Classic Cars / Austin-Healey / Car for sale

2nd Owner -43000 original miles-

Sale price: $16,000.00 make an offer

Sale type: Fixed price listing

Technical specifications, photos and description:

Year:
1959
Mileage:
43,433
Engine:
948 cc
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2nd Owner -43000 original miles- for sale

Current customer rating: current rating for this car(2) based on 355 votes
A sparing restoration of 1959 Austin Healey Sprite MKI.  Original 948 cc
I am the 2nd owner of this car.  It sat from 1986 to 2004 when I acquired it. The previous owner had it in his garage due to brake problems and had sparingly driven up to that point.  Since 2004 until 2011. I drove it a few times- fixing only what needed to be fixed as time went on.  In 2011. I started on the body work as the right outer rocker was starting to perforate.  
It was the original owners only car from 1959 to 1963! but used it only occasionally from 1963 to 1986.  
I have the registration/insurance paperwork back to 1972.
I have done the following items in the last couple of years.  
Rebuilt/recored the radiatorNew radiator hosesRebuilt the generator and tach drive unitNew brake master cylinderNew wheel cylinders( fronts need replacing again-they have a leak)New brake drumNew brake springs. shoes etc.  New clutch slave cylinderNew clutch slave throw out rod and pinNew front brake hosesTune up - points. condensor. wires. plugs. oil changes etc.  Installed SU HS2 carbs.  I still have the complete H1 carb and original manifold.  The originals had a float bowl leak in the front carb and it was easier to swap out the entire setup with a rebuilt set of HS2's and manifold that I had.  New mechanical fuel pumpNew tires on repainted steel rims

The outer rockers were cut out. the inners were primed and new New British Motor Heritage Limited LH and RH outer rocker panels were welded in along with new front and rear gusset panels and bottom of rear wheel arches. (rear fender bottoms)  The paint was completely stripped down to bare metal and painted with 5 coats of sanding primer. 5 coats of factory style GN15 Leaf Green and two coats of clear over that.   The paint was wet sanded afterwards for a nice shiny representation.   Unfortunately there is a small chip in the rear deck area that I have the touch up paint for.   The floors and the rest of the body is in excellent shape with no holes or plastic body filler hiding any issues.   I have pictures of this work being completed including shots of the old metal and corrosion being removed.  

 

I have the original front and rear bumpers. original tonneau cover. original top and bows. original side curtains. a spare rebuilt radiator as well as the original H1 carburetor and manifold set up.   The spare is the original Goodyear tire and I will include the original rims and tires that I got with the car.   The tires are very old bias plys and that were probably on there since the late 60's.   New tires were fitted last year on original Sprite rims.   The original hubcaps were retained for the original look.  

 

The car has the ORIGINAL green vinyl floor mats. original green seats. original vinyl green boot cover and original green door cards.   These are not available anywhere in green (or any other color for that matter)  and I have left them as is.   These cars never came with carpeting and so restorations are not complete if they have carpets in these cars.   All these items are untouched and just as I found them.   It even has the original exhaust and the hard to find exhaust to body bracket which are both in excellent shape.  

 

With the car. I will include the new factory green furflex with clips as well a set of Macgregor's "Bristleflex" draught excluders for the doors.   I have not yet installed these.    

 

This car. as well as any 55 year old British car- it leaks oil.   It has leaked oil since 1965! From the oil pan gasket as well as the tappet covers.   It is not so bad and I keep a drip tray under the car.    The valve cover gasket was renewed this year when I set the valves.   The engine runs very well and is very easy to start.   It's the best running A series that I've owned.   After having a few Sprites and old Mini's. I've worked on a few A Series engines.

 

Although I completely rebuilt the brakes. using new wheel cylinders. NOS brake linings. NOS cam adjusters. hoses and master cylinder- there are some issues with the front wheel cylinders leaking.   These will have to be replaced.  

 

The transmission shifts a little harder when hot and my plan was to change the transmission and clutch. Changing the oil in the trans has not totally alleviated the symptoms.   It works good enough that I regularly drive this car 50 miles (up to 150 – 200 miles per week when its nice) without issue.   Patience must be exercised when shifting from 1st and usually done under 2000 rpm.   No issues in the other gears.   Perhaps it is the shaft or bushings in the transmission.   If you know anything about Sprites. the trans is usually the weak point.   I have driven the car about 300 miles this year and there are never any issues.   

 

However. I will include a freshly rebuilt smooth case trans with the purchase.   I started out with a good smooth case and then it was rebuilt using new bearings. gaskets and seals. This gearbox was totally disassembled. cleaned and inspected. Gears were “high graded” from several donor gearboxes. As you may or may not know. new gears and syncros are no longer readily available for smooth case gear boxes.   The smooth case was repainted using the proper BMC green engine paint to finish the restoration of the transmission.   With this complete rebuild. nbsp; this transmission should be good for an additional 55 years.   

 

For an additional fee. I will include a good 948 motor and ribbed case trans if the purchaser wishes to have further spares for the car.    





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