Austin Healey
Sprite
Austin Healey
Sprite Mk I
The first Austin Healey Sprite which came
out in May 1958 went on sale at £669. It had a one piece lift-up
bonnet and front wings, which gave very good access to the engine
compartment, unles you were six foot plus.It was this feature which
soon gave it its nickname of 'Frog-eye' but in the USA it was
called the 'Bug-eye'.
Powered by the 948 cc BMC 'A' series engine producing 42.5 bhp. It
is no doubt that this vehicle was the first post war sports car
that was priced to give a new generation of drivers the opportunity
to sample the thrill of open motoring.
The front
suspension was derived from the A35 but the rear was different in
that the rear axle was located and sprung by quarter-elliptical
leaf springs, this was probable the weakest part of the
design.
There was no opening boot, two possible reasons for this was an
increase in tooling costs and would have made the rear end weaker.
Access to the boot space was gained by tilting the backs of the
seats forward.
Date when launched late
1958 MKI
Discontinued in 1961
Total produced 48,987 all Abingdon built
Engine
948 cc 43 bhp at 5,200 rpm Max torque 52lbs/ft at 3,300
rpm
Main measurements
Length 11ft 5.3ins Width 4ft 5ins Height 4ft 1.8ins
Wheelbase 6ft 8ins Track front 3ft 9.8ins rear 3ft 8.8ins
Price ex Works at launch
£669
Oct 1959 £631
Austin Healey Sprite MKII
The Mk II which was announced in June 1961
had a completely redesigned body having fixed front wings and
headlights but still powered by the 998 cc engine but now giving
more power. Some would say that it had now lost its unique charm,
because of the conventional styling with the revised bonnet and
boot. For the 1962 Motor Show it received the 1,098 cc engine along
with front disc brakes, the gearbox was updated with the improved
baulk-ring synchromesh.
Date when launched late
1961
Discontinued in 1964
Total produced 948cc version 20,450. 1098cc version
11,215
Engine
948 cc 46 bhp at 5,500 rpm Max torque 53lbs/ft at 3,000 rpm
1,098 cc 56 bhp at 5,500 rpm Max torque 62lbs/ft at 3,250 rpm
Main measurements
Length 11ft 5.9ins Width 4ft 5ins Height 4ft 1.8ins
Wheelbase 6ft 8ins Track front 3ft 9.8ins rear 3ft
8.8ins
__________________
Austin Healey Sprite
MKIII
This version probable received the most
improvements, with an up-rated 1098cc engine. Rear suspension was
altered so the axle was now located with half-elliptic springs, the
conventional way. On the body side we now had wind up windows along
with a deeper windscreen. Improvements to the facia and a
three-spoke steering wheel.
Date when launched March
1964
Discontinued in 1966
Total produced 25,095
Price ex Works £505
Engine
1,098 cc 59 bhp at 5,750 rpm Max torque 65lbs/ft at 3,500 rpm
Main measurements
Length 11ft 5.9ins Width 4ft 5ins Height 4ft 1.8ins
Wheelbase 6ft 8ins Track front 3ft 9.8ins rear 3ft 8.8ins
Austin Healey Sprite
MKIV
The MKIV was fitted with a de-tuned
Mini-Cooper S engine which helped to improve the performance so
that it was now best in class along with the Midget. On the body
side it now had a simply foldaway soft-top, that was covered over
when stowed away, and always looked either up or down.
At the end of 1970 the Healey name was dropped and the model
continued for another year been called simply Austin Sprite, then
the models was discontinued. Although you could buy the MG Midget
version with the 'A' series engine till 1974, when it received the
Triumph 1500 engine and finally dropped in 1979.
Date when launched late
1966
Discontinued in 1970
Total produced 21,768
Continued as a Austin Sprite to 1971 when 1,022 were
made
Engine
1,275 cc 65 bhp at 6,000 rpm Max torque 72lbs/ft at 3,000 rpm
Main measurements
Length 11ft 5.9ins Width 4ft 5ins Height 4ft 1.8ins
Wheelbase 6ft 8ins Track front 3ft 9.8ins rear 3ft 8.8ins
AUSTIN-HEALEY SPRITE PROTOTYPE OF BAKER/HEDGES, LE MANS 1967