Austin Healey Sprite MkI Frogeye - Body-off restored
Austin Healey Sprite MkI Frogeye - Body-off restored
General information
Model year: 2026
Registration number: AM-49-17
Technical information
Transmission: 4 gears, Manual gearbox
Drive: Rear wheel drive
Acceleration (0-100 kph): 21,0 s
Top speed: 133 km/h
Empty weight: 650 kg
Interior
Number of seats: 2
Environment
Emission class: Euro 0
History
Service history: Present
Product safety
Manufacturer: Carrosso Classic & Sportscars Eekstraat 2 8375HN OLDEMARKT, NL 0625351515 http://www.carrosso.com sales@carrosso.com
Austin Healey Sprite MkI 1959 ‘Frogeye’
• Body-off restoration carried out in the Netherlands around 2006
• Owned by the same Dutch owner from 1997 to 2026
• Tonneau cover
• Rib case gearbox (later type and much stronger)
• Front disc brakes
• From the collection of an Austin-Healey enthusiast
HISTORY/DOCUMENTATION
The iconic ‘Frogeye’ Austin Healey: a car weighing only 650 kg. The slogan ‘Less is More’ is more than applicable to this car. It is precisely this simplicity that makes the car so much fun to drive. This example is a MkI delivered in 1959, making it one of the earliest examples delivered. In 1997, the car was shipped from sunny California (USA) to the Netherlands, where it underwent a complete body-off restoration and has been owned by the same owner until 2026. The end result is a strikingly finished Sprite. A very comprehensive folder accompanies the car with import documents, maintenance invoices, history, photos and much more: the documentation has been carefully preserved over the years. After the restoration, the car has only driven 645 miles.
EXTERIOR
The car is finished in a beautiful, bright red colour called “Ford Radiant Red”. The paintwork is still in very good condition. The body panels fit together nicely. The underside of the car also looks very neat. The lighting is in good condition. The steel wheels have original chrome hubcaps and good tyres.
INTERIOR
The interior is finished in black imitation leather with adjustable seats. The interior is also in good condition, without damage and with only minimal signs of wear. It is equipped with nice and handy accessories such as a thick Moto-Lita steering wheel and a main power switch. A spare wheel and a tonneau cover are also included. Side window frames are also included.
TECHNICAL
The 0.9-litre 4-cylinder engine is coupled to a 4-speed manual gearbox and makes it a joy to drive: it feels fast, agile and pure. The engine was overhauled in 2004, for which an invoice is available. The polyester bonnet is lightweight, which improves driving characteristics. This bonnet also requires less maintenance and opens fully to the front, making the engine easily accessible. Significant technical improvements include the “rib case” gearbox (a later type and much stronger) and front disc brakes. The car drives well, but has been driven little in recent years, so a service before the new season is advisable.
GENERAL
The Austin Healey Sprite was built from 1958 to 1971. Production of the MkI took place from 1958 to 1961. The focus was on developing a sporty but affordable car, so the car was designed to be simple. For example, the entire front bodywork is constructed from a single piece and can be opened towards the rear to access the engine. The engine is a 43 hp 948 cc unit, which is in fact a tuned version of the Austin “A” series engine. The car has no exterior doors, locks, boot or side windows. Thanks to its distinctive appearance with bulging headlights, the car was quickly nicknamed “Frogeye”. The car was also successful in the rally world thanks to its good driving characteristics.
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