1959 Austin Healey Sprite

This UK-market, right-hand-drive Austin Healey Sprite is finished in Iris Blue with a matching blue leather interior.

Bought by the seller’s wife as a retirement present for him, drawn, we assume, by the auction listing that described it as “The finest 'Frog Eye' we have ever offered.”

That’s quite a reputation to live up to six years later, but we think ‘XOX 772’ has still got it.

Let’s reach back a bit though; Memory Lane Classics apparently bought the Sprite as a stalled project from a chap in Cornwall, where it became something of a rolling CV for the firm, whose mission statement was to become “the world's best restorers of Frogeyes.”

That’s a lofty aim but then if you shoot for the stars and miss then you’re still going to hit the moon, right?

And, the work was so meticulously documented we understand no fewer than 1,882 individual parts were replaced during the 2018-19 restoration, an epic feat that started with a bare shell. 
 

The bodyshell was completely stripped down before being repaired with new metal and panels that were seam-welded in.

The shell was then powdercoated for longevity before being resprayed Iris Blue. The modern two-pack paint it used is longer lasting than the original paint, and the finish is still good, even after six years.

The chromework was all either replaced or rechromed, with the bill for the latter coming to £3,240. There’s a bill for £5,432 for “various car parts (stripped, repaired, polished & plated)” on file too, and it all still looks magnificent.

As you’d expect, the steel wheels were also stripped and powdercoated, and this work alone set the firm back more than £600. The wheels are enhanced with a very good set of chrome hubcaps and fitted with three Harmonic tyres, with a HiFly on the nearside rear.

It’s got a blue tonneau cover too, which is utterly in keeping with the Sprite’s mission statement of minimal readiness: There when you need it but lighter and smaller than a proper roof when you don’t, we applaud both its presence and condition.

Not a fan of a tonneau? In that case we’ve got you covered too (see what we did there?) as the Sprite also comes with a hood and frame. The fabric roof is like new with no rips, tears, or other wear, while the frame was stripped and powdercoated. There are a pair of very good door tops too; to help keep  you as snug as a bug in a rug.

The lamp lenses are excellent, including the rubber seals that sit between them and the coachwork. In fact, all the exterior rubber seals are good, with the exception of that on the fuel filler neck.

Which brings us neatly to the question of work that needs doing. The chrome headlamp rings and front bumper overriders have rust and pitting on them.

More urgent is the rust that is starting to break out on the inside edge of the offside front wheelarch, at the base of the A-pillar, and on the join between the sill and the rear wing. Some has also started on the seams of the bonnet underneath the front sidelights, the seam between the nearside rear wing and the body, and the offside front wing and the bonnet.

Finally, the zip on the tonneau of broken, there are a couple of marks on the scuttle between the wiper arms, rust around the bonnet catch, and a rusty stonechip between the offside front sidelight and the radiator grille. 
 

The low-back bucket seats have been rebuilt and recovered using genuine leather, an extravagance that added another couple of grand to the bill. Worth every penny though because they look amazing and are very comfortable.

The dashboard was recovered too, and the instruments were overhauled by Speedy Cables in 2019 at a cost of £1,662, which included new faces where needed. They still look terrific, and all work as they should.

The baby Austin Healey was also treated to a set of new carpets, and these are still in an excellent, barely used condition, at least partly due to the presence of a very smart set of rubber overmats. There’s insulation underneath too, which is a nice touch.

The elegant black steering wheel and matching gearknob are pitch-perfect.

Storage space is better than you might think, with plenty of room in the doors and a good-sized luggage compartment behind the seats. The latter is nicely trimmed with a well-fitting cover and folding this back uncovers nothing other than well-painted metal. It also contains a full-size spare wheel.

As for flaws, there really isn’t anything we can see for the new owner to do other than to keep it looking this good. 
 

The bulk of the 1,882 parts that were replaced in the 2019 restoration were, of course, mechanical and the Sprite’s specification includes having its engine, propshaft, differential, and back axle rebuilt. The gearbox was uprated by Heathrow Transmissions at a cost of more than £1,500.

The steering, braking, and front suspension systems were rebuilt too, while the fuel system was updated with a new fuel tank, fuel lines, an electric Facet petrol pump, and a Filter King fuel pressure regulator and filter to feed to the rebuilt carburettors.

The electrical system was upgraded to negative earth, and the charging system was re-engineered to incorporate an alternator that looks like a dynamo. As you’d expect, it also benefits from an electronic ignition system.

Some shakedown repairs were needed in 2020, and these have been as meticulously documented as the restoration itself.

As you can see, it bursts into life at the pull of the starter switch and settles into a good idle with excellent oil pressure on the gauge. It revs nicely too, and has a surprisingly fruity exhaust note for such a small displacement engine.  

The engine bay is one of the cleanest we’ve ever seen; put together with care and immaculately presented, we can’t see even the most fastidious of owners finding much to fault bar a rusty brake master cylinder.

As the underside has been left painted it’s easy to assess its condition. Again, there is some light surface rust to the steel suspension and steering components, as well as the front wheelarches and the offside rear valence.

The Sprite also comes with a couple of boxes of spare parts; please see the photos to see what these comprise.
 

With 188 pages of photographs, it’s fair to say the Sprite has a well-documented history.

Built on the 12th of March 1959 and first registered on the 7th of April that year, chassis number 13172 has been a UK resident all its life and still wears its original registration number of ‘XOX 772’.

The Sprite doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the Austin comes with two keys.

Still showing just three previous keepers on the V5 registration document, the history file is expansive and includes old log books, a heritage certificate, a workshop manual, a brochure and price list, a lubrication chart, a wiring diagram, copies of contemporary road tests, and the driver’s handbook.

Plus, a 28-page summary of the work Memory Lane carried out plus many, many more sheets of invoices for the parts it used. 
 

Probably finished to a better standard than it would have been when it was new, this delightful Frogeye Sprite is also likely to be more usable and reliable.

A surefire winner at your county classic car show, our estimate of between £10,000 and £15,000 represents only a fraction of what it would have cost to build.

Better yet, it’s being offered with no reserve so it’s going to sell from the very first bid, which means you could be spending August behind the wheel of one of the nicest Sprites in the country for little more than pocket money. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.