The Austin-Healey Sprite was a small open sports car designed by Donald Healey.
It release was announced by British Motor Corporation in 1958. It was a small, low cost sports car designed to fill the hole in the market left by the small pre-war Austin seven sports cars. The car was designed by the Healey Motor Company within the bounds of their partnership with British Motor Corporation.
It first went on sale at a price of £669.
It was based on the Morris Motor Company A-series engine and used as many components from existing cars as possible to keep the cost to a minimum.
Mark I
The Mark I sprite was known as the Bugeye or Frogeye because of its distinctive headlights mounted on top of the centre bonnet, which hinged from the back in one piece together with the outer mudguards. It used a 948cc engine. Front suspension was coil springs and wishbones, using the arms of the lever arm shock absorbers as the top suspension link, rear was semi-elliptical leaf springs again with lever arm shock absorbers. There were no exterior door handles, one reached inside to open the door, and no boot lid, access to the spare wheel and rear storage was by tilting the seat backs forward.
Engine:
- 1958–1961 - 948 cc A-Series I4, 43 hp (32 kW) at 5200 rpm and 52 ft·lbf (71 Nm) at 3300 rpm
Mark II
The Mark II initially used the same 948cc engine but later introduced a 1098cc engine. This engine actually has the same stroke and bore, and therefore capacity, as the Morris Minor 1000 and the Morris 1100, so the different nominal capacities of these three cars seem to be the idea of the marketing department. It also moved the headlights to a more conventional position in the wings, adopted the tail lights from the soon to be announced MGB, and introduced a boot lid and conventional rear bumper bar. The result was a far more conventional looking car but carrying little extra weight. Twin carburetors and front disc brakes were also introduced, and wire wheels became an option.
There was a IIA with some engine improvements, notably larger camshaft bearings. This model was also rebadged as the Mark I MG Midget, without Donald Healey's consent or approval.
Innocenti also produced a version of this vehicle. Featuring styling by Ghia, the Innocenti 950 Spider and later 1100 Spider was produced from 1961 through 1968.
Engines:
- 1961–1964 - 948 cc A-Series I4, 46 hp (34 kW) at 5500 rpm and 53 ft·lbf (72 Nm) at 3000 rpm
- 1962–1964 - 1098 cc A-Series I4, 56 hp (42 kW) at 5500 rpm and 62 ft·lbf (84 Nm) at 3250 rpm
Mark III
The Mark III was the last Sprite, and was also badged as the Mark II MG Midget.
Differences between the two were in the grille and some body detailing only. It introduced wind-up windows with hinged quarterlights and exterior door handles, and for the first time the car could be locked, although with a soft top roof this gave minimal protection. The rear suspension went to fully elliptical leaf springs. The car had gained an appreciable amount of weight and was far more comfortable but not nearly so lively. The Sprite was cancelled in 1971, being sold as simply the Austin Sprite that final year.
There were several more models of the MG Midget. The later MG Midgets used first a 1275cc Morris A engine and then a Triumph engine in its place. The Triumph engine having four exhaust ports as opposed to the three for the Morris A series allowed more performance development.
The Sprites and Midgets sharing the same body are generally called Spridgets by classic car buffs.
Engines:
- 1964–1966 - 1098 cc A-Series I4, 59 hp (44 kW) at 5750 rpm and 65 ft·lbf (88 Nm) at 3500 rpm
- 1966–1971 - 1275 cc A-Series I4, 65 hp (48 kW) at 6000 rpm and 72 ft·lbf (98 Nm) at 3000 rpm
References
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- Ray Bonds (2003). The Illustrated Directory of Sports Cars. Motorbooks. ISBN 0760314209.
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