjoy it? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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Comments
It sounds so cliché but, if it was closer, I’d be all over this. What a great Winter project it would make. Problem is, shipping from there to here is probably at least half the value of the car. This holds true East or West, Colorado being (almost) in the middle. Lucky is the guy in Kansas City…
But if this is a “clean”, no or little rust car, the shipping cost is well worth it… bringing back a rusty example would put one upside down in minutes… similar to my comment on the TD, I’d take this, sort out the mechanicals/electricals, throw some fake minilites on it (hate wires, nothing but trouble) and drive it just the way it is…
“Sold on behalf of an estate”, sigh, you know, as many times as I hear that, every one jabs me in the gut. I’ve gone over how out of place a car like this may be today, but with careful planning, you can’t have more motoring fun. The ’69 Mk lll, like the MGB, was the nicest. I read, it had the 1275cc Cooper S motor, still no synchro 1st, but could do an honest 80mph, if need be. I was surprised at the 3 wipers, I thought that was later, but if current trends continue, the lack of interest, that is, and with examples like this popping up from estates all over, by golly, I may be in a British roadster once again. Outstanding find.
Standard engine was the 1275 that was introduced in ’67. It wasn’t a Cooper engine but it doesn’t take much to make one out of the base engine. It did get smoged later on along with every other car in the country. As for fitting into the car, if you put a set of the early seats in and install a smaller diameter steering wheel almost anyone who isn’t an NBA player will fit. Pulling the fat padding out of the present seats will work too. Personally, I think the early seats are a lot more comfortable. One thing we did with our ’67 was install Porsche 914 seats. Got lots more room and headrests too.
Mine, hopefully the photo will show up. And my own amateur paint job.
Beautiful car Michelle!
A great year and the last year of the Sprite. I have done many Spridgets but prefer the Sprite over the Midget for the less cluttered look. The 1275 motor is the biggest plus. This one is a rare model with wire wheels. Most Sprites had steel wheels. It looks extremely straight and can be an easy ‘put back on the road’ car without breaking the bank. (of course that is if you are doing it yourself). These are great fun cars and they lasted much longer than the Brits expected them to. 68 was the last year of the two wiper models.( I had one). If this goes for under $2k, someone is getting a good start. Colorado is too far….. I’m on northern East Coast……
Wow!!!! The memories this brings back!!! We had a family friend who had an Austin Healy Sprite. I was a little kid and him and his brother stopped by the house to visit my Dad. I was mesmerized by the 3 windshield wipers!!! I remember those wipers 50 years later like it was yesterday. I know these had a lot of great things going for it but the 3 wipers just stick out in my memory. This is a great write up and thank you so much for bringing a great happy little 50 year old memory to me!!!
Speaking of cliches, if I didn’t have 3 projects taking up my garage space I would be making transportation arrangements. I need to clean out my garage.
My brother owned a Sprite MkIII while I was a senior in high school. It was a blast to drive. We pulled the engine and rebuilt it on the front porch of our house. Don’ know if we needed to recore the radiator, but it seemed to have overheating issues.
I’ve always liked Spridgets better than MGBs, and being 5’5″ you would think I’d have had one by now. If I had garage space, this would be tempting. But motorcycles have been my sports cars for decades now, so I’ll stick to what I know. Whoever gets this, they better drive it!
Priceless, pretty and practical…
There is so much fun in these plus you can go crazy and build a LeMans replica and still not break your budget
I had 68 Sprite in the mid 70s that my friends used to call the “Berry Bucket” because of its size. It was certainly a fun little ride. One day I came back from work (took my motorcycle that day) to find my Sprite balanced up on its side, really funny right. Well that is until you find that all the acid in the battery drained out into the rear 1/4 panel. I righted the car and flushed with baking soda rinse, filled the battery and oil, then listed it for sale. I do remember the trannys used to wear out layshafts quite regularly. Next LBC was a Sunbeam Tiger, never looked back.
Now at $2100 and it’s definitely going to be someone’s winter project with no reserve. Great find.
Looks like a pretty good paint job to me and I also do my own painting!!!
I had a 68 Sprite through college. Fun to drive and easy to maintain. Biggest problem was instrument panel wiring shorted out and fried. I replaced each wire one by one. Everything worked great. Try doing that with a modern car.
Also speaking of cliches, if I was 6” shorter, 50 lbs. thinner, and not in the middle of a kitchen remodel that went over budget, I’d be all over this.
I remember years ago, working at a place on the Alaska Highway, a guy unfolded himself from a Spridget and he was 6’5″. When I asked him about comfort, he said there was a lot more room inside than it looked like and he was fine. He was headed for Anchorage, so it wasn’t a short drive.
I bought a 1966 Sprite when I turned 16 years old…I was 6-3 tall and managed to squeeze in and drove that car with bare feet..You may ask why I drove in my bare feet, well when I drove with my shoes on I couldn’t push the clutch without hitting the brake pedal and dimmer switch at the same time..I drove that Healy in the snow, rain and when it was sunny with the top down… The car was so much fun and I still smile to myself when I think of the Healy.. The car never let me down as it was a tough little car.. Great memories during the 1960’s.
Just a quick look at the interior picture tells a lot. The original Sprite steering wheel has no cracks. The gauges are clean. The seats look great and the carpeting still looks decent. This car is dry, has been stored well and definitely is not a Northeastern car! I much experience in that department!!!