1958 | Austin-Healey Sprite Mk I

958 Austin Healey MKI "Frogeye" Sprite – 191 AUO

This stunning MKI sprite has a build date of 17th October 1958, this is an early ‘2 stud’ Frogeye Sprite so would have included all the initial updates that were introduced. Complete with its Heritage Certificate, this car is an original UK car, first supplied by P. Pike Ltd, Exeter. The first owner being a hotelier in Lyme Regis. The car was restored over a 10 year period using an all new steel Stage 3 Wheeler & Davies bodyshell, supplied by The Frogeye Spares Company. Prior to paint, the shell was fully seam welded and the panel gaps perfectly aligned by Malkin Motorsports. Finished in its original colour of Speedwell Blue.

The car is now fitted with an uprated 1330cc engine, producing 100BHP making this an incredibly fun & fast road car. The single weber allows the car to purr away happily from cold start and pulls perfect throughout the entire rev range. The engine drives through a later rib cased gearbox to a rear axle with a 3.9:1 differential and uprated rear half shafts. This final drive ratio allowing improved cruising speeds. The car also has later disc brakes, servo and ‘Sebring’ pedal box assembly. Our main focus has been to set the car up to handle our bumpy UK roads but firm enough for a sporty and responsive feel if you want to push it. This work included additional front top links to form triangular suspension, Lowered front springs, 5/8” Front anti roll bar, Lowered and softened quarter elliptic rear springs, Rear Panhard Rod and AVO telescopic rear dampers.

The interior has been retrimmed in black with white piping. A new wiring harness has been fitted along with numerous other new components. The car comes with a body-coloured & fully adjusted Speedwell hard top, tailored black soft top and matching tonneau, side screens and stowage bag.

Supplied with UK V5C registration document, Original green buff logbook, Heritage certificate, Full previous owner history, Rolling road data, Engine build spec sheet, Full photographic restoration record. Magazine article feature of the car in January 2021 edition of ‘Classics’. Full restoration invoices file along with all upgrades & enhancements completed by ourselves here at JME Healeys.

The cars condition is absolute concours and cannot be replicated for the asking price. Undoubtably the best Frogeye out there!!

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Specification:

Inner Structure:

• 100% new stage 3 body shell

• Body shell fully seam welded

• Painted by Brookfield Classics – Hinckley

• Original Colour of speedwell blue.

Suspension:

• Standard front lever arm dampers.

• Additional front top links to form triangular suspension.

• Lowered front springs.

• 5/8” Front anti roll bar

• Lowered and softened quarter elliptic rear springs

• Rear Panhard Rod

• AVO telescopic rear dampers.

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Brakes:

• Later Sprite front discs brakes.

• Sebring style pedal box assembly with duel brake and clutch master cylinders

• Brake Servo

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Engine:

• 1275 block bored out to 1330cc – 11 stud conversion

• High compression pistons

• P285 camshaft

• Large inlet & exhaust valves

• Fully ported & polished cylinderhead

• 1.5:1 Roller Rockers

• 10.2:1 compression ratio

• Electronic ignition

• Weber 45 carburettor & Maniflow inlet system

• Maniflow tubular exhaust manifold & sebring twin tailpipe system

• Aluminium Radiator fitted with additional electric cooling fan on thermostatic switch.

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Gearbox:

• Later rib cased gearbox 

• Diaphragm clutch

• Rear axle with a 3.9:1 differential 

• Uprated rear half shafts.

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Electrical:

• Alternator conversion

• High torque starter motor

• Electronic tacho

• 12v socket supplies

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Interior:

• 3-Spoke Woodrim steering wheel.

• Black vinyl interior 

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Exterior:

• Electric washers

• Black Spoked 4x13” Wires fitted with Continental 155/80 R13 Tyres

• Body mounted spotlights

• Monza Style fuel filler cap

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Wet Weather Gear:

• Tailored Tonneau cover

• Tailored Hood

• Speedwell Style Hardtop Painted matching body colour of Speedwell blue

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£ 49,500.00 GBP

For further information on this car or to arrange a viewing or test drive, please contact us on our email address at enquiries@jmehealeys.co.uk or call our workshop on +44 01926 499000.