1959 50s fifties White British AUSTIN HEALEY 948cc, BUGEYE SPRITE Petrol cabriolet; at the Lytham St Annes Classic & Performance Motor vehicle show displays of classic cars, UK
The Austin-Healey Sprite was a British sports car, which was produced between 1958 and 1971 as a result of a joint venture between the the British Motor Corporation's 'Austin' division and the Donald Healey Motor Company. Designed as a low-cost model, the vehicle was assembled at MG's sports car factory in Abingdon, England. History of the Austin-Healey Sprite The 'Mark I' Austin-Healey Sprite was released in 1958 and featured a 43 bhp, 948cc OHV engine. Dubbed 'Frogeye' or 'Bugeye' due to the unique placement of its headlights, the car had a top speed of 83 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 20 seconds. In 1961, the 'Mark II' version was released, retaining the engine from the previous model, but receiving upgrades in terms of its bodywork and carburettors. With its headlights re-positioned, this version and later models became known as 'Square Bodied Sprites'. The 'Mark II' had bhp and could achieve a top speed of mph. Austin-Healey followed that with the 'Mark III', released in 1964. It featured a 1,098 cc engine, wind up side windows and a slightly curved windscreen. Two years later, the final upgrade, 'Mark IV', went into production. It was the rarest of all the Austin-Healey Sprite models, with just 22,790 made and contained a L 1,275 cc engine. Austin-Healey Sprite in Competition In addition to being a popular car with collectors, the Austin-Healey Sprite was entered into competitive races throughout the 1950s and '60s, enjoying some good results along the way. For example, the 1958 Alpine Rally saw John Sprinzel and Willy Cave win their class while driving 'Mark I' Austin-Healey Sprites. Another highlight came at Le Mans in 1965, when the car was able to achieve an impressive 12th place finish. A successful club level racer during its time, the Sprite continues to be used in classic car competitions to this day.
Size: 4545px × 3030px
Location: Lytham, UK
Photo credit: © ZarkePix / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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