1959 Austin Healey Bugeye

Sprite Convertible

4 - Cyl.

Manual

AN545093

Gasoline

1959 Austin Healey Sprite "Bug-eye" with less than 12,000 miles and it drives like it! This car goes straight down the road smoothly and the steering and suspension are tight. (The mileage may be correct, I don't know for sure because we bought the car used 30 years ago, but the mileage seems right for the way the car handles.) We put on new tires in 2009. The top was new a few years ago, and the windows in the top are clear, just like new. Paint is believed to be the original Sprite green (British Racing Green??). It has some scratches and faded spots as you would expect on a 51 year old car. All the gauges and lights work, but gas gauge is not accurate. Tan vinyl interior is good. Carpet on drivers side is wornout. Tonneau cover is an original "Red" that we bought on ebay and then had an upholstery shop restitch. It has a cloth storage bag. Engine is the original 948cc with the original 4 speed. Steering wheel is a wood Nardi wheel (expensive, but it was on the car when we bought it, as was the wood shift knob). Wiper on drivers side will not stay put....needs new knurled nut to lock on. The hood opens from the front but is missing the locking handle and support. We hold it up with a broom handle and the hood is so heavy that it stays in place driving down the road at any speed. We had a new bag made to store the side curtains. The passenger side curtain has good rubber and the sliding windows are good. The drivers side curtain needs new rubber, (but works) and the sliding windows are good. Dust cover for car included, regardless of selling price. The paint looks good and takes a shine but it has scratches and blemishes in some areas. We had some places "touched up" by a body shop when some bad gas took a little paint off but overall the car looks good, as I think you can see in the photos. I highly recommend that you come see the car before buying. It is licensed and insured so you can drive it. 2009 we took the car to University Motors in Ada, MI to get the car road ready. John Twist and his crew tuned the car, installed 3 point seat belts, when through the hydraulics, and electrical, and got the car to perform and run well. They specialize in MGs and Austins. We have a totally enclosed Wells Cargo trailer and can help with delivery if we can agree on the timing for delivery and the cost. I raised the opening bid, but reduced the BIN price and the reserve price. I will still deliver the car for free within 600 mile, IF IT SELLS FOR THE BIN PRICE. If the selling price is less than the BIN price then I would charge $1/mile to deliver the car....so 600 miles from my house would be $600. We have 7 collector cars and want to get down to one. You can see the others at www.jackinmichigan.com. We will consider buyers from outside of USA and Canada but we will NOT get involved in arranging the the shipping. The car WILL be paid in full before it leaves here no matter the price. If you want more photos of anything, let me know and I will take them and post them or email them. There is a luggage rack that will go with the car but it needs to be welded and should be rechromed. I also want to Thank all of the people who have called with questions and comments and those that bid on this car. It is a nice car, fun to drive and it is pretty much all original. Have fun, have a good auction.On Jun-22-10 at 07:11:31 PDT, seller added the following information: The "Bugeye" Sprite was introduced to the USA in the 1958 model year. It continued through the year 1961 and then the "Bugeye" Sprite was gone. During those 4 years, I have read that 50,000+ cars were sold. How many that actually remain, I have no idea. Rust could be a real problem so many of the survivors are expensive to fix up well enough to drive safely. This one has no rust that we know of and we had it inspected and serviced by John Twist's shop at University Motors, in 2009. This was mentioned above. His contact info is on the web so feel free to talk with him. I am telling all potential buyers this because it will take around $10,000 to get me to part with this car. Even in this soft economy, I could not get another in this condition for a lower price....even on eBay. And....I have this one paid for.