AUSTIN-HEALEY SPRITE (1961-71)
GET A ‘HEALEY IN YOUR GARAGE FOR MIDGET MONEY
AUSTIN-HEALEY MkII ENGINE 948cc/4-cyl/ OHV POWER 47bhp@5500rpm TORQUE 53lb ft @2750rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 87mph 0-60MPH 19.8 sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 32-39mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, 4-sp man ENGINE OIL Castrol Classic XL30 3.25 lites TRANSMISSION OIL Castrol Classic XL30 1.1 litres AXLE OIL Castrol Classic EP90 0.9 litres
It’s always the MG Midget that gets the attention – unless it’s among true ‘Healey enthusiasts. OK, the MkII Sprite onwards didn’t sell in as many numbers, and for newcomers to the classic movement there could be a lack of awareness. But there really is no excuse for those who have been around the classic scene for a long time, because non-Frogeye Sprites do appear at auction, just not as often as their better-known MG siblings.
In dark green, dark blue or off-white – and riding on steel wheels with hubcaps, the Sprite is a clean-lined, understated classic that’s just that little bit different. Wire wheels are an emphatic no-no, but period engine tuning modifications are entirely acceptable and make the Sprite more enjoyable to drive, not only on longer journeys, but on country roads, too.
Don’t expect tarmac-melting acceleration and to be able to keep a Nissan Skyline in your sights on a dual carriageway, even with period tuning modifications. But that’s not really what the Sprite is all about.
Scroll back to the Fifties and most British sports cars were less about out-and-out performance, and more about driver involvement, so that means a low seating position, a rev counter to keep an eye on the A-series powerhouse, and that’s about it. Clearly, less is more when it comes to the Sprite.
Yet while it proudly carries an Austin-Healey badge, the post-‘Frogeye’ Sprite is almost an enigma to the UK classic scene. There’s no logical explanation for this, other than the limited numbers sold and perhaps also because when it comes to the ‘Healey badge, most people almost immediately think of a Big ‘Healey or a ‘Frogeye’.
Without doubt, most would-be buyers will be looking for a Midget rather than a Sprite, but the MG’s higher position in the sales charts means that there are more Midgets than Sprites in auctions and with dealers, by a country mile.
But the Sprite is not just a Midget doppelgänger – it’s an entirely viable alternative to a same-age Spitfire, and without the potentially tricky handling. Early Spitfire values have been rising for a couple of years now, with prices way past those of a same-condition Spitfire.
Hiding in plain sight for way too long, these Sprites continue to serve up friendly, affordable traditional sports car motoring, and while the neighbours might automatically assume that you’ve gone down the MG route, you’ve used some nous to save cash and buy something way, way cooler than its better-known sibling. It’s undoubtedly a win-win alternative.