1959 Austin Healey Sprite

Bugeye Sprite Convertible

948

4-speed

ansl6618

Clear

1959 Austin Healey Mk I Bugeye Sprite. 70,000 miles, solid body decent shape but in mid-restoration and still needs work, but looks to be accident-free. Original hood in nice shape. Car generally quite straight. Within last year, rebuilt 948 motor (original pistons, honed, new rings, guides/valves, new cam and crankshaft bearings). New water pump, mounts. Rebuilt carbs rebuild original smooth-case gearbox (Quantum) and replaced clutch. Rebuilt/resleaved brake/clutch masters (original size bore), replaced brake cylinders, shoes. New tires. Rebuilt distributor and generator, replaced control box. New fuel tank. Replace front and rear dampers and rear springs. Guages work except for ampmeter, which is not wired in. New interior. New factory-style wiring harness. New windshield and gaskets (I have a new bottom gasket that needs to be installed) All lighting works well. New electric fuel pump. One of the windshield uprights is new, the other original (with a hairline crack). I have a whole book of receipts totalling just over $5500 spent in the last 2 or 3 years. Driving: Car starts shockingly easily in all conditions, takes throttle well, revs nicely with no flat spots, no unusual smoke from tailpipe. Stops reasonably well, but I think someone good with drum brakes could tune them better. Car handles very well, very tight with no rattling. Gearbox nice and smooth shifting through all the gears. The motor leaks a bit, like all good Sprites do. As a result, the chassis is in pretty good shape. The motor makes 35-40 lbs of oil pressure at idle and warmed up, and will idle all day long without going over about 185 of water temp. Body:Flawed, and needs work. Original steel bonnet in generally good shape, but with needs. A-pillar on driver's side has paint cracking over previous repair. The usual bondo on the lower dog legs and rear wings. Right rear paint stipped by dripping brake fluid from above (!!). Paint peeling away by license plate and one or two spots on the bonnet. Floors don't look bad, but I image it will require new floors and sills. Door fit could certainly use tweaking by someone who knew what they were doing. Front suspension steering gaitor ripped. Needs: I never did the suspension bushing, but it feels very tight, needs bodywork/paint, has no heater or top (I have the bows and I have most of the heater parts that will go with the car). Wipers not hooked up but I believe they are working. I have an old set of side-curtains that need repair/resto. Comes with a tonneau. Missing front bumper. I own 3 other brit cars and the Sprite turns heads like no other. It's been a reliable and fun car. I'm running out of space and need to thin the heard, and I have too many drop-tops. I'm willing to pass-on the car for what I think is a very low price because it's easily given me that much back in joy-of-ownership over the past 3 or 4 years. Now the gnarley stuff: Inspect this car before you buy it. It's a 53 year old vintage car that's being sold as-is and needs to be accessed by it's buyer. I've done my best to describe flaws, but I give no warantee on it. The Sprite will be sold with a transferable registration (NY state) and bill of sale. If you want to ship this car, please source your own supplier, and I will help in the sense that I will coordinate with them. Paypal deposit fine, with balance in cash or bank check. Thanks for looking.