1958 Austin Healey Sprite

MK1 Convertible

4 - Cyl.

Manual

AN5L/8713

Gasoline

You are bidding on TWO 1958 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprites. Both cars are Arizona versions of "barn finds" having been sleeping in the dry Arizona desert for decades. I have included some "as found" pictures. PLEASE VIEW ADDITIONAL DETAILED PICTURES AND COMMENTS AT: https://picasaweb.google.com/109245776343750539744/BugeyeSprites Car #1 is a VERY EARLY 1958 Sprite, VIN AN5L/8713, Valid Arizona Title. This particular Sprite body is of the very first run of Austin Healey Sprites. This is further evidenced because there were a number of structural changes made to the Sprite body almost immediately after production started and this body shows all evidence of being produced before these changes were made. Specifically: Braces behind the seats were changed, additional bracing was placed in the trunk, braces were removed where the door sills meet the rear-quarter panel, "square" braces where the exhaust manifold exits the engine compartment were changed to rectangular and a brace allowing access to the oil filter was dropped completely. See pictures. https://picasaweb.google.com/109245776343750539744/BugeyeSprites Car #1 car is in fairly decent shape... definitely rebuild-able without major body panel reworking or replacement.There is no evidence that this car has ever been in a serious accident.There are a few small dents here and there and the bonnet looks like it was smacked a bit on the front and someone tried to kinda-sorta pound it out. Both doors are clean and straight. Overall, everything appears straight and original to the car. Although there is quite a bit of surface rust (the AZ sun bakes off the paint over time), there is little evidence of "cancerous" type rust. There are two small holes in the floorboard on the driver's side, but all of the major rust trouble spots for these cars is remarkably clean. I have tried to include pictures of all of the little spots here and there that look even the slightest bit more serious than just surface rust. If there is any area in detail that you would like to have me take a picture of, let me know and I'll get it to you quickly. Although car #1 is the earliest and rarest of the two bodies that you are bidding on, Car #2 is in better condition. Car #2 is a 1958 Sprite, VIN AN5L/18056, Bill of Sale Only. Although still a 1958, it is a later body style than Car #1 having all of the structural "improvements" made by this time. This body is in better shape than Car #1. This Sprite was also nearly complete when found and I have since dismantled it and put it on a rotisserie to begin the restoration. All parts are included (see picture detail), including the rotisseries! There was virtually ZERO RUST other than surface rust on this car, except for one spot on the driver and passenger footwell floorboards. I have already removed the offending panels and had replacement panels made, but they are not welded in yet. The new panels are included. I also began the conversion to a later series dual brake system and have partially adapted for a new pedal box. That new pedal box, pedals and brand new brake and clutch master cylinders are also included in the sale. Car #2 is in very nice condition. There would be zero panel replacement needed except the footwells, which have already been addressed. There is no evidence that this car has been in an accident either. There are some ripples in the back boot panel, but look to be pretty minor. Someone in this car's past cut a hole in the sheet metal behind where the license plate attaches. I'm guessing that there was access needed by someone in the past and this was their goofy solution. For the meantime, I've left it unrepaired as it is helpful for trunk access. Both doors are clean and straight and rust free. The bonnet's in really terrific shape as well... not a dent or a rust spot on it! Like Car #1, this Sprite's paint has been partially baked off by the sun and there is some minor surface rust everywhere. There is no evidence anywhere of anything approaching any kind of "cancerous" type rust. This is a very clean, very straight, nearly 55 year old Arizona car. As they say, "Good Bones". https://picasaweb.google.com/109245776343750539744/BugeyeSprites ALSO INCLUDED: Most of the additional parts to make about 1 1/2 cars are there: Specifically, two (2) 948cc engines, with all the stuff that attaches to them (carbs, starter, generator, oil filter, fuel pump, etc.). See pictures. Both engines turn over easily and have been stored indoors. One has a serial number that appears to be the correct vintage, the other engine's ID plate is missing. However, they both appear correct with early HS1 carbs and the odd exhaust manifolds that these early Sprites had. I have one transmission... it is a smooth case transmission and appears correct. There are four brand new tires included. I've taken a close up to show that the nibs are still on the tires. The sale includes a beautiful original grill with only one or two little dings in it. I am also including an aftermarket Austin Healey Sprite logo button for just above the grill on the bonnet. It seems that bits and pieces of trim and things"walked away" before I acquired the cars. There is only one windshield and the rubber's shot on it and it has a little chip in the glass. Also, only one dashboard and only one correct gauge. There are enough pieces of the aluminum cockpit trim to do about a car and a half and only one partial set of seats, but they're mostly shot. Both steering wheels are there, but they've been ruined by the AZ sun. There is one set of 4 "AH" hubcaps, one of them has a ding in it but the other three are pretty clean. There is only one front bumper and one set of rear overriders. One convertible top framework. Basically, I've taken pictures of everything that is included. So, if you don't see it in the pictures, it's probably not something in the package. You can email me if you're uncertain about what you're seeing and I'll try to help and clarify. SEE DETAILED PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: https://picasaweb.google.com/109245776343750539744/BugeyeSprites STRATEGY: I'm putting the cars up locally for sale as well, so there's a chance that I could pull the auction early. Slim, but still a chance. I've put a reserve on the auction, but it is what I believe to be a very reasonable reserve for what you're getting. I hate those ads that say you can part it out and make all kinds of money... I always think, "Then why don't you?" I can if I must, but it is a lot of work and time is money as far as I'm concerned. I originally intended to rebuild one and use the other for parts to finish the job, then sell off what was left to offset much of the cost of the original purchase. The reserve is set reasonably enough so that the buyer could probably still follow that strategy. If the winning bidder were to part them out, I see doors for these cars going for $100 - $150 each and there are 4 included. I've seen bonnets for sale for between $500 and $2000 each, depending on condition. There are 2 included here. Most body panels are no longer available, and the ones that are still available will nick you for an arm and a leg. Admittedly, the 948 engines are not the most sought after for all but the purists or the racers, but there's a market for them at a couple of hundred bucks apiece even if they just go as cores. But the bottom line is that I need to move on to other projects that are taking priority over my little bugeyes and if I don't have the time to restore them, I don't have the time to part them out either. Also, I think the older, rarer Sprite #1 should be restored also and I just don't have the heart to break up and cannibalize such an early example. If the winning bidder wants to do it, fine... just don't tell me about it! TITLES: I have a good AZ title on Sprite #1 and a bill of sale for Sprite #2. If you only restore one and cannibalize the other, it doesn't matter which one you restore as the VIN tags were just screwed onto the frame back in the day anyway. CAVEATS: If you bid, please be prepared to buy. As you can see by my numbers, I'm not a big seller on eBay... but I see by other people's comments on their listings that apparently some folks bid on cars and then it turns out they back out on the deal. Please be respectful. If you want to come for a look in person, please send me your contact information so that we can arrange a time for you to look at everything. I've tried to explain and photograph the good, the bad and the ugly... but nothing substitutes for actually seeing them for yourself. If it turns out that you buy them, please forward a payment of $500 within 48 hours after the end of the auction. I will accept PayPal for this deposit. Please pay in full within 7 days of the end of the auction. You can pay for the balance with a personal check (which I will need to clear), money order, cashier's check or actual cash (if you're hand delivering it). If you want, you can finance your purchase through eBay finance by following this link: http://pages.motors.ebay.com/buy/financing-center/ I'll help with loading them on a trailer or a carrier or a shipper... whatever I can do to facilitate you getting them out of my yard once you own them. I contacted a couple of shipping companies and their best, rough estimate is that it would cost about $1000 to ship both cars about as far east as Indianapolis. Your actual results may vary. Please take the cars within a week or two after the auction ends. I will charge storage fees if you take an unreasonable amount of time to pick up your purchases. Thanks for looking at my cars and good luck in the bidding process. Don't forget that I am available to answer any questions, or take any additional pictures that you'd like me to take. Thanks for bidding! PLEASE VIEW ADDITIONAL DETAILED PICTURES AND COMMENTS AT: https://picasaweb.google.com/109245776343750539744/BugeyeSprites