Austin-Healey Sprite

Austin-Healey Sprite
Production period:	1958-1971
Class :	Sports car
Body versions :	Roadster
Previous model:	none
Successor:	none

The Austin-Healey Sprite is a roadster from the British automobile brand Austin-Healey . The Sprite was introduced by the British Motor Corporation in 1958 and built in four model series until 1971. During this time, 129,347 copies were made. The design came from Donald Mitchell Healey . Many components have been adopted from other models. The engine came from the A-series of the BMC, which was built from 1951 to 1990 . This was to reduce costs, the Sprite costing £ 669 when it was released.

Mark I.

Sprite Mark I.
Austin-Healey Mark I.
Production period:	1958-1961
Body versions :	Roadster
Engines:	Otto engine : 0.95 liters (32 kW)
Length:	3480 mm
Width:	1346 mm
Height:	1200 mm
Wheelbase :	2032 mm
Empty weight :	650 kg

cockpit

The Mark I series was nicknamed “Frogeye” in Europe and “Bugeye” in the USA because of the arrangement of the headlights. The engine and transmission came from the Austin A35 , and the steering and brakes from the Morris Minor . With a displacement of 948 cm³ the engine made 43 bhp (brake horse power) (44 PS) (32 kW) - 5300 / min. In a test from 1958, the car reached a top speed of 133.4 km / h.

Mark II

Sprite Mark II
Austin-Healey Mark II (1963)
Production period:	1961-1964
Body versions :	Roadster
Engines:	Petrol engines : 0.95-1.1 liters (34-41 kW)
Length:	3305 mm
Width:	1346 mm
Height:	1226 mm
Wheelbase :	2032 mm
Empty weight :

In 1961 the second version of the Sprite appeared. With only a few changes to the mechanics, the car had a completely new body. The headlights were now integrated into the front of the vehicle as normal.

Initially, the Mark II kept the engine with 948 cm³, the output rose to 46.5 HP (34 kW). In 1962 he received an enlarged engine with 1098 cm³, the output was now 56 HP (41 kW).

As a hardly changed sister model, the Sprite Mark II was also offered as an MG Midget . In Italy, the Innocenti 950 S with its own body was built under license .

Mark III

Sprite Mark III
Austin-Healey Mark III (1964–1966)
Production period:	1964-1966
Body versions :	Roadster
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.1 liters (43 kW)
Length:	3461 mm
Width:	1397 mm
Height:
Wheelbase :	2032 mm
Empty weight :

Austin-Healey Sprite Mark III (1964)

cockpit

In 1964 the car was revised and was now called "Mark III". The output of the 1.1 liter engine increased to 59 hp (43 kW).

Mark IV

Sprite Mark IV
Austin-Healey Mark IV (1969)
Production period:	1966-1971
Body versions :	Roadster
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.3 liters (48 kW)
Length:	3492 mm
Width:	1397 mm
Height:
Wheelbase :	2032 mm
Empty weight :

Further modifications led to the "Mark IV" in 1966. The engine was enlarged one more time and had (as in the Austin 1300 ) a displacement of 1275 cc. The small sports car thus developed 65 hp (48 kW).

In 1971 the Sprite was taken off the market after the collaboration with Donald Healey had ended.

Its sister model, the MG Midget, on the other hand, continued to be produced until 1979 and, from 1974, received the 1500 engine of the Triumph Spitfire as well as voluminous plastic bumpers in order to comply with the new US registration requirements. These MG midgets are commonly referred to as "rubber boats".

Web links

Commons : Austin-Healey Sprite  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Frogeye Story - Austin Healey MK I - Frog

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Archive link ( Memento from September 28, 2007 in the Internet Archive )