1959 Austin Healey Sprite Bug Eye/Frog Eye/Bugeye

1959 Austin Healey Sprite

Pay attention, this Sprite is selling. You've heard it before, It's 30 years in a barn is over and it's time for this Bug Eye to find a loving home. Unlike most, she's a runner, and one of the fastest starting vehicles I've ever owned. Pull the starter button and she's running. The oil pressure is upwards of 60 lbs, this engine sounds and runs like a top. It even has brakes!!! Yes, you read that right. Drums all the way around. Now the clutch is another story. The clutch master cylinder bleeds downs quickly so waiting at a traffic light with your foot on the clutch is not an option. The clutch itself is strong, it's a hydraulic issue. That's what Moss Motors is for. The tach works, the speedo needle has a mind of it's own. The smooth case transmission has all of it's gears and that 948 cc engine will pin you into the seat. Well not actually. The seats are not bolted down, they are loose, sitting on the floor. Though I haven't pictured them, I have the bows for the top, and a new top is included. The miles show 72k and I surely can't state that they are actual, but they could be! This is a very original car. Plenty of original paint still remains. The passenger door got painted and the paint is cracked. There are a few areas where some spray paint was applied and those runs you might be able to see in the photos are from that. The chrome is nice, the light lens' are nice. The combo Smith's oil pressure and temp gauge have been replaced with separate gauges that all work. Even the generator works. The seats are good but both are worn through where they rub the tunnel on their back sides. The tires are only good for holding it up, they are dry rotted and unsafe for street use. They are good at holding air though. Ah, the body. It's perfect and rust free. NOT. The floors need to be replaced as well as at least one of those boxes that hold the rear springs. The foot area has some sheet steel in place, just a quick hack job. The bonnet has some putty cracking out on the right of the grill. The tail section is very nice and there is lots of original(?) sound deadening material flaking off on the inside. The jacking posts are great. The other spots that need attention are pictured. Colorado is not a bad place for rust but even a dry climate Sprite still has some. This is a very worthy candidate to make pretty again. I am selling no reserve. I'm not looking for a lot of money for this, I'd just like to see it get saved and appreciated. If you are sincerely interested I would be happy to answer questions by phone, 720-394-5225, my name is Jack. Ask me to send you the video of me driving it!! I don't know how many owners it has had but the gentleman I bought if from got his title in 1982 and put it away then. This Bug Eye will make you smile.