1958 Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite Mk1

1958 Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite Mk1

Where to start with this great project. as you can see the car has been modified for racing back in the 70s. it has fibreglass panels to front end (1 piece). doors and rear wings/boot lid. it has also had some steel panels replaced with alloy to further lighten the car. looks like there are a few parts from a later Midget. dash. rear wings and seats etc.

Mechanically the engine is a fast road 90bhp Racespec (ex Howley Racing) 1380cc with 45 Weber DOCE. LCB exhaust manifold attached to a ribbed case straight cut gearbox. ltd slip diff with uprated half shafts. front disc brake conversion with brake servo fitted. oil cooler and electric fan fitted. new Odyssey racing battery and Pro Bomb back box. new Moss 3 piece comp clutch fitted.

I bought the car as a runner requiring the clutch replacing. I have cleaned up and painted the engine and box. changed all fluids and other bits and bobs. the engine runs and sounds great. it will require setting up and tuning. looks to have a recent starter and dynamo fitted.

I intended to run her and have a bit of fun this summer before starting a full restoration to turn this car into a Sebring Sprite replica over the winter. a change of circumstances (house move) means I am having to let her go. its fair to say the car looks a little dated at the moment but is a genuine UK supplied RHD vehicle with loads of history (most receipts from 1970 onwards). the V5c in my name and even has the original log book from new showing owners up to 1970.

The registration plate has been valued at £2500 (MOT needed) and is the original issued plate.

In terms of the bodywork and chassis the front end is really sound and straight and the floor pans are solid from the inside. the underside has been heavily under sealed over the years and there are patches of fibreglass works but it is certainly not a rust bucket like so many projects for sale on here but there will no doubt be some metalwork required depending on what restoration route is taken.

Included in the sale are 4 alloy revolution racing wheels. really light requiring a good clean and polish.

Please call me for further details on 07825509512 John and come and have a look. the car is in Sheffield just off junction 35 of the M1

Original UK RHD cars are becoming harder to find and are fetching top money restored. the car has a low reserve and I am not putting a buy it now but will listen to genuine offers and will remove if the right offer comes along.

Lots of options with this project. restore back to original spec. race or hill climb as is. or convert back to standard body with fast road mechanics. give me a all and have a chat for more details.

Cash on collection please. no paypal.

I have uploaded a video on you tube showing the car running and a 360 degree tour of the car. click the link below or paste into Google to view.

 https://youtu. be/nY_r1o3Cwmo         1958 Austin Healey Sprite Mk1    615 DHT

Happy bidding !

On 03-Aug-16 at 18:47:58 BST. seller added the following information:

PLEASE NOTE

There have been a number of enquiries regarding the possibility that the car has had a body transplant to a later Mk11 Sprite or a Mk1 Midget body. I have just spoken to the gentleman who raced the car back in the seventies. he bought the car in its current condition and says the car was modified by the owner before him to comply with the racing regulations of the time. the race class used side on silhouettes to determine the class the car was allowed to race in and this car raced in the Sprite Mk11 race class and was modified to suit this silhouette. he couldn't be sure whether it had a full body transplant into a Mk11 shell or whether a rear end from a Mk11 was fitted to the existing body. I have looked for signs of which way it was done but cannot tell. you would have to strip the body to see. he did say the car raced extensively back in the sixties but with a different engine. the current engine was built by Howley racing who were quite famous for Mini and A series engines back in the 70s and 80s.

I wanted to try to give everyone correct information on the car. as we all know cars of this age that have racing history have had many modifications and changes over the years. to anyone really interested in the car. come and have a look. have a good poke around and make up your own mind as to what's been done to the car. these early Mk1 and Mk11 bodies are almost identical apart from the rear shroud and wings so can be restored back to either variant if required. please feel free to call me to have a chat for further details.

Not wanting silly money for the car so don't be put off by the above !

Regards

John 07825509512  

On 04-Aug-16 at 07:05:36 BST. seller added the following information:

Additional photo's can be seen at Flickr and search for Coonball. these are of the car by the previous owner and show all the underside and rear spring areas as well as the engine and gearbox removed. hope these help !

Also published at eBay.co.uk

Want to buy this car?