1965 Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite Evocation

With prices for a freshly restored Frogeye now exceeding £25,000, this must be the next best thing albeit for a third of the price. A genuine, fully rebuilt Austin Healey Sprite Mk.III that has been professionally modified at some expense to replicate the styling of a Frogeye and it`s an absolute cracker! Huge attention has been paid to period detailing and it drives just as well as it looks with one of sweetest 1098`s I`ve ever known. This is one serious little car and something to savour.

Designed by the Donald Healey Motor Company and built from 1958 onwards at the MG plant at Abingdon, the Austin Healey Sprite Mk.I, or Frogeye as it became affectionately known, was a small open top sports car and natural successor the sporting versions of the pre-war Austin 7. Promoted as a low-cost model, this diminutive open 2-seater was the first volume sports car of unitary construction and was fitted with an upgraded 948cc A-Series with twin SU carburettors, rack and pinion steering and a combination of coil-sprung and lever-arm shock absorber suspension. With no exterior door handles nor boot lid, the lines were kept as clean as possible, perhaps to the detriment of security and luggage carrying ability! A storage void existed though within the boot area, accessed from behind the seats and a process more akin to potholing was required to retrieve that weekend-away bag. In 1961, the Mk.II was introduced featuring completely re-styled bodywork and a more conventional 2-seater as a consequence with wing-positioned headlights, a full-width grill and standard bonnet and a proper boot with boot lid. Some of the character had been lost but practicality gained and by 1962, more power was afforded by the slightly larger long stroke 1098cc producing some 56BHP. This engine continued albeit with stronger block casting in the Mk.III of 1964 which also had the benefit of external-opening doors and tweaked suspension.

Our car was registered in November 1965 making it a relatively late Mk.III model. Unfortunately, little is known of it`s early life or indeed it`s transformation although we are advised that the work was undertaken some 10 years ago. But whoever was involved, knew exactly what they were doing. The entire front end has been replaced with a substantial fibreglass forward-tilting bonnet, doors replaced with Mk.II interior-opening items and the complete rear-end recrafted in steel to resemble that of a Frogeye. It has been beautifully done with great attention to deal and to the untrained eye, it`s the real deal. Other than a couple of stone chips, the overall presentation is astonishing with excellent bright-work and very tidy painted steel wheels with correct chrome hubcaps. The roof is like new. Internally, the cabin is just lovely with black piped white seats, rubber mats and fully operational dash. The photographs hopefully tell the story. Turn the key and that little A-Series fires eagerly into life. Throttle response is instant and with a light clutch, positive gearchange and good brakes, the Sprite is an absolute joy. Heading back from our spin to Bridport, my son, a keen motorcyclist, couldn't contain his enthusiasm for the car. We returned grinning from ear to ear only sad that our short drive was now over.

The car comes with a current V5C, where it is correctly registered as a 1965 Austin Healey Sprite in Black and old MoT Certificates going back to 2015. As well as an excellent hood, the Sprite comes with tonneau cover, side screens, a full outdoor cover and tailored indoor car cover. Registered an Historic vehicle, the car is now both MoT and tax exempt.

A unique opportunity to acquire a very special little car. 

Viewings are welcome. Please message for appropriate arrangements to be made. Cash please upon collection or by pre-arranged Bank Transfer. 

Also published at eBay.co.uk

Want to buy this car?