Lot Ended
Description
1960 Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite MkI
Fully
restored over an 18-year period from a rust-free California donor vehicle;
only 300 miles since completion; excellent condition
throughout
As the Heritage Certificate confirms, this Frogeye Sprite
was built in Austin’s Abingdon plant in March 1960. Finished in Leaf Green, it
was a LHD export model destined for the German market where it was bought new by
an American serviceman who took it back home to California when his tour
ended.
In 1994 the car was bought back to the UK by a dealer from
whom the current keeper acquired it in 1997. At this point it had been off the
road since 1981 and the mechanics and interior were shot but the car was 100%
complete and the body/structure was amazingly original, undamaged and rust-free,
as shown in photos on file.
Over the next 18 years the car was completely stripped and
rebuilt from the ground up as a project to keep the owner busy in his
retirement. Major work like the engine rebuild, gearbox overhaul, respray and
interior retrim were farmed out to professionals but all the other work
(rewiring; new brake system; conversion to RHD; general rebuilding etc) was done
by the owner in his own garage.
The full extent of the work carried out is too detailed to
list in full here but is amply covered by many invoices and photos on file.
Finally completed in 2015, it flew through its MOT in August of that year with
no advisories recorded. The following year the car and the story of its
restoration were featured in an article in the Midget & Sprite Club
magazine, a copy of which is on file, as is an original owner’s handbook. A full
set of weather gear is also present (tonneau cover; hood; sidescreens).
Since the restoration was completed, the car has only
covered around 300 fine weather miles and will need treating gently as it is
still running-in. Starting promptly and running sweetly as we have moved it
around on site, with good 50psi oil pressure, it is in excellent
condition and is ready for a new owner to enjoy.
For more
information contact James on 07970 309907 or email [email protected]
* All charges are subject to VAT