Registration No: 654 FNK
Chassis No: AN5/10782
MOT: Exempt

• An exciting opportunity to acquire a ‘garage find’ Frogeye Sprite
• Desirable home market example fitted with a steel bonnet and side screens
• Resided in its current resting place for the previous four decades
• In current ownership since 1973

Intended as a spiritual successor to inexpensive pre-war sports cars such as the MG M-type or Austin 7 Nippy, the Austin-Healey Sprite was launched in May 1958. Fruit of the growing partnership between Donald Healey and Austin's Leonard Lord, its design costs were kept to a minimum through some inspired BMC parts bin raiding. Built around a lightweight monocoque, it combined the Austin A35's independent front suspension and four-speed gearbox. Powered by a twin-carburettor fed 948cc A-series four-cylinder engine developing some 43bhp and 52lbft of torque, it was capable of over 80mph. Credit for the Frogeye's wonderful styling lies with both Gerry Coker and Les Ireland. Put on sale for just £669 including purchase tax rarely before or since has a sports car enjoyed such a large fun-to-price ratio.

Manufactured in 1959, this home market ‘Frogeye’ was registered new in the United Kingdom on the 6^th of March that year. Pleasingly retaining its steel bonnet and side screen, ‘654 FNK’ is presented in Red with a complementing Red interior upholstery, the Austin-Healey is fitted with the aforementioned straight-four engine and manual transmission. Entering into current long-term ownership in 1973, chassis number ‘AN5/10782’ was used for many local trips and teaching the late vendors' children to drive through the 1970s before being placed into garage storage in approximately 1984. Remaining in the same garage for the subsequent four decades, until being recently unearthed following the passing of the late vendor, the Sprite is now requiring a full restoration and is offered as an exciting prospect, coming to the market for the first time in five decades, as a genuine ‘garage find’ and without reserve. Accompanied by the green ‘buff’ logbook and current V5C.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452