Three flavours of Sprite on offer
Half a million euros may seem a lot of money for three Austin-healey Sprites, but Oldtimergalerie Rosenau of Griesbach in Germany is offering the ultimate triumvirate of period racers based on the humble BMC roadster.
First is a 1960 Speedwell GT, one of around 25 produced by the celebrated north London firm.
The coupé raced at Goodwood, Silverstone and Brands Hatch, as well as in the Nürburgring 1000km. Fitted with a 1380cc race engine, the restored machine also has recent Goodwood history.
Speedwell co-founder John Sprinzel developed another highperformance Sprite: the Sprinzel Sebring coupé with a Williams & Pritchard aluminium body. Six were built, with four known to survive. Originally a works rally car with standard bodwork (crewed by Pat Moss and Ann Wisdom, it competed on the 1960 Tour de Corse), WJB 707 was converted for second owner Ian Walker. The GT and coupé are priced €139k apiece.
The final member of the trio is one of 10 ‘wind-tunnel’ coupés constructed for endurance events by the Donald Healey Motor Company. Like its stablemates, HNX 455D is based upon the standard monocoque but clad with aluminium panels and powered by a 1293cc A-series engine.
A works entry in the 1966 Sebring 12 Hours driven by Paul Hawkins and Timo Mäkinen, and in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans Hours in the hands of Paddy Hopkirk and Andrew Hedges, the 150mph streamliner later competed in private hands at Daytona. The rarity is listed for €240,000; see oldtimergalerie-rosenau.de