1959 Austin Healey Sprite Mark 1 AN5 Bugeye Frogeye

Convertible

948 CC

Manual

AN5L/7815

Clear

For your consideration, here is a 1959 Austin Healey Mark 1 Sprite AN5 commonly referred to in North America as the Bugeye Sprite and in the UK as the Frogeye Sprite. It was very well prepared for vintage racing during the 1990s and maintains that preparation. The car was campaigned as a vintage race car for many years (1986 to 1999), but has been inactive for the last 14 years, stored inside its race trailer. It is equipped with a 948 cc full race engine with a side draft Weber DCOE carburetor, racing BMC ribcase gearbox with factory close ratio straight cut gears, limited slip differential (believed to be a Tran-Ex), heavy duty aluminum racing radiator, double bearing rear racing hubs, Panhard rod, front disc brakes, later Sprite/Midget brake & clutch master cylinder set-up, racing clutch, and all of the standard racing accouterments of the day. The car was a rare totally rust free example prior to its conversion to a racing car and remains free of all rust except some minor surface bubbling under the paint on the bonnet next to the metal welting shown in the pictures. It would be very easy to return the car to stock configuration since it was not modified extensively when converted to racing configuration. For instance, the roll bar is bolted in, not welded to the car, the rear suspension has the factory set-up of trailing arms and shock absorbers, and the sheet metal has not been modified other than the battery box being removed from the firewall. It is a good candidate for returning it to a nice stock Bugeye. The car was raced at Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta, Roebling Road, Watkins Glen, and Moroso yearly during its vintage racing career and at Black Hawk, Kansas City, Memphis, and even the Bahamas and was very competitive. Please Note: The Grand Bahama Vintage Grand Prix rear license plate IS NOT included in this auction. The car has been started and shifted into all gears and clutch and brake systems checked and appear to be working, just needing thorough flushing and bleeding. To return the car to vintage racing, would require a minimum of what would normally be required to assemble a race car in both time and money. It needs a new set of safety belts as these are out of date, the fuel cell bladder needs renewed, all fluids and rubber hoses should be replaced, new tires (it has a set of rain tires on Sprite Rostyle wheels and tires on it), and the major systems gone through and adjusted. All of that can be done at the JSR shop if the buyer desires at extra cost. Conversion back to street use can also be done in that shop. This is a great car for either use, and is very desireable as it needs no extensive body work to the original shell and bonnet. We changed the points and condenser, cleaned and hooked up a fuel can to the Weber carburettor, checked out the electrics, then attempted to start the car. On the third engagement of the starter, the engine fired up and had great oil pressure of 85-90 psi when cold, 80 psi hot. We ran the engine for about 10 minutes, then shut it down to check out some other systems. We bled the clutch until we got a firm pedal, so tested the car in all gears with the engine running, all worked fine with no strange noises and the braking system stopped the rotation of the rear wheels. We ran the car for a total of about 20 minutes. The car should be very easy to place into racing trim with minimal work, we were very pleased with the outcome! It would be an easy winter project to get it ready for its first race in years. The car will come with a Bill of Sale to me from its last owner and another one from me to you, there is no title for the car as Georgia does not issue them on cars this old. Please be sure this is the car you want before bidding. Feel free to call my cell phone with questions: (404)317-5301. Regards, George Wolf PAYMENT and SHIPPING TERMS-- This car is sold "AS IS" with no warranty. Check the pictures with the listing carefully and ask any questions BEFORE you bid, I'll be more than happy to answer them. Seller reserves the right to cancel this auction at any time for any reason. Shipping arrangements and costs are entirely the buyer's responsibility. I will help load onto a carrier if needed. I will consider delivery with my truck at additional cost to be determined and paid before the trip begins within reasonable distance from Atlanta.