Classic Cars / Austin-Healey / Car for sale

Running Nice Body 1959 Bugeye Sprite Vintage Race Car or Return it to Street Use

Sale price: $11,323.00 make an offer

Car location: Roswell, Georgia, United States

Sale type: Fixed price listing

Technical specifications, photos and description:

Year:
1959
Mileage:
100,000
Engine:
948 cc
Trim:
2 Door Convertible
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Running Nice Body 1959 Bugeye Sprite Vintage Race Car or Return it to Street Use for sale

Current customer rating: current rating for this car(2.1) based on 508 votes

Offerred here is a 1959 Austin Healey Mark 1 Sprite AN5 commonly referred to in North America as the Bugeye Sprite and in the UK as the Frogeye Sprite.   The car was campaigned as a vintage race car for many years (1986 to 1999). but has been inactive last 14 years. stored inside its race trailer.   It is equipped with a 948 cc full racing tuned engine with a side draft Weber DCOE carburetor. racing BMC ribcase gearbox with factory close ratio straight cut gears. limited slip differential (believed to be Tran-Ex). heavy duty aluminum racing radiator. double bearing rear racing hubs. Panhard rod. front disc brakes. later Sprite/Midget brake & clutch master cylinder set-up. racing clutch. and all of the standard racing accouterments of the day.   The car was a rare totally rust free example prior to its conversion to a racing car and remains free of all rust except some minor surface corrosion under the paint on the bonnet shown.   It would be very easy to put the car back to stock configuration since it was not modified severely when made into racing configuration.   For instance. the roll bar is bolted in. not welded to the car. the rear suspension has the factory set-up of trailing arms and shock absorbers. and the sheet metal has not been modified other than the battery box being removed from the firewall.   It is a good candidate for returning it to a nice stock Bugeye.   The car was raced at Daytona. Sebring. Road Atlanta. Roebling Road. Watkins Glen. and Moroso yearly during its vintage racing career and at Black Hawk. Kansas City. Memphis. and even the Bahamas and was very competitive.   Please Note: The Grand Bahama Vintage Grand Prix rear license plate IS NOT included in this auction.   The car is currently at a racing shop here in Atlanta having a once-over to get the engine running. which should be done before the auction is over.   Expectation is that the engine will run as it is free and was put away in running condition.   To return the car to vintage racing. nbsp;would require a minimum of what would normally be required to assemble a race car.   It needs a new set of safety belts as these are out of date. the fuel cell bladder needs renewed. all fluids and rubber hoses replaced. new tires (it has a set of tires on Sprite Rostyle wheels and tires with it). and the major systems gone through and adjusted.   All of that can be done in the racing shop if the buyer desires at extra cost.  Conversion back to street use can also be done in that shop.   This is a great car for either use. and is very desireable as it needs no extensive body work to the original shell and bonnet.  

Friday 6/28 update:  This morning. we changed the points and condenser. cleaned and hooked up a fuel can to the Weber carburettor. checked out the electrics. then attempted to start the car.   It took 3 tries. but the engine fired up and had great oil pressure of 85-90 psi when cold. 80 psi hot.   We ran the engine for about 10 minutes. then shut it down to check out some other systems.   We bled the clutch until we got a firm pedal. so tested the car in all gears with the engine running. all worked fine with no strange noises and the braking system stopped the rotation of the rear wheels.   We ran the car for a total of about 20 minutes.   The car should be very easy to place into racing trim with minimal work. we were very pleased with the outcome!  I added pictures of the car with the wheels on and have a video of the start-up also.   The engine sounds excellent!  We are so encouraged by the performance that we have added a bit to the price to more accurately reflect the car's condition.  

Please be sure this is the car you want before bidding.   

PAYMENT and SHIPPING TERMS--  This car is sold "AS IS" with no warranty. Check the pictures with the listing carefully and ask any questions BEFORE you bid. I'll be more than happy to answer them. Seller reserves the right to cancel this auction at any time for any reason.  

International Buyers – Please Note: Import duties. taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.  These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up – do not confuse them for additional shipping charges.

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